Chelsea took full advantage of Manchester United’s second-half collapse to condemn the visitors to a third straight loss and heap yet more pressure on Michael Carrick.
A fourth Premier League defeat of the season leaves United in the relegation zone, with under-fire boss Carrick in an increasingly precarious position just days after being given the chance to turn things around, following a dismal start to the campaign.
After an encouraging first-half performance, United allowed Morgan Rogers to saunter unchallenged through the heart of the defence to dink home the opener for Chelsea five minutes after the break.
Cole Palmer doubled the hosts’ lead from the penalty spot 14 minutes later after the video assistant referee spotted Lisandro Martinez, not looking at the ball, thrust an arm into the face of Wesley Fofana.
As a result, Martinez was sent off for a second yellow card and, once Palmer converted the spot kick, the game was all but over as a contest.
It could have been worse for the away side as Chelsea winger Estevao, handed his first league start of the season by Xabi Alonso, smashed in a third, only for it to be ruled out for a marginal offside.
United had had the ball in the back of the net themselves during a promising first 45 minutes but Matheus Cunha’s close-range header was checked by VAR and eventually disallowed for offside.
Credit: bbc.com
