LIVE BLOG

FULL TIME: The game ends and it couldn’t end soon enough. Chelsea’s were chasing shadows for almost that entire half and a very good first half performance is overshadowed by total and utter capitulation in the second.

90+4min: Emerson takes another shot straight at de Gea who denies Chelsea a consolation goal.

90min: Kanté gets rolled by new boy James and ends up in the referee’s book after a clumsy challenge. 4 minutes of added time here at Old Trafford.

89min: Pedro does something useful for what feels like the first time today as he gets on the end of a cross, but the shot goes wide.

87min: Frank Lampard will the final whistle to come as soon as possible now as United once again get a shot off in Chelsea’s penalty box. Thankfully, Christensen blocks the effort.

85min: One of the few bright sparks today, Mount receives the ball on the edge of the box and gets a shot off. It’s easily saved by De Gea, however. Several United changes follow.

84min: Things are getting desperate here as Chelsea’s defense and midfield is basically non-existent at this point. Lampard will have his work cut out as the crowd “oles” while United pass past the Blues with ease.

81min: GOAL, James. A debut goal for United’s Championship signing. Chelsea got destroyed on the counter-attack, Manchester United’s making it seem as easy as anything here after Pogba does brilliantly to combine with Martial. James finishes off well after a deflection off Emerson. Kepa has no chance. 4-0.

76min: Pulisic trying to create something here and brings Giroud into the game. The calmness of Kanté is also immediately palpable, but possibly some rustiness let’s him misplace a pass into the upper end of Old Trafford.

73min: Things aren’t looking good as Chelsea aren’t even able to string a few passes together. The team’s in complete disarray after those goals. N’golo Kanté comes on for Jorginho to help change that.

70min: Chelsea get a free-kick near the half-way line as Mount crosses the ball into the opposing box, with Zouma getting a head to it. The defender isn’t able to bring it under control, however.

67min: GOAL, Rashford. It seems all over now as Chelsea’s in pieces at the moment. The entire defense switches off and Azpilicueta loses the United striker who gets on the end of a good pass by Pogba and is in on goal. He slots in with ease. 3-0.

66min: Abraham off for Olivier Giroud.

65min: GOAL, Rashford. Chelsea was keeping the ball well and trying to give that United defense a problem. The ball’s taken off Abraham, though, and Perreira crosses the ball into the box and finds Martial who easily gets ahead of Christensen to tap it into the net. 2-0.

62min: The game’s balanced itself out again. Some clumsy defending in Chelsea’s penalty box gives United the next set piece, however, but thankfully the corner leads to nothing.

58min: IT’S TIME! Christian Pulisic comes on for Ross Barkley and makes his debut in a competitive game. Let’s do this!

57min: Next yellow card for a Chelsea player as Tammy Abraham follows through on McTomminay. Unnecessary.

56min: Good chance for Chelsea as the ball comes to Emerson just outside United’s penalty box. The Italian international takes a powerful shot, but de Gea is equal to it.

54min: Chelsea under siege here as United put on the pressure in and around our penalty box. Chelsea just can’t get out until Barkley finally clears the ball.

52min: After some good play from Man Utd’s onrushing Rashford, Jorginho sees no other choice than to tackle him, but is late. Second booking for a Chelsea player. The following free kick is cleared.

51min: After some good play from Chelsea, Pedro cuts inside and lets a shot off, which takes a deflection. The consequent corner is cleared.

48min: Second booking of the game as Lingard is given a yellow for a foul on Kovacic.

46min: Just after kick-off, Chelsea immediately get a corner after Abraham tries to put in a low cross from the left. Unfortunately, nothing comes of it and it’s United’s ball.

SECOND HALF: Jimmy here. No changes at the half and the Blues get the game restarted. Come on, Chelsea!

HALF-TIME: Chelsea behind, despite having the better of play. A stupid penalty given away by Zouma gifted United a goal, while at the other end, Abraham and Emerson have both his the woodwork.

45+2min: Chelsea pass it around in United’s final third, then pump a cross towards the far post, which is plucked out of the air by De Gea. Taylor blows for half-time.

45min: Christensen cuts out another pass, as 2 minutes are added on.

43min: Pedro’s giveaway gives Martial another chance in the area, but is defended well by Christensen.

41min: Emerson’s turn to hit the woodwork as the ball runs through to him on the far post. De Gea beaten, Chelsea unlucky again.

39min: Chelsea win the ball on the high press and Pedro finds Barkley in space, he goes left, smacks it towards goal, but De Gea saves with his feet. Jorginho’s follow-up is blocked.

38min: Emerson wins a free kick in the final third, but Mount’s free kick is easily cleared.

36min: Back to back long efforts from Barkley and Pedro pose little danger. At the other end, Zouma gets a yellow for a mistimed tackle. Terrible first half for him continues.

34min: Rashford has the ball in the back of the net again, but he’s yards offside. VAR review to check whether the pass was last touched by Pogba or Kovačić, but fortunately the decision goes our way.

32min: Pogba gets a half-chance at one with a header, from which Chelsea counter through Barkley. But Wan-Bissaka sprints back to stop the initial attack, then a 1-2 between Tammy and Barkley goes awry.

31min: Luke Shaw misses an interception and the ball runs through to Mount. He tries to square it for Tammy, but somehow gets his kick all wrong and a good chance is gone.

30min: Barkley gives the ball away, which gives Martial another opportunity to shoot, but his 20+ yard effort is well high and wide.

27min: Chelsea look to re-establish a foothold in the game, and get some passing and pressing going again.

22min: Christensen stays down after his face meets Pogba’s elbow on a header. Seems okay to carry on after some attention.

21min: United, having taken the lead against the run of play, now come forward confidently again. A set piece runs through to Maguire, but his cross is blocked for a corner, which is then half-cleared at the far post. The quick press up completes the clearance.

17min: GOAL, UNITED. A midfield turnover see United come forward, and Zouma bundles Rashford over in the area. Not much doubt about that. Rashford takes, Rashford scores. Kepa goes the right way, but no chance to stop the rising shot. 1-0, United.

12min: Mount goes for goal from 20 yards; De Gea holds well.

10min: More great passing from Chelsea sees Azpi put a lovely ball across the goal, but Tammy is caught on his heels and the chance for a tap-in is gone.

8min: Zouma with a horrendous square pass gifts the ball to Martial, but his shot doesn’t trouble Kepa, who’s down to save and hold on. Letoff.

4min: Mount wins a corner after a lovely interplay with Pedro and Tammy down the right flank. Mount takes the corner, which is cleared at the near post but Chelsea win it back. Kovačić gets it to Tammy, who turns behind and unleashes a powerful shot that beats De Gea, but hammers off the far post. So unlucky!

2min: Emerson tries an early run, but is shut down by Wan-Bissaka.

KICK-OFF: Chelsea in all blue with white socks, United in red with black shorts and socks. Lampard casual in a suit no tie. No surprises there. Let’s see what the match will hold. Barkley fixes the tape on his sock and we’re off! United get us underway.

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Football’s back!

We’ve had to wait for everyone else to play this weekend, but now it’s our turn!

The first day of the rest of our Lampardian lives is at hand.

Here we go!

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Manchester United starting lineup (4-2-3-1):
De Gea | Shaw, Lindelöf, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka | McTominay, Andreas Pereira | Lingard, Pogba, Martial | Rashford

Substitutes from: Romero, Tuanzebe, Young, Matić, Mata, James, Greenwood

Chelsea starting lineup (4-2-3-1):
Arrizabalaga | Emerson, Zouma, Christensen, Azpilicueta (c) | Kovačić, Jorginho | Mount, Barkley, Pedro | Abraham

Substitutes from: Caballero, Alonso, Tomori, Kanté, Kenedy, Pulisic, Giroud

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Date / Time: Sunday, August 11, 2019, 16:30 BST; 11:30am EDT; 9pm IST
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
Referee: Anthony Taylor

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

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Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes!