Manchester United - Chelsea summary: score, goals, highlights, Premier League

What next for Manchester United and Chelsea?

The Premier League action continues to come thick and fast. United are next in action at home to Bournemouth on Saturday, while Chelsea are on the road once more on Sunday, when they travel to Everton. 

How the top of the Premier League table looks

There's been a bit of a shake-up at the top! Manchester City are down to fourth and six points off the top after Wednesday's defeat to Aston Villa, who go third! United move up into sixth and are somehow now only three points behind their city rivals. 

Manchester United wasteful in Chelsea win

I know not everyone is a fan of expected goals but...

29 shots from United and on another day you might've "expected" them to score four goals given the chances they had. 

Wednesday's Premier League results

Brighton 2-1 Brentford

Crystal Palace 0-2 Bournemouth

Fulham 5-0 Nottingham Forest

Sheffield United 0-2 Liverpool

Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City

Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea

Six wins in eight Premier League games for United

Still no draws for Manchester United in the Premier League this season. Six wins in eight games, maybe they're not the bad after all (again). 

Full time: Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea

A much-needed and well-deserved win for The Red Devils thanks to two Scott McTominay goals!

Cleared! It's all over!

Last chance for Chelsea!

Chelsea corner!

Reguilón sees yellow for...I'm not quite sure what. 

Oh. My. God. 

That is absolutely horrendous from Chelsea at the back. Sánchez plays it short to Silva, who ends up hoofing it out for a throw-in when he tries to find James. 

Defender Evans on for attacker Garnacho.

The kind of change that makes me nervous when my team makes it...

Four extra minutes to be played. 

Onana saves from Broja!

The late Chelsea charge is (kind of) coming and a Broja header forces a save from Onana at the back post!

That was travelling! Fernández clips a cross into the box and it's headed out to James, who fizzes one goalwards but it flies too high. 

A nice piece of link-up play on the right between Antony and Dalot ends with the latter drilling a low cross into the box but it's too close to Sánchez. 

It's inevitable The Blues will have a late charge here, surely?

Big chance for Chelsea!

James whips a great ball into the near post but it's just behind Fernández, who tries to flick it goalwards but completely misses his kick. 

Rashford on for Hojlund

Hojlund's wait to score in the Premier League continues...

One of the worst free kicks you've ever seen as Fernández looks to shoot for The Blues but the layoff to him allow red shirts to close him down. 

Diogo Dalot sees yellow for halting a Sterling breakaway. 

Marcus Rashford is about to make an appearance. 

Chelsea have hardly featured in attack since the first five or 10 minutes of the second half. 

Just wide from Garnacho!

So close to a third! Reguilón's low pass into the box is perfect for Garnacho but he steers the ball just past the post!

McTominay reborn at Manchester United

What a transformation from McTominay as a more attack-minded midfielder!

Six goals for the season now. 

Broja on for Mudryk for the visitors. 

United are winning their battles all over the pitch at the moment (cue a goal for Chelsea...). 

Another chance for a third! James make a hash of dealing with a high ball, letting Garnacho clean through on goal. The Chelsea man does brilliantly to get back and make a challenge. 

McTominay misses hat-trick chance!

What on earth are Chelsea doing back there? Sánchez again gifts the ball to Antony, who plays a nice pass through to McTominay. Let's just say he won't want to see that one again...

McTominay goal stands!

Check complete. No foul on Colwill.

2-1! 

Oh, hang on a sec...

A brilliant clip up to the back post from Garnacho and there are three United players queuing up to head it in!

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL UNITED! MCTOMINAY!

It was coming! And it came!

That was the perfect position for Antony, but not the perfect execution, The winger got it on his left foot on the edge of the box but curled well, well wide. 

It's been all United in the last 10 minutes or so. 

Aaaaah, that's a waste from Garnacho. From a good position on the left, he sticks the ball out for a goal kick when he had teammates in support in the box. 

McTominay gets his head to the corner and Sánchez catches unconvincingly at the second attempt. 

A brilliant turn in the box from Fernandes, whose low shot deflects wide!

That definitely hit Colwill's hand, but it hit off his thigh first. Nothing doing. 

United penalty claim!

From the corner, Shaw drives one goalwards and it's blocked by a blue shirt, with United claiming handball. 

Antony close to 2-1!

That would've been massively flukey. Antony hits one with the outside of his boot and it takes a massive deflection and bounces just wide!

An easy claim for Sánchez as Dalot crosses low from the right. The box was stacked with red shirts too. 

James gets in behind for the first time and his ball across goal causes panic in the United defence, with Shaw doing just enough to flick the ball away. 

Ah, it was offside...

That's better from Garnacho! He skips inside and curls one towards the far post...inches away!

Did you see Garnacho's bicycle kick goal against Everton 10 days ago? Well, you just don't score two of those in 10 days, do you? It didn't stop him trying there, though...Sliced well wide!

Again, another corner comes to nothing and, again, Chelsea try to shoot themselves in the foot with another disastrous pass from Silva, who gifts the ball to Garnacho. The Argentine can't make anything happen, though. 

Chelsea break away with Mudryk, whose shot from long-range is deflected behind for a corner to the Blues this time.

...which comes to nothing.

Chelsea have clearly learned absolutely nothing from that first half. Woeful distribution from Disasi this time and they're back under the cosh. Corner coming up...

Huge chance for Jackson!

What's he done there??

Mudryk's corner is flicked onto the far post to Jackson, who somehow heads over from just a couple of yards out. That had to be a goal!

A good break from Chelsea down the right sets Sterling away and his low cross is put behind for a corner. 

It's only been a minute and Chelsea have already done better at the start of this half than at the start of the first. 

Chelsea have also made a switch at the break. Reece James makes his return, with Cucurella going off. 

A half-time change for United. Sergio Reguilón replaces Lindelof, who we can only assume has picked up an injury. 

Wednesday's other Premier League scores

Brighton 2-1 Brentford (almost FT)

Crystal Palace 0-2 Bournemouth (almost FT)

Fulham 5-0 Nottingham Forest (almost FT)

Sheffield United 0-1 Liverpool (almost FT)

Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester City (HT)

Half time: Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea

It’s been as action-packed as we’ve come to expect from the Premier League. United absolutely flew out of the traps and after threatening in the first few minutes, had an immediate chance to go in front but Fernandes’ penalty was kept out by Sánchez.

The Spaniard has been a busy man with The Blues really struggling to play their way out of defence against opponents who have pressed high up the field. One such instance ended up with McTominay slotting low into the net from inside the box, just reward for the hosts’ bright start.

The Red Devils had a number of other chances to double their advantage, with Garnacho and Antony having low efforts kept out by Sánchez, who somehow denied McTominay twice in the space of a couple of seconds.

Chelsea have, at least, had some threatening moments going forward, although they were wasteful before ultimately scoring. Poor final passes and bad decision-making from Jackson meant they continued to trail, right up until Palmer guided a superb effort low into the far corner with half time approaching.

Do the visitors deserved to be level? Perhaps not, but they have at least kept the United defence on their toes.

Manchester United - Chelsea: a "frantic" first half

"Frantic" is exactly the word I was going to use to describe that first half!

Man Utd's X/Twitter admin has beaten me to it, fair play. 

Half-time: Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea

Well, that was A LOT of fun!

The running battle between Antony and Colwill continues. This time, it's the United man who gets chopped down for his troubles. 

Sánchez doesn't look convincing in various aspects of his game, this time flapping at a corner and getting a very generous free-kick for a "foul" by McTominay. 

A lovely one-two between Fernandes and Garnacho gets the latter away down the left but his low cross is cut out well by Cucurella, who just escapes touching the ball with his hand in the box. 

A nasty challenge by Antony on Colwill down by the touchline but the Brazilian escapes without a yellow card. 

Manchester United will be kicking themselves here, they've been the better team, although Chelsea have had a few dangerous moments. 

Eight minutes of injury time to be played. 

Chelsea manage to feed the ball into Palmer's feet and he delays, delays and delays before placing a pinpoint effort right into the far corner!

And Bruno gets another go at it from a short corner! But it whistles a couple of yards wide of the post. 

Fernandes' strike is deflected out for a corner for the hosts. 

Fernandes has got his eye on this one. 

You'll never guess but it came from another poor pass out of defence from Chelsea. 

A free-kick to United here in a VERY dangerous position.

McTominay comes back on, five minutes (plus injury time) until half time. 

United playing with 10 for now.

McTominay is on the deck and it's not looking great for the United man.

Wow, Chelsea are making mistakes all over the place in possession. They're lucky Hojlund decides not to pull the trigger from the edge of the box, giving them time to regroup. 

Mudryk shoots wide!

Chelsea have been second best but they're having their moments. Mudryk gets a clear run at Maguire but instead of taking him on, opts to shoot. His strike creeps just wide!

A slight lull in play for what feels like the first time. This has been breathless stuff. 

Huge save from Onana!

What a game! Sterling gets in behind down the right and squares for Jackson, who should score but takes a touch too many and is denied by Onana!

HOW HAS THAT STAYED OUT?!

That is INCREDIBLE!

Fernandes crossed from the right and McTominay's first-time is kept out brilliantly by Sánchez, who somehow saves the rebound after it ricocheted back off the United man. 

United are pressing really well and Sánchez has a nightmare with his feet. His pass from the back goes straight to Antony, who tees up McTominay, whose shot is blocked.  

We've got an earpiece malfunction holding up play. One of the assistant referees' earpiece appears to have run out of battery. How did refs do without them, eh?

Almost 2-0!

Antony clips a lovely ball over the top for McTominay, who can't quite take it in his stride but keeps the ball moving. It eventually reached Garnacho, who flashes the ball across the face of goal, just out of Hojlund's reach. 

Chelsea are starting to look a little more lively here. 

Nothing given, in any case. 

Lindelof waved a foot out at the winger in the box but there didn't appear to be any contact...or did there?

That's either a penalty or a dive from Sterling! Referee Chris Kavanagh thinks the latter...

By the way, I said earlier Sterling was captaining Chelsea as I'd see them post it on X themselves. He's not, Colwill is wearing the armband for The Blues. And that message has mysteriously disappeared. 

Another chance for Chelsea to create something, another poor final ball lets United off the hook. Jackson this time. 

United again win the ball high up the pitch, Garnacho cuts the ball back for Maguire, whose effort is blocked as far as McTominay, who guides it first time into the bottom corner. 

Well deserved!

HOW DID THAT STAY OUT??

Fernandes heads the ball towards the near post and both Hojlund and Antony are denied by a brilliant block by Silva!

A first real effort from Chelsea as Fernández shoots low. Onana saves but it didn't look that convincing...

A little tiff between Antony and Colwill down on the touchline ends with the Brazilian shoving the Englishman to the ground. All that over a throw-in...

Come on, lads. 

This has been pulsating stuff so far. 

Chelsea's Spanish keeper must be the busiest man in Manchester. 

ANOTHER chance for the hosts! Palmer loses the ball in his own area and Antony has a chance to shoot from the edge of the box, but his curling effort is kept out by Sánchez. 

Shaw is first in the book after sliding in late on Sterling. Oops. 

Chelsea race down the other end and have a four against three but Mudryk makes a complete mess of it and the chance has gone.

Another save from Sánchez as United break down the right, Garnacho firing low at his feet at the near post!

Chelsea have been right under the cosh so far...

SAVED BY SÁNCHEZ!

Was anyone betting against Bruno there? Sánchez keeps it out, a crucial stop from The Blues keeper!

Fernandes surely to take...

Penalty given!

Oooooh, this could be a penalty for United! Fernández trods on Antony in the box. VAR checking...

The hosts again on the attack and they win a corner from Dalot's cross into the box. 

United have flown out of the traps here! Sánchez has to make a crucial intervention to stop Hojlund from scoring his first Premier League goal. He's due one...

An early effort from Bruno Fernandes...and that's not far away for the hosts! A bright start!

Underway at Old Trafford!

Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, away we go!

The teams are out, kick-off moments away!

Almost ready to go, who've you got for this one??

Chelsea team to play Manchester United

Sánchez; Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson. 

Manchester United team to play Chelsea

Onana; Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Amrabat; Antony, McTominay, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund. 

Erik Ten Hag speaks before Chelsea game

Here's that clip of Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag speaking about his decision to drop Marcus Rashford (and others) to the bench. You can decide for yourself whether the "bad game" or "we have to rotate because we have a lot of games" is the main reason behind it....

Wednesday's Premier League scores

There have been four goals in the other Premier League games being played today, which have just passed the 30-minute mark:

Brighton 1-1 Brentford

Crystal Palace 0-1 Bournemouth

Fulham 1-0 Nottingham Forest

Sheffield United 0-0 Liverpool

Chelsea: last five games

3 December 2023: Chelsea 3-2 Brighton (Premier League)

25 November 2023: Newcastle 4-1 Chelsea (Premier League)

12 November 2023: Chelsea 4-4 Man City (Premier League)

6 November 2023: Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea (Premier League)

1 November 2023: Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn (Carabao Cup)

Manchester United: last five games

2 December 2023: Newcastle 1-0 Man Utd (Premier League)

29 November 2023: Galatasaray 3-3 Man Utd (Champions League)

26 November 2023: Everton 0-3 Man Utd (Premier League)

11 November 2023: Man Utd 1-0 Luton (Premier League)

8 November 2023: Copenhagen 4-3 Man Utd (Champions League)

What happened in Chelsea's last game?

Chelsea had been starting to build a nice bit of momentum, posting a big win away to Spurs and impressing a 4-4 draw against Manchester City before suffering a thumping defeat away to Newcastle. They were already 4-1 down by the time captain Reece James was sent off, with fellow defender Thiago Silva having a day to forget. 

But they bounced back well to defeat a leaky Brighton team at Stamford Bridge last weekend, Enzo Fernández scoring twice in a 3-2 win, which was made slightly nervy towards the end by a last-minute goal for The Seagulls. 

What happened in Manchester United's last game?

10 days ago, things were looking up for Manchester United. Somehow, they had become the Premier League's form team thanks to a series of narrow wins over teams you'd expected them to beat, as well as a more impressive victory away to Everton. Then came a Champions League collapse away to Galatasaray, which leaves them in big trouble in that competition, followed by a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle. 

No shame in losing to this version of The Magpies, of course, but it was the way they went about it that disappointed most fans. Ten Hag's men barely laid a glove on their opponents until the final few minutes, when an inevitable charge came but failed to yield an equaliser as Anthony Gordon scored the only goal.  

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire named Premier League player of the month

Let's not tiptoe around this. Nobody saw this coming a few weeks ago, did they? 

Harry Maguire was ruthlessly mocked for some poor performances for Manchester United earlier in the season having previously been stripped of the captaincy and lost his place in the team last term. It's been some comeback from the England defender, who must be made of pretty stern stuff. 

A bit of positive news for Manchester United.

Marcus Rashford out of sorts for Manchester United

Marcus Rashford had the best goalscoring season of his career last season, netting 30 times in 56 games in all competitions, including in what felt like almost every home fixture. He's scored only twice in 18 appearances in 2023-24 (but still has more Premier League goals than Martial, Antony and Hojlund put together...). 

Erik Ten Hag "explains" Rashford omission

"We played bad as a team [against Newcastle]. We can't blame individuals for it. It's part of rotation."

Anthony Martial is also out as Ten Hag revamps his attack. Rasmus Hojlund and Antony are in and will struggle to do any less than their teammates did at St. James' Park...

Chelsea team to play Manchester United: captain James on the bench

I said Chelsea captain Reece James was available again...but he's only on the bench! Raheem Sterling skippers the team once again. 

Sánchez; Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson. 

Manchester United team to play Chelsea: Rashford dropped

Four changes for Manchester United from the defeat to Newcastle and the big news is there's no Marcus Rashford, who drops down to the bench!

Onana; Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Amrabat; Antony, McTominay, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund. 

Chelsea: the 2023-24 season so far

Manchester United have long been held up as the Premier League's crisis club but things have arguably been less pretty down at Chelsea. As I said earlier, they've literally over $1 billion on new players in three transfer windows but finished 12th last season and are currently 10th. 

There have been signs of progression since Mauricio Pochettino came in in the summer, with fine performances in draws against Arsenal and Manchester City, as well as a big away win against Spurs. But they were heavily beaten by Newcastle a couple of games ago and have lost at home to Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Brentford. 

Chelsea arrive at Old Trafford

How much have Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernández per hairstyle since his big-money move from Benfica in January? 

Manchester United: the 2023-24 season so far

It's been win or bust for The Red Devils in the Premier League this season. They haven't drawn any of their 14 league matches, winning eight and losing six, including three defeats at Old Trafford. The games they've won are the ones you'd expect them to but they've lost to Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester United and Newcastle without ever really troubling them. 

They were also easily beaten by The Magpies in the Carabao Cup and need a minor miracle to progress to the Champions League Round of 16 ahead of their final group game (they must beat Bayern Munich at home and hope Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw). 

Premier League big guns under the lights

It used to be one of the Premier League's feistiest fixtures (think Ferguson vs Mourinho). Can either United or Chelsea kickstart their push back towards the top of English soccer in this one? 

Manchester United hope to make Old Trafford a fortress again

Manchester United's home form was fantastic in 2022-23 but they've already lost to Brighton, Crystal Palace and Manchester City in the Premier League at Old Trafford this season, while Newcastle were 3-0 winners in the Carabao Cup and Galatasaray turned them over in the Champions League. Oof. 

Chelsea squad news: James returns, Gallagher suspended

Are you ready (part 2)? Even deeper breath...

Defenders Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, Malo Gusto and Trevor Chelobah, midfielders Roméo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwu and Carney Chukwuemeka, and attacker Noni Madueke are all out injured. Summer signing Christopher Nkunku is close to make his first appearance but doesn't look likely to play either. 

And to make matters worse, vice-captain Conor Gallagher is suspended. 

The good news is that club captain Reece James is available again after serving his own ban. 

Manchester United squad news: Casemiro injured, Sancho "suspended"

Are you ready? Deep breath...

Casemiro (hamstring) heads Manchester United's list of absentees, while defenders Lisandro Martínez (ankle/foot) and Tyrell Malacia (knee) aren't expected to play again until January. The game against The Blues also comes too soon for veteran centre-back Jonny Evans (thigh) and midfield schemer Christian Eriksen (knee).

On top of that, winger Jadon Sancho is still suspended by the club after publicising criticising Ten Hag at the beginning of the season. The former Borussia Dortmund attacker hasn’t played since 26 August as a result.

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United - Chelsea: times, how to watch on TV, stream online | Premier League

Before we get down to business, you may still be looking for a way to watch today's game. If you’re in the United States, then you’re in luck as there is a way and Will is here with the details! 

Just be sure to stick with me too, please!

You can also watch a Manchester United vs Chelsea live stream on Peacock

Midweek round of Premier League fixtures

All 20 Premier League teams are in action this midweek so there's plenty of score for those tables to change. Here's what's gone down so far and who's playing who:

Tuesday 5 December

Wolves 1-0 Burnley

Luton Town 3-4 Arsenal

Wednesday 6 December

Brighton vs Brentford (2:30pm ET)

Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth (2:30pm ET)

Fulham vs Nottingham Forest (2:30pm ET)

Sheffield United vs Liverpool (2:30pm ET)

Aston Villa vs Manchester City (3:15pm ET)

Manchester United vs Chelsea (3:15pm ET)

Thursday 7 December

Everton vs Newcastle United (2:30pm ET)

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham (3:15pm ET)

How the Premier League table looks: Chelsea

But if you thought Manchester United were struggling, get a load of Chelsea. Despite literally spending over $1 billion (in pretty much any currency) in the last three transfer windows, they are five points behind United in 10th place having lost as many games as they've lost this season. And that after finishing 12th in 2022-23. 

There have been some positive signs under Mauricio Pochettino but the results haven't exactly come yet, have they?

How the Premier League table looks: Manchester United

10 days ago, The Red Devils were top of the Premier League's form table and only six points off the top despite impressing pretty much nobody since the start of the season. Since then, they've had another Champions League defensive debacle, lost meekly to Newcastle United and fallen 12 points behind leaders Arsenal (who have played a game more). 

Surely not even the most optimistic United fan will think their team can lift the title, so perhaps we should look at the race to qualify for next season's Champions League. The top four will definitely get in and fifth could even qualify depending on how the rest of this year's European tournaments go. As it stands, Erik Ten Hag's team are five points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa and threeadrift of Tottenham in fifth. 

What time does Manchester United - Chelsea kick off?

We’ll all have to wait just a little though, as the clash in Manchester gets underway at 9:15 p.m. local time, which is 3:15 p.m. ET and 12:15 p.m. PT. Let’s hope you’ve decided to work from home today (those of you who can)…

Over the next 90 minutes or so I’ll be bringing you build-up, team news and plenty more. Let's do this!

Hello and welcome to Manchester United - Chelsea!

Once upon a time in the not-too-distant past, Manchester United again Chelsea would more than likely have had a big bearing on whether The Red Devils or The Blues ended the season as Premier League champions. This season, however, it’s seventh against 10th as two of England’s fallen big guns desperately try to get back on the road to glory and into next year's Champions League. 

I’m Roddy and thanks for joining me for Wednesday’s clash at Old Trafford!