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Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea

  • Jesse Lingard headed home United's winner from Romelu Lukaku's cross.
  • Lukaku had earlier wiped out out Willian's opener with a cool finish inside the box.
  • United return to second in the Premier League table.
  • Chelsea finish the weekend outside the top four after Tottenham's win earlier today.
Jesse Lingard
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Full-time: Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea

But United cling on!

The four minutes are up, and Chelsea will have one last corner. Courtois is up....

Outstanding from Lukaku! From inside his own half, he drives forward but has no one up in support with him. Instead, the Belgian powers on himself, bursting past three Chelsea players to burst into the box and testing Courtois.

Four minutes of time added on at Old Trafford.

Jesse Lingard
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Is this the moment where the game was decided? Just one minute of the 90 remains.

Morata is now shown a yellow card, judged to have clipped Smalling while the defender was on a surging run upfield. Yes, you read that last part right.

Morata finds the bottom corner! But the offside flag is up. Fabregas lifts a superb ball over the top to find his countryman but the striker is just leaning offside.

Matic now hauls Willian back almost comically and takes the inevitable yellow card.

Rudiger comes in with a rash challenge on Lingard; one Matic takes serious exception to. The Serbian makes a beeline for the Chelsea defender but is pulled back by his United teammates who eventually calm him down.

Jose is looking to lock things up; Eric Bailly comes onto replace Sanchez.

Another change for Chelsea, here comes Olivier Giroud to replace Moses.

Lindelof tries to smash the ball clear but fires straight into a Chelsea player, with the rebound falling to Pedro who is free in the box! But just as he is about to pull the trigger, Smalling makes a terrific sliding challenge across to make the block.

United take the lead! Romelu Lukaku turns provider, whipping a sublime ball in from the right to find Lingard, who has crept inside Christensen. His timing is perfect and is able to steer a header past Courtois, nestling one in at the near post.

Goal! Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea (Jesse Lingard, 75)

Young fires it in but no United player can get a clean header on it.

Valencia initially shows too much of the ball to Alonso while racing down the right but the Spaniard stupidly gives him a shove in the back, conceding the free kick. Another chance for United to whip something into the box.

Here's Chelsea's first change of the afternoon and it is Eden Hazard coming off with Pedro onto replace him.

Christensen is left in a heap after Pogba crashes through him. He looks a bit winded, but will be okay to continue.

What an effort from Lukaku! Sanchez twists and turns around the edge of the box before lifting a cross back into the Belgian who connects with a scissor kick, only for Courtois to bat it over the bar.

Lingard's first involvement is to brilliantly hook the ball away from Willian with a sliding challenge before shifting the ball upfield to Pogba. He tries to thread a pass through for Lukaku but Azpilicueta reads his attempt and intercepts.

And it is Anthony Martial who makes way with Jesse Lingard on with just over half an hour remaining.

Sanchez has a go from 25 yards out but fires an aimless effort wide. Given his performance, it should really be him who makes way for Lingard; an awful big shout for Mourinho to make.

As we approach the hour mark, Jesse Lingard is preparing to come on for United. Who will make way?

Drinkwater catches De Gea by surprise, fizzing a shot on goal that the goalkeeper can only bat away, with a defender across just in time to clear before Hazard can reach the rebound.

Sanchez, in all honesty, is having a bit of a stinker here. With a Chelsea defender bearing down on him, he opts to try and dribble his way out of trouble with Valencia offering an option down the right just yards away from him. Sanchez is easily dispossessed and Chelsea surge forward.

Pogba threads a neat ball down the inside left for Martial whose first touch is flawless, bringing the ball inside onto his right foot. He tries to square the ball across goal for Lukaku but Christensen makes an important block.

Half a chance for Morata! Willian skips past a few challenges and threads a ball through for the Spaniard, who has sneaked inside Smalling to break into the box. De Gea thinks about coming for it, but decides against it with Morata a little too far wide to hit the shot first time. By the time he does have a crack, United have players back to make the block.

And United get us back underway for the second-half.

Romelu Lukaku
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Half-time. A goal for Romelu Lukaku has cancelled out Willian's opener at Old Trafford; we are finely poised for the second-half.

Two minutes of time added on at the end of the first-half.

Willian clips it into Morata but he can't get the right touch on the ball to divert it past De Gea.

Matic concedes another foul, stumbling into the back of Hazard to give Chelsea the chance to swing one into the box from the resulting free kick.

Chelsea almost bite back immediately, with Hazard dancing his way into the box, looking to find room to shoot on his left. Smalling does well to hold him up with the Belgian eventually forced to lay the ball off to Alonso who fires over the bar.

United are level! It's probably undeserved, but it is a well-worked equaliser. On the edge of the D, Sanchez prods a pass through to Martial inside a very congested six yard area, who slides a pass across to Lukaku. The Belgian adjusts his feet brilliantly in a very tight spot, finding room to slot a cool finish past Courtois.

Goal! Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (Romelu Lukaku, 39)

Matic gives the ball away in a horrible position, playing a blind pass straight into Morata who turns and pounces forward. Hazard offers a run through to his right but Lindelof gets across to make a timely challenge and spare his teammates' blushes.

There's a handful of players to blame for that goal. Pogba was far too weak challenging for the ball on the edge of his own box, McTominay failed to track Willian's run through the middle, Smalling was nowhere to be found and De Gea let the effort go straight through him - a rare error from the Spaniard.

Chelsea break the deadlock! Willian is on the score sheet again, starting and completing the move. Pogba is far too weak in an aerial challenge on the edge of his own box, with Moses winning the ball and knocking it down to Willian who surges forward. He finds Hazard on the left, who carries the ball upfield before threading an excellent pass through for the Brazilian who has continued his run into the box. He takes the shot on early, firing through David de Gea who is furious with himself for letting that through.

Goal! Manchester United 0-1 Chelsea (Willian, 31)

Pogba wins a key duel with Kante, selling him a step over and getting his body in front of his countryman before bursting forward. The Chelsea midfielder has a couple of niggles before eventually he is penalised for a foul and is shown a yellow card.

What a chance for Sanchez! It's brilliant from Martial, who takes on his man coming in from the left before sliding a precise pass into the Chile international, who has burst through unmarked in the box. Shooting first time looks like the best option, but he opts to take a touch first before trying to slot it past Courtois. He's unable to get the right purchase on his effort and it is an easy save for the Chelsea goalkeeper.

Young cuts onto his right foot and lifts a cross into Sanchez, who is muscled off the ball. It drops to Lukaku, who tries to spin and shoot but the big Belgian has two Chelsea defenders instantly on him to block his effort.

United surge forward, looking dangerous for the first time as Pogba slips a pass inside Azpilicueta for Martial to race onto. He cuts in from the left and looks to squeeze a pass into Lukaku but Christensen gets to it first and clears.

Willian tries to open up United with a free kick from out on the right but Matic hooks it clear to safety. United pick up possession, but don't really have a clue what to do with it.

That moment between the two managers is probably the most notable thing to happen so far. It's been pretty dreadful so far with United in particular looking incredibly passive.

Conte and Mourinho now sharing a laugh on the touchline together. WHAT IS GOING ON.

Now it's Hazard's turn to bend a cross in to no one in particular. Poor delivery from both sides in wide positions so far today.

Moses is finding plenty of space down the right in the early stages of this match with Young getting dragged inside by Willian. He hasn't managed to punish the full-back quite yet, but he is getting the opportunities.

Sanchez lofts one in but it is an easy catch for Courtois. A real waste, that.

Pogba is felled my a clumsy challenge from Morata and United have a chance to swing in a free kick from a decent position out on the left.

It does look like McTominay is shadowing Hazard in the opening stages of this match.

United survive that scare and threaten to burst forward on the counter through Martial, but the Frenchman is stopped in his tracks by Azpilicueta.

Morata denied by the woodwork! From the left, Alonso volleys a superb cross into the Spaniard inside the six yard area but his clean strike thunders back off the cross bar! Eden Hazard is onto the rebound but David de Gea pushes his effort over the bar.

It looks like Anthony Martial is indeed out on the left in these opening stages. We'll see how long that lasts.

Willian pulls a short one back to Morata who pulls back his right peg to shoot but Matic reads the danger, scampering across to make the block.

Victor Moses gets the better of Ashley Young in their first duel but Lindelof nuts away his cross to give Chelsea the first corner of the game.

And Chelsea get us underway at Old Trafford.

HANDSHAKE KLAXON!!!

I think that qualifies as 'cursory'.

In the tunnel, Jose Mourinho has shaken the hand of every Chelsea player. He hasn't gone near Antonio Conte yet...

Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte haven't traded jabs for a couple of weeks now but their feud is still simmering after a few explosive exchanges at the start of the year. While we are waiting for kick-off, here's a recap of all their recent aggro.

Mourinho suggests Conte is "a clown"

When defending his own rather sombre behaviour on the touchline, Mourinho said: "Because I don't behave as a clown on the touchline, it means that I lost my passion," he said.

"I prefer to behave the way I am doing it, much more mature, better for my team and myself, I don't think you have to behave like a crazy guy on the touchline to have that passion."

Conte's response? The Chelsea boss suggested Mourinho might be suffering from "demenza senile", translating into senile dementia.

January 2018: Mourinho takes aim at Conte match fixing allegations

"What never happened to me - and will never happen - is to be suspended for match-fixing. That never happened to me and will never happen."

Conte's reponse? I think when there are these types of comments, comments where you try to offend the person and don't know the truth, then you are a little man," he said.

"In the past he was a little man in many circumstances, he's a little man in the present and for sure he will be a little man in the future. I consider him a little man and I consider him a man with a very low profile."

Old Trafford
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Old Trafford starting to fill up now; kick-off is just over 20 minutes away.

Quite the test for Victor Lindelof today. Eric Bailly has been named on the bench in United's last two matches with it now clear the Ivory Coast is still working towards full match fitness. Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo meanwhile are still injury absentees. The Swede had a relatively untroubled evening against Sevilla on Wednesday and does have big match experience as a United player, having started in the 3-1 victory over Arsenal in December.

That was part of a back-three however. It's fair to say today could be the biggest test of his United career to date.

Victor Lindelof
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4-3-3 enthusiasts rejoice; Jose Mourinho has opted for the formation many feel with bring the best out of Paul Pogba. United produced one of their best displays of the season using that system away to Everton in January where the France international was at his pulsating best; can he replicate it today? The sturdy presence of Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay should in theory give him license to roam and support the attacking three ahead of him.

Given the level of his performances against other elite Premier League opposition, this is a huge afternoon for Pogba. He has the bodies around him to do the dirty work, now he must deliver.

Paul Pogba
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Antonio Conte has also made two changes to the side that drew with Barcelona. Spanish duo Cesc Fabregas and Pedro make way with Danny Drinkwater coming in to parner N;Golo Kante in midfield with Alvaro Morata offering Chelsea a more orthodox option up front.

The Spaniard is preferred up front to Olivier Giroud, who takes a spot on the bench.

Jose Mourinho makes two changes to the side that drew in Seville on Wednesday. Victor Lindelof comes in to start his first match in the league since 1 January, starting alongside Chris Smalling at the heart of defence.

Scott McTominay starts just his fourth Premier League match, coming in to form a midfield three alongside Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba. Will he be given the job of man marking Eden Hazard or will he hold his ground in the middle of the park, giving Pogba the freedom to roam forward? We shall see.

The trio of Alexis Sanchez, Anthony Martial and Romelu Lukaku form the attacking three and it looks like the France international might be starting on the left of that trident.

Manchester United team to face Chelsea: De Gea, Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Young, McTominay, Matic, Pogba, Alexis, Lukaku, Martial

Subs: Pereira, Bailly, Shaw, Carrick, Mata, Lingard, Rashford

BREAKING: Victor Lindelof starts in defence for United alongside Chris Smalling.

Chelsea team to face Manchester United: Courtois; Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Drinkwater, Kante, Alonso; Willian, Morata, Hazard.

Subs: Caballero, Cahill, Zappacosta, Emerson, Fabregas, Pedro, Giroud.

BREAKING: Alvaro Morata returns to the Chelsea starting XI to lead their attack.

Chelsea have arrived... confirmed line-ups are expected any minute now.

Predicted Chelsea starting XI

Chelsea vs Manchester United

Eden Hazard started as a false nine against Barcelona midweek but could we see the return of his partnership with Alvaro Morata today? Leaving those two to cause havoc up front would allow Antonio Conte to pack his midfield, with Manchester United extremely susceptible to being overrun in the middle of the park.

Predicted Manchester United starting XI

Manchester United XI vs Chelsea

If there is an issue lingering between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho, it will have to be put to one side this afternoon with United short of midfield options. Both Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini are unavailable this afternoon and we would hazard a guess that Scott McTominay will be given the job of shadowing Eden Hazard this afternoon.

The timing of Ander Herrera's injury is pretty dreadful, given how effective he was last season. But could Jose Mourinho call on Scott McTominay to do the same job today? "Genius" and "fundamental" are just some of the terms the United boss has bestowed upon the United academy graduate in recent weeks; three of his seven starts this season have come in United's last five matches having turned in another adept performances against Sevilla on Wednesday.

It might not have been the swashbuckling midfield display many United fans have yearned for, but McTominay dutifully followed orders. If Mourinho does plan to deploy the same tactic to contain Hazard, he is unlikely to see a better candidate within his squad than the young Scot.

Scott McTominay
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Antonio Conte is without three members of his squad this afternoon – although you could argue none of them would have made the starting XI anyway. Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ross Barkley and David Luiz are still recovering from knocks and will not be involved today.

Tiemoue Bakayoko
Getty Images

Elsewhere, United remain without Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo this afternoon, with Maroaune Fellaini and Zlatan Ibrahimovic still not fit either.

Phil Jones
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Jose Mourinho on Ander Herrera: "Ander is out. I don't know the final diagnosis but I know he'll be out for a few weeks. I don't know how many is a few - two, three, four, five, six weeks - I don't know, but a few weeks, for sure."

On an April afternoon at Old Trafford last year, Ander Herrera succeeded where so many others failed during Chelsea's 2016-17 Premier League winning-campaign. Eden Hazard was unable to escape the Manchester United midfielder's shadow that day, completely nullified by what was a complete man-marking job from the Spaniard who also went on to seal the 2-0 victory with a second-half goal – having also provided the assist for Marcus Rashford's opener.

That won't be happening today – Herrera is ruled out this afternoon with an unspecified knock with Jose Mourinho unsure as to how long he will be without the midfielder for.

Ander Herrera
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While there is the small matter of the Carabao Cup final taking place this afternoon, we have a classic Premier League fixture to look forward to first. You can take your pick from the subplots running through Manchester United vs Chelsea. Romelu Lukaku playing against the club who tried to buy him back during the summer. Nemanja Matic lining up against his former club. And the simmering row between Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte threatening to take centre stage.

Stick around, all your team news and build up is on the way.