toptop
Romelu
Lukaku scored one and set up another as Manchester United came from behind to
beat Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford on Nissan Super Sunday.
The Belgium international scored his first goal against a top-eight club this
season with United's equaliser (39), after Willian fired the dominant champions
ahead (32).
Lukaku then crossed for substitute Jesse Lingard to head the winner 15 minutes
from time.
The victory sees United reclaim second place in the Premier League from
Liverpool and open a potentially crucial six-point gap over fifth-placed Chelsea
in the race for the top four.
Player ratings
Man Utd: De Gea (6), Valencia (6), Lindelof (6), Smalling (6),
Young (6), Pogba (7), Matic (8), McTominay (6), Martial (6), Alexis (6), Lukaku
(8).
Subs: Bailly (5), Lingard (7).
Chelsea: Courtois (7), Rudiger (5), Azpilicueta (6),
Christensen (5), Moses (6), Alonso (6), Drinkwater (6), Kante (6), Willian (8),
Hazard (6), Morata (7).
Subs: Fabregas (5), Pedro (5), Giroud (5).
Man of the Match: Romelu Lukaku
Chelsea's positive midweek performance against Barcelona may have been marred by
Lionel Messi's away goal but the champions showed no sign of self-pity as they
flew out of the traps, the restored Alvaro Morata turning Marcos Alonso's cross
onto the bar inside five minutes.
Such was the dominance of the visitors' bright, exuberant start that it took
United until the 27th minute to register an effort on goal.
First Lukaku had a shot blocked before, a minute later, Alexis Sanchez's toe
poke at the end of flowing counter was comfortably saved by Thibaut Courtois.
But just as it seemed the hosts had found a foothold in the game, Chelsea struck
as Willian played a one-two with Eden Hazard and bludgeoned a shot through David
de Gea's defences.
It was no more than Chelsea deserved, as was the lead at the break, but United's
only moment of quality denied them that as Sanchez and Martial combined at the
end of an intricate move to free Lukaku, who slotted the equaliser home from six
yards.
Chelsea continued in the second period from where they had left off, though, as
Willian released Morata through on goal on 49 minutes, but Chris Smalling,
having initially lunged in, recovered to block the Spaniard's shot.
Danny Drinkwater's dipping 20-yard strike drew a fumble from De Gea shortly
after, before his counterpart Courtois pulled off a stunning fingertip save to
deny Lukaku an acrobatic second on 67 minutes.
But having been denied, Lukaku turned provider, curling a fine cross from the
right onto the head of Lingard, who steered his 13th goal of the season beyond
Courtois to ensure Jose Mourinho got the better of old foe Antonio Conte.
Opta stats
Manchester United have won two of their last three matches against Chelsea (L1)
- one more than they managed in their previous 14 combined against the Blues
(one).Z
Chelsea have lost back-to-back away Premier League matches for the first time
since November 2015, when they were managed by Jose Mourinho.
United have lost just one of their last 35 home league matches against the
reigning top-flight champions (W20 D14).
Chelsea lost a Premier League match in which they scored first for the first
time since last April against Crystal Palace - they had won 22 games
consecutively when scoring first before today.
Romelu Lukaku found the net against one of the sides currently occupying the top
eight of the Premier League for the first time this season - he had played 10
games without scoring before this match.
Jesse Lingard has scored 13 goals in all competitions for Manchester United this
season - only Lukaku (22) has scored more.
What's next?
Chelsea travel to Manchester City next week on City on Nissan Super Sunday,
while United visit Crystal Palace on Monday Night Football, both live on Sky
Sports Premier League.
Teams
Manchester United de Gea, Valencia (c), Lindelof, Smalling,
Young, McTominay, Matic, Pogba, Martial (Lingard 64), Lukaku, Sanchez (Bailly
81)
Subs Not Used Pereira, Carrick, Shaw, Mata, Rashford
Booked Valencia, Matic
Goals Lukaku 39, Lingard 75
Chelsea Courtois, Moses (Giroud 78), Azpilicueta (c),
Christensen, Rudiger, Kante, Drinkwater (Fabregas 81), Alonso, Willian,
Hazard (Pedro 73), Morata
Subs Not Used Caballero, Zappacosta, Cahill, Emerson
Booked Kante, Morata
Goals Willian 32
Attendance 75,060
Referee Martin Atkinson