Chelsea vs. Manchester United, Premier League: Live blog

LIVE BLOG

90+6min: 2-2 BARKLEY EQUALIZES!!!!!!!! A long-throw from Azpi, a scramble in the box, and Barkley is there to get the point for Chelsea! Tempers flare afterwards around the United bench, and then on the pitch and then Dean finally ends the game.

90+4min: Alexis gets a yellow for hacking down Jorginho from behind.

90+3min: Pedro finds Giroud in the box, but he can’t quite control it and the chance is gone. Earlier, Azpilicueta had a shot, but it went well high.

90min: Chelsea huff & puff but United looking quite comfortable. 6 added minutes.

83min: United take a solid two minutes to make a substitution. Impressive time-wasting.

81min: Hazard powers through the center and takes aim, but a trailing leg from Shaw blocks the goal-bound effort. Unlucky.

79min: Giroud finally on for Morata and Chelsea look for the equalizer.

73min: 2-1. United counter, Martial finishes it off again. Pedro comes on for Willian in the wake of the goal for Chelsea; Herrera on for Mata for United as they look to shut up shop.

71min: Chelsea come forward through Hazard and Morata, with Willian then laying off for Kanté to have a pop. Only a brilliant save from De Gea denies Kanté another goal against United.

69min: A bit of pressure from United as Chelsea lose the ball in the final third, but David Luiz clears and Martial eventually runs the ball out of play. In-form Ross Barkley comes on for Kovačić. Barkley gives the ball away with his first touch however.

67min: Mata absolutely hammers his good friend Azpilicueta and gets a well deserved yellow. Azpi looks okay to carry on.

66min: Willian wins a free kick after being clattered by Shaw from behind. Willian takes and finds David Luiz all by himself, but his header is just wide of the far post. Unlucky.

64min: Hazard wins another corner, as standard service is resumed. But then Lukaku gets a rare touch on the ball and drives at the net. David Luiz defends well and Chelsea eventually clear the resulting corner.

60min: Hazard wins a corner as Chelsea look to settle back down and regain control.

57min: Rüdiger gives the ball away and Pogba takes aim, but his shot curls wide.

55min: 1-1. Chelsea unable to clear properly from a scramble, and the ball eventually bounces to Martial, who slams it into the back of the net.

51min: David Luiz comes forward again, plays a 1-2 with Hazard, and takes the backheel return in on goal, but his shot is blocked for a corner.

49min: Hazard spins Young and takes a wide-angle shot; Young’s follow through on his despairing tackle leaves Hazard with a twisted ankle. The type of foul that’s never given.

47min: Jorginho runs through the center, finds Morata who spins Matić, but his left-footed shot is saved by De Gea.

46min: United restart the match, looking to do something that no visiting side in the Premier League has done since 2011, come back and win after losing at half-time. Lukaku offside gets Chelsea back on the ball.

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HALF-TIME: Good effort from Chelsea, but as long as it remains just 1-0, United will always be dangerous on the counterattack. The Blues need to move a bit faster and be more ruthless in the final third, while also cutting down on the loose passes that have gifted a couple counters to the visitors.

45+2min: The half ends with a bit more Chelsea possession, 63-37 in the Blues favor so far. Willian tries to create a shot for himself, but Shaw is wise to his usual move. 1-0 at the half.

44min: Chelsea keep the ball for what seems like hours, creating a couple half-chances for Morata, then eventually lose the ball in the left corner and United counter. Chelsea recover well and win the ball back. A bit faster ball movement from the Blues would not go amiss.

40min: Morata finds a bit of space 20 yards out and takes aim, but it spins well wide. Chelsea continue to control most of the proceedings.

36min: David Luiz trundles forward, finds Morata, but he loses out to Smalling in the tussle. Gotta be stronger than that!

33min: A deflection in midfield falls Rashford’s way and he powers down the right. Hazard of all people chases back and takes him out, earning a well-deserved yellow in the process. Free kick to United just outside the area. Mata takes, Morata clears.

31min: A rare poor touch from Alonso at the unluckiest time allows De Gea to collect. Alonso was found all-alone in the penalty area by a Rüdiger long ball as United’s defense switched off.

30min: Rüdiger earns Chelsea’s first yellow for keeping his arms raised while challenging Pogba for a header. Chelsea continue to possess the ball.

27min: Young earns his yellow for a second (called) foul on Hazard, and just as many uncalled including just a couple minutes prior to that.

24min: Kovačić dances past Matić, but Smalling is there to cover. Chelsea keeping up the pressure.

20min: GOOOOOOALLLLLLLL!!! Hazard toys with Young for a while, creates a couple chances and eventually wins a corner. Willian takes, Rüdiger easily loses Pogba, and powers a header into the back of the net. 1-0, CHELSEA!!!

15min: Kovačić fouls Matić; United & Mourinho bay for a card, but there’s none coming, and rightly so. The resulting free kick gets United a decent look at goal as Chelsea don’t clear the first try but Lukaku heads wide.

13min: Matić fouls Jorginho and gets a yellow for two fouls in just as many minutes.

12min: Rashford counters, which is the danger for Chelsea, but Kovačić gets back and forces an early cross that’s defended easily enough.

10min: Willian, Alonso, David Luiz all stand around the ball; Willian takes it and it’s not very close as it flies well high and wide of the top post.

8min: United have a bit of possession, but Chelsea win the ball back from Martial in the right corner and play out. Willian finds Hazard with a big crossfield pass, who’s fouled by Young. A quick free-kick gets Hazard on the ball again, this time he’s fouled by Matic. Free kick to Chelsea just at the edge of the box.

5min: Azpilicueta looks for Morata in the box, bu the striker is called for some random foul by Mike Dean.

3min: Willian breaks down the right and has a shot. It’s blocked and it spins to an onrushing Kovačić, who whiffs mightily.

2min: United win an early corner as Alonso blocks Mata’s cross. Mata takes, Alonso clears and Chelset settle down with some possession.

1min: The typical long-ball down the left goes out for a United throw and we’re underway. Chelsea get the ball back and look for Morata straight away while United look to counter through the speed on their wings.

KICK-OFF: The Liquidator rings out and the team’s walk out onto the pitch. Chelsea to get us underway. Here we go!

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Chelsea begin a 7-games-in-22-days stretch with the toughest test (on paper), as Manchester United come to town looking to right their ship and torpedo Chelsea’s at the same time.

It’s a classic Mourinho scenario. And that could spell trouble.

So, it’s 2nd vs. 8th, Sarri vs. Mourinho, new Chelsea vs. old Chelsea.

It’s a perfect day for football. Here we go.

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Chelsea starting lineup (4-3-3):
Arrizabalaga | Alonso, David Luiz, Rüdiger, Azpilicueta (c) | Kovačić, Jorginho, Kanté | Hazard, Morata, Willian

Substitutes from: Caballero, Cahill, Zappacosta, Fàbregas, Barkley, Pedro, Giroud

Morata and Willian get the nod over Giroud and Pedro. The choices are understandable, but still slightly surprising. Barkley makes the bench, despite a minor injury. Otherwise, all as expected.

Manchester United starting lineup (4-2-3-1):
De Gea | Shaw, Smalling, Lindelof, Young (c) | Matic, Pogba | Rashford, Mata, Martial | Lukaku

Substitutes from: Romero, Bailly, Darmian, Andreas, Ander Herrera, Fred, Alexis

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Date / Time: Saturday, October 20th, 2018, 12:30 BST; 7:30am EDT; 5pm IST
Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6
Referee: Mike Dean

On TV: Sky Sports Main Event (UK); NBCSN, Universo (USA); Star Sports Select HD1 (India); elsewhere
Streaming online: Sky Go (UK); NBC Sports Live, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (USA); Hotstar (India)

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Be excellent to each other.