In this strangest of seasons for Manchester United, Erik ten Hag’s side have swung between shambolic and sensational, and everything else in between. Rarely, though, have they managed it all on the same night.

Match Report

Here at Stamford Bridge, we were treated to the full repertoire. Five days after dropping valuable points in the race for Champions League qualification down the road at Brentford, United were at it again as they conceded goals deep into injury-time by Cole Palmer who celebrated a sensational hat-trick.
Two down to Chelsea and seemingly out, they clawed their way back into the game and then looked to have snatched victory through Alejandro Garnacho’s second goal of the night. But in the 99th minute, Cole Palmer converted a second penalty of the night to earn a draw and then fired on off Scott McToninay in the 102nd minute.
Although there was proof once again that these players are still ready to fight for Ten Hag, this was a crushing blow to their top-four hopes. United’s new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe was here to witness the drama at Stamford Bridge, and it would be fascinating to know what he made of it all.
United still have the prospect of an FA Cup final next month where they could feasibly meet Chelsea again. One the basis of this encounter, it could be a cracking final.
Ten Hag made the bold decision to leave Marcus Rashford on the bench and hand Antony his first Premier League start of the year, although not everyone will have bought into his explanation that he was rotating to keep players fit for Liverpool on Sunday.
At least, Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire proved their fitness in time to start in central defence after Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof became United’s latest casualties.
‘It would have been an headache if they hadn’t been fit, so it's a relief,’ added Ten Hag who even had the luxury of having Jonny Evans back on the bench.
Yet any sense of security dissipated within 18 minutes as Chelsea scored twice to seize control of the game.
We were less than four minutes in when Kobbie Mainoo was guilty of a rare error, misplacing a pass to Alejandro Garnacho on the United left. Enzo Fernandez picked up the loose ball and curled it into the path of Malo Gusto whose low cross took a deflection off Varane.
Not for the first time this season, United were punished for leaving a man unmarked on the edge of the box as Conor Gallagher swept a first-time shot under the body of Andre Onana.
It soon got even worse for Ten Hag. Marc Cucurella played the ball wide to Mykhaila Mudryk and continued his run into the box to collect a return pass from the Ukrainian. Antony had tracked Cucurella’s run but allowed the Spaniard to get the wrong side and brought him down with a clumsy challenge.
Referee Jared Gillett pointed to the spot and Cole Palmer maintained his 100 per cent record this season, converting a seventh penalty.
At that stage, there only looked like being one winner. An unchanged Chelsea had given Pochettino the response he wanted after dropping points against Burnley here on Saturday, while United simply couldn’t get going.
Garnacho’s volley was so wide it went out for a throw-in and Diogo Dalot sent a pass straight into the stands. The Portugal defender did manage to block Palmer’s goalbound shot, though, and Axel Disasi planted a free header wide at the far post.
But somehow, out of nowhere, United were level before half-time as it was Chelsea’s turn to implode. Their first goal was almost comical, starting with Bruno Fernandes’ wayward pass that looked to be going out of play in the 34th minute.
Credit to Antony for keeping it in, but even he thought Moises Caicedo had the situation under control. However, Caicedo played a horrible pass straight into the path of Garnacho and he faced away from Benoit Badiashile to prod home.
No sooner had Fernandez forced a smart save from Onana four minutes later than United broke and Dalot swung a cross to the back post where Fernandes was waiting unmarked to guide a header back across Djordje Petrovic into the far corner.
There was still time at the end of a see-saw first half for Gallagher to rattle the post with another effort.
The second half was just as end-to-end as the first, if not more so. Nicolas Jackson forced a fine reflex save from Onana who then turned over Palmer’s effort.
Fernandes fired over at the end of another United breakaway. Disasi recovered just in time to deny Rasmus Hojlund in front of goal after giving the ball away to the Dane.
By the time Garnacho scored the decisive goal in the 67th minute, Evans – a half-time substitute for Varane – had departed the action himself and Rashford was preparing to come on.
This time Badiashile was the guilty man, gifting possession to Antony close to halfway. The Brazilian capped a fine performance by accelerating away and guiding the ball with the outside of his right foot to Garnacho on the edge of the box. Petrovic came out but it was the wrong move, giving Garnacho the simple task of nodding the ball past him.
The deep into eight minutes of added time Dalot stumbled and brought down substitute Noni Madueke in the box and Palmer was given another chance from the spot. Once again, he didn’t miss.
There was even more to come in the 102nd minute as Palmer sized up another effort from range and this one took a deflection off McTominay as it flew past Onana.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
4' GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd (Conor Gallagher)
19' Penalty Goal! Chelsea 2-0 Man Utd (Cole Palmer)
28' CLOSE! Mudryk’s shot wide out
32' Yellow Card! Malo Gusto booked
34' GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Man Utd (Alejandro Garnacho)
39' GOAL! Chelsea 2-2 Man Utd (Bruno Fernandes)
55' Bruno fires his shot into the sky
59' What a save from Onana!
67' GOAL! Chelsea 2-3 Man Utd (Alejandro Garnacho)
100' Penalty Goal! Chelsea 3-3 Man Utd (Cole Palmer)
101' GOAL! Chelsea 4-3 Man Utd (Cole Palmer)
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Marc Cucurella, Axel Disasi, Conor Gallagher, Djordje Petrovic, Benoît Badiashile, Cole Palmer, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, Malo Gusto, Nicolas Jackson
Subs: Thiago Silva, Sterling, Marcus Bettinelli, Trevoh Chalobah, Noni Madueke, Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei, Jimi Tauriainen, Alfie Gilchrist
Man Utd XI: Casemiro, Varane, Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Onana, Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Højlund, Kobbie Mainoo
Subs: Heaton, Evans, Eriksen, Amrabat, Mount, Rashford, McTominay, Amad Diallo Traore, Willy Kambwala
frankie777
3257
Man United is the first team to comeback and go back 😭🙄💔
Peaceking1234
906
Cole Palmer HATTRICK ⚽⚽⚽vs UNITED🔥🔥 , His Applauds👏 and Appreciation❤️
RÕYKÈ
759
All Munchester unit after Palmer third goal. 🤫🤫🤫
tkeithderah
715
am an arsenal fan buh l enjoyed every second of this game🔥🔥
pundiklpu
609
what the fuck that was a penalty.. What a joke
blossomaea
559
GIF link Here: http://www.goalgif.xyz/v2/live/matchGifs?match_id=53615254&language=en
Iceyboy
483
Man united fans tasted the wrong lemon 🍋
MuruganRajappan
481
Team M.U now can feel Pain of Team Bayern Munich in 1999 UCL FINAL....🤔🤔😄😄
UsherMilimo
443
Even though we won,congratulations to Palmer for once again carrying us all along but who else noticed Disasi celebrating those corner kicks like goal while simple defending he can’t? Even though Silva is kinda old but in my opinion,I think he’s actually needed and better than our own giveaway Badiashile. Caicedo is exactly what I can’t explain too,you brought Casadei from Leicester where he was up and doing just for him to be on the bench? WTF! He needs to rest and watch others play regardless of the price tag and to be honest,though it’s not a good thing to wish for him but he needs to be injured so he rests and learn a lot while recuperating too.Just like Sanchez’s injury gave chance to Petrovic. Petrovic wasn’t very strong as he used to be he ain’t much blames as the defenders were 💩 kinda tonight. Poch should just thank 🥶 Palmer once again for saving his job and making him look like a good coach. These are just my observations and opinions,meaning that I come in peace and will always bleed blue no matter what,am too committed to withdraw now KTBFFH!
Jr00002
408
Thanks to this gem 💎 for saving us from noise pollution today🔵🔵🔵
Vector007
368
Bruno after seeing Palmer's display 🗣️ sir why does it feel like we're playing man city again ?
Uthmanishaq
338
the game was amazing actually especially after the last minute goals, but as a matter of fact we football fans we all believe this is el shit!co of the season, thank you Chelsea and man u for the amazing time you have given us😎😎
takimuda
323
First you go and learn again how to read and write. They tell someone to teach you what is common sense. After that check the dictionary for the term SARCASM. Then you will understand.
Sorry ain't doing that shit bro🤣🤣🤣 I am too old for that all I know is a goal whether penalty or free kick it's a goal and I can read and write English perfectly don't need to go learn that Man U lost to Chelsea yesterday 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Mizackorsz
290
this all problems are come since b.Fernande's Capitan also he is fuckin shit playing
Hamšikdeen
282
this is the month of Ramadan and all devils have been chained [Crylaugh]
kellyptw
234
Fans
vawelstyz
234
this piece of SHIT doesn't have a clue how to defend a lead after 96 minutes
TaongaRainz
214
okay right now who is better halland or palmer
Iceyboy
202
Sorry oh united ,Cole Palmer needed heater so he rested on ur 🔥🥵 What a match .what a hat trick 🍾🪄
kellyptw
188
So it's true Chelsea won
ZionHag
173
As much as we can talk about Refereeing the game… Ten Hag has lost his job… this season United has conceded so many goals at dying embers of games… we can seem to kill off games…. The new hierarchy cannot entrust United into his hands… this is my day of abjection
Not_Abdullah11
172
the only way Chelsea can win against Manchester
Iceyboy
113
That’s why he is called Cole Palmer 🪄🍾
UchechukwuEmeruwa
98
Fear 😱 the Cold ❄ during cold ❄ weather 🙏🥳🥳🥳
Baffaboriello
98
How Ronaldo fans see Ronaldo after his hattricks against Al Tain & Abha 😂😂
ariwanze
10
Man United is the first team to comeback and go back 😭🙄💔
[image]
naa...Barca did it in January this season against Villareal at home😂. Came back from 2 down to lead 3:2, only to lose 3:5[Crylaugh]