Chelsea 2-0 Manchester United, Premier League: Post-match reaction, ratings

Chelsea made a positive start to the game and put the pressure on the visitors with some uptempo football in the midday sunshine. Unfortunately, an offside goal from Estêvão was all we had to show for that early impetus, the youngster tapping in after the goalkeeper gave up a rebound, but finding himself well behind the defensive line on the initial shot.

After those opening 15 minutes however, Manchester United started coming into the game and Chelsea were suddenly and distinctly second-best. It's not that United were amazing, but we had lost our confidence and errors were being made all over the pitch - including in critical areas.

Thankfully, we somehow escaped without conceding, as multiple big chances went begging for the visitors. They did have the ball in the back of our net briefly, from a corner, but had it ruled out for an offside.

Chelsea did find our footing in the final few minutes of the period but the half-time whistle was a welcome arrival. And indeed, things improved markedly from that point, with the Blues making another positive start to a half, and this time finding the back of the net: Morgan Rogers allowed acres of space to run after Roméo Lavia won the ball in the center circle, and then our record-signing bursting beyond the back line to dink the ball over the goalkeeper and give us the lead just five minutes in.

The goal only served to galvanize our troops, and our increasing pressure would forced United into pressing the self-destruct button. Lisandro Martínez was booked for trying to hitch a ride on the back of Rogers after getting rinsed out wide, and then just a few minutes later, decided to elbow Wesley Fofana in the face as a corner was being hoisted into the area.

VAR caught the act and recommended a penalty, which was hammered in by Cole Palmer to double our lead just past the hour-mark. Martínez was also awarded a second yellow, and rightly so.

With the man advantage, Chelsea set about to have some fun, and there was plenty of delight when Palmer released Estêvão clear to score one of his trademark goals (right-footed, tight angle, into the roof of net) … alas VAR took that one away on a marginal offside. Steve-o would try his very best to get his goal before his removal on 87 minutes, but the goalkeeper would be equal to his tries.

While no one else was able to get our third either, we would see out the final minutes - including the ten (10!) minutes of added-on time - without too much trouble (though Penders did have to make a rather brilliant save on an absolute piledriver from Bryan Mbeumo). Two-nil to the good; that'll do (especially after that first half).

Alonso opting for a back-four but only a midfield two; four forwards up top but no recognized striker Team-leading sixth goal for Rogers; Palmer with number five in all competitions (and 50th in the PL) A clean sheet, too! Chelsea move up to fourth, at least for now; everyone else is yet to play this weekend Next up: Sunderland away, next Sunday, then a much needed international break KTBFFH