As It Happened: Chelsea 2-2 Manchester United

Hello and welcome to Nigeerianeye's live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

The hosts come into this match still unbeaten in the league this season and level on points with Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the table, meaning that even a draw would temporarily take them to the summit this afternoon.

United, meanwhile, have endured a tumultuous start to the season but will hope that their comeback victory over Newcastle United before the international break will prove to be a turning point of their campaign.

Make sure you don't miss a moment of the action courtesy of our minute-by-minute updates below.

OFFICIAL LINE-UPS


CHELSEA: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Rudiger, Alonso; Jorginho, Kovacic, Kante; Willian, Morata, Hazard
CHELSEA SUBS: Caballero, Cahill, Zappacosta, Fabregas, Barkley, Pedro, Giroud

MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea; Young, Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Mata, Matic, Pogba; Rashford, Lukaku, Martial
MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Romero, Bailly, Darmian, Pereira, Herrera, Fred, Sanchez
































































What an incredible end that was to the game!

Chelsea looked on course for their first league defeat of the season and United on course for a very rare win at Stamford Bridge, but Ross Barkley rescued a point for the hosts, sparking a melee on the touchline between the coaching staff.

Rudiger had earlier given Chelsea the lead before a brace from Anthony Martial turned the game in United's favour, but ultimately they fell just short of what would have been a priceless victory. Thanks for joining our live coverage of the match!



90+10 min CHELSEA 2-2 MANCHESTER UNITED

90+8 min The game has still not restarted with the players now involved in a ruckus on the field!

90+6 min Incredible drama at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea steal a late equaliser! It is a scramble in the area which eventually sees Ross Barkley lash the ball home after De Gea had made a good save to deny an initial effort.

The focus quickly switches to the touchline, though, with Mourinho reacting to a comment from a member of the Chelsea staff and a big melee following. Remarkable scenes!

90+6 min CHELSEA 2-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (ROSS BARKLEY)

90+4 min Alexis Sanchez goes into the book for a cynical challenge to prevent a counter.

90+2 min Shouts from Chelsea for a penalty as Giroud goes down under the challenge of Lindelof, but referee Mike Dean is having none of it.

90+1 min There will be SIX minutes of added time at the end of this match. Still time for Chelsea!

89 min Chelsea are seeing all of the ball right now, but they haven't shown many signs of breaking through this United defence since falling behind.

87 min We could have a fair chunk of stoppage time after that Rashford treatment a moment ago, but United have just three minutes left of normal time to hold out here. This would be a huge result for Mourinho's side.

85 min MAN UTD SUB: Here is that second change too, with Alexis Sanchez coming on for Rashford.

84 min MAN UTD SUB: One of those changes is eventually made after a long stoppage, and surprisingly it is Martial who is replaced by Andreas Pereira.

82 min Chelsea's fans and players are getting increasingly riled here as Rashford goes down and needs treatment. It looks like he is going to be taken off, with two United players on the sidelines, but the visitors seem to change their mind as to who is coming off on a couple of occasions.

80 min Almost a chance for United to put this game to bed! The ball breaks through for Herrera, who suddenly finds himself one on one with the keeper. He never seems truly confident, though, and Kepa comes out to thwart him.

79 min CHELSEA SUB: Another change for Chelsea sees Olivier Giroud come on in a straight swap for Morata.

78 min Chelsea win a free kick in a good crossing position and the ball is played out to Alonso at the far post, but he gets his attempted volley back inside all wrong and a good attacking platform goes begging.

75 min MAN UTD SUB: Change for the visitors here as Mata is replaced by Ander Herrera.

73 min What a turnaround from United in this second half! Martial has his second, and the visitors have the lead!

Mata skips past Luiz down the right flank before playing a pass inside for Rashford, who in turn picks out a perfect pass to find Martial on the left side of the area. The Frenchman takes a touch and then bends his finish into the far bottom corner past Kepa.

73 min CHELSEA 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (ANTHONY MARTIAL)

71 min De Gea is called into action here as Kante lets fly from just outside the area, drilling a low drive towards the bottom corner. The United keeper makes a strong one-handed stop, though.

69 min CHELSEA SUB: Chelsea make the first change of the game as Ross Barkley replaces Kovacic.

67 min Mata goes into the book for a crunching challenge on Azpilicueta when chasing the ball. Not the type of tackle we are used to seeing from him!

66 min Willian does eventually lift the cross into the box and finds an unmarked David Luiz, who can only glance his header wide of the target when he should have done better.

65 min Chelsea win a free kick in a good crossing position, but Willian is in no rush to take it - to the point that Azpilicueta tells him to speed things up.

63 min Pogba turns in midfield and plays the ball into the path of Lukaku, but Luiz watches the ball all the way and wins the one-on-one battle between the pair. Good defending.

61 min Another dangerous Chelsea corner arrives in the box which De Gea comes for but doesn't reach. The throng of bodies in front of him just about do enough to smuggle it clear, though.

59 min That goal, incidentally, is the first that United have scored at Stamford Bridge since Mourinho took over as manager. Plenty of time for Chelsea to respond, though, or for United to push on for a winner.

57 min United have the wind in their sails now and Pogba tries his luck from range, but his effort is never troubling Kepa's goal.

55 min Manchester United have the equaliser as Martial smashes a loose ball home from inside the area!

It is a messy goal for the hosts to concede as they fail to clear the lines despite having a few chances to do so. Mata draws a fine save from Kepa with a deflected volley from inside the area, but the danger has not gone and Young eventually works it back into the area.

The ball takes a touch off Jorginho and falls into the path of Martial, whose first touch is perfect and he then fires his finish past the keeper. Alonso was down on the ground injured right in front of Martial and had he been on his feet he would have closed it down, but Martial took full advantage.

55 min CHELSEA 1-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (ANTHONY MARTIAL)

54 min Better from Lukaku and Pogba as they work the ball out of a tight space, but once again their attack eventually slows down. They need to build on their attacking impetus more when it comes.

52 min The resulting corner is fizzed into the front post and again Rudiger has got in front of Pogba, but he cannot get anything on it and De Gea punches it clear.

51 min David Luiz bursts into the box having linked up really well with Hazard. The defender cuts inside, but Smalling watches him the whole way and makes an important block.

49 min Concern for Chelsea here as Hazard stays down inside the box after being caught by Young. The Belgian is slow to get up and is not moving freely at all at the moment. One to keep a close eye on.

47 min Early chance for Chelsea at the start of this second half as this time Morata does use the ball well with his back to goal. He collects a pass before turning Matic smartly, but his left-footed finish lacks the power to beat De Gea in the United goal.

46 min Manchester United get us back underway for the second half at Stamford Bridge!


The first half comes to an end at Stamford Bridge, and it is Chelsea who lead at half time against Manchester United and former manager Jose Mourinho.

It has been a fairly even match on the whole, with clear chances at a premium, but one moment of lacklustre defending from the visitors has cost them so far.


45+2 min CHELSEA 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED

45+1 min There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half.

44 min Morata has not been good enough with his back to goal so far today. He has struggled to hold the ball up and bring others into play and Sarri may be considering bringing Giroud on if that continues in the second half.

42 min United are still very much in this match as we approach half time, but they need to show more going forward in the second half if they are to get themselves back into this one.

38 min As you'd expect under Sarri, Chelsea have comfortably out-passed their opponents so far today, and the influence of the likes of Jorginho in midfield is helping them to exert control over this game.

36 min Chelsea are knocking the ball around confidently at the moment and continue to look the most likely to score here. United have not really trouble Kepa at all so far with their one half-chance seeing Lukaku head off target.

34 min Hazard as forced a few yellow cards today, but here he picks up one of his own for a cynical trip on Rashford.

33 min Here is the goal which separates the two sides, and the poor Pogba marking which has cost United so far...

31 min Rudiger lifts a pass over the defence and finds Alonso completely unmarked inside the area, with United's defenders nowhere to be seen. It would be a golden opportunity if Alonso is able to pull the ball down, but his touch lets him down and it runs through to De Gea.

30 min Rudiger is the latest player to be shown a card for an aerial challenge on Pogba.

29 min Muted calls for a penalty as Luiz clumsily bumps into Rashford inside the box, but it looked to be a coming together rather than a foul and referee Mike Dean waves the claims away.

27 min Hazard is once again left in a heap on the floor, this time after Young came through the back of him. Young duly goes into the book.

25 min It had actually been a fairly even opening 20 minutes at Stamford Bridge, with both teams enjoying spells in the ascendency, but Chelsea will be looking to kick on now after that opener. United need a response.

23 min Mourinho will not be happy with that goal at all - it was such an easy one to give away. Set piece goals always irk managers, and it is not what an under-pressure one needs at his former club!

21 min First blood to Chelsea, and it is Rudiger - a doubt for this match - who breaks the deadlock!

It comes from a corner as Rudiger escapes the attentions of Paul Pogba, before meeting the ball with a stooping header which bounces past De Gea, who had no chance. Pogba remonstrates with his teammates after the goal, but it looked to be him at fault.

21 min CHELSEA 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (ANTONIO RUDIGER)

20 min Kovacic slides a ball down the left channel for Hazard before drilling a low ball across the box, but there are no blue shirts in support and Shaw is able to put it behind for a corner.

18 min This is better from United now as they see more of the ball and keep Chelsea under some pressure. They have peppered the Chelsea box with crosses in the last few minutes.

16 min The resulting free kick eventually leads to United's first chance of the match as Shaw lifts a second ball into the box. Lukaku climbs highest, but his header back across goal drifts wide of the target.

15 min Kovacic goes sliding in on Matic now and Mike Dean awards a free kick to United this time, although Mourinho and Ashley Young immediately call for a yellow card for the Chelsea man too. This time the ref keeps his cards in his pocket.

13 min Matic becomes the first name in the book for a trip on Hazard, although this is quite a harsh one. Definite foul, but that might be a warning sign to the other United players that the ref will not tolerate too many more fouls on Hazard.

11 min Alonso, Luiz and Willian are all standing over the ball and it is the latter who gets the nod, but he may not be getting the next one. The Brazilian fires a poor effort high and wide of the target.

9 min United have been heavy-handed with Hazard so far and he is clattered by Young in the air before taking a quick free kick and winning another foul right on the edge of the box. Chance for the hosts to test De Gea here...

7 min United have the chance to make their first break forward following some good control from Mata, but then they slow it all down and Chelsea are able to get back into shape. It needs to be quicker from the visitors when they get the ball forward.

5 min It is Chelsea applying the early pressure here, keeping United pinned back in the opening exchanges. Morata has his first chance to attack an aerial ball into the area, but Smalling deals with the danger well.

3 min Far too easy for Chelsea to get in as Willian skips past Shaw and to the byline. His cross is cleared as far as Hazard, who cannot catch his volley perfectly and United can hack it away.

1 min Here we go! Chelsea get us underway at Stamford Bridge!

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