Man Utd claim all points against Chelsea at Old Trafford

Manchester United capitalised on Robert Sánchez’s fifth-minute red card to secure a crucial victory over Chelsea in torrential rain at Old Trafford.

The first Premier League match in history to see two or more goals, red cards, and substitutions in the first half was settled by goals from United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who was the other player sent off before the break.

It was Sánchez’s dismissal that set the course of the game, though.

The Spain international raced from his goal to meet Bryan Mbeumo as the striker ran beyond the Chelsea defence.

Sánchez then upended the forward outside his area rather than allow him past to tap the ball into an empty net.

Enzo Maresca’s response to the red card was to take off both Pedro Neto and Estevão Willian, and, as Cole Palmer had to be replaced after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, Chelsea lost three attacking players in the space of 20 minutes.

Trevoh Chalobah pulled one back for the Blues before the final whistle.

The victory was United’s second of the season and came in front of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave head coach Rúben Amorim assurances over his future 48 hours earlier. It also means Chelsea have still not won at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was United’s manager.