Manchester United closed ground on the Champions League places as Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire struck to claim a vital 2-0 win over Chelsea, who were twice denied by VAR.
Despite heading into Monday’s meeting at Stamford Bridge having taken just four points in 2020, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side moved to within a win of their opponents as they completed a Premier League double over Chelsea for the first time.
Martial continued his excellent form against Chelsea to get United off the mark, with the Blues denied an equaliser through Kurt Zouma by the video review system.
United made their luck count in the 66th minute with captain Maguire – who was perhaps fortunate to be on the pitch after an earlier clash with Michy Batshuayi – heading in Bruno Fernandes’ corner and United held firm to secure valuable points after Olivier Giroud also saw a goal disallowed.
Chelsea were inches away from taking a sixth-minute lead when Reece James lashed wide, but Frank Lampard’s side were dealt a blow when N’Golo Kante was forced off through injury in the 12th minute.
Maguire was lucky to go unpunished for kicking out at Batshuayi, who subsequently squandered a brilliant chance after terrific work from Mason Mount.
Yet, for all Chelsea’s threat, it was United who had the lead when Martial headed in Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s excellent cross.
Chelsea thought they had equalised when Kurt Zouma tucked home from a corner, only for VAR to disallow the goal for Cesar Azpilicueta’s push on Brandon Williams.
And, after Fernandes had struck the woodwork with a superb free kick, Chelsea’s frustrations were compounded as Maguire headed beyond Willy Caballero.
Giroud’s header seemed to have set up a grandstand finish, but VAR again came to United’s rescue. Mount then hit the post as the Blues’ efforts proved fruitless, with Caballero preventing substitute Odion Ighalo netting a debut goal in stoppage time.
What does it mean?
Toothless Chelsea allow the chasing pack to catch up
Chelsea looked safe in fourth place earlier in the campaign but, after a run of just one win in six league games, they are just a point above Tottenham – who they play next – and three above United in seventh, with Sheffield United wedged in sixth place.
Martial gives Chelsea the blues once more
Martial scored twice in the corresponding fixture last season and now has four goals in his past three league appearances against Chelsea. He is the first United player to score in three consecutive Premier League matches against the Blues.
Chelsea injuries piling up
It has been an injury-hit season for Kante and, after he hobbled off early on, the France international could now be a doubt for crucial fixtures against Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Liverpool in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, respectively.
He was not the only player lost to injury, with Andreas Christensen having to be replaced by Zouma at half time.
What’s next?
A potentially huge clash in the race for a Champions League place comes up next for Chelsea, who face Spurs on Saturday, while United are in Europa League action against Club Brugge two days earlier.
