COLE PALMER produced a moment of magic but couldn’t prevent lacklustre Chelsea from losing at Manchester United this evening.
The Blues went into the match without suspended stand-in captain Conor Gallagher, with Mykhailo Mudryk coming in.
The Ukrainian struggled to make an impact, missing two glaring chances.
After Scott McTominay’s Man Utd opener it was Palmer who conjured up a brilliant equaliser, wriggling free in the box before caressing the ball into the bottom corner.
McTominay struck again in the second half to consign Chelsea to defeat, and ease pressure on their beleaguered boss Erik ten Hag.
On a dramatic night at Old Trafford, SunSport’s Etienne Fermie rates and slates each Blues performer on another disappointing night for Pochettino and Co.
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Robert Sanchez – 6
Tipped a Rasmus Hojlund shot wide on three minutes. Brilliantly got down to save Bruno Fernandes’ ninth minute penalty. Excellent double save to deny McTominay a second on the half-hour.
Made some terrific saves but also put his team in trouble with some really poor passes out from the back.
Marc Cucurella – 5
Bamboozled down Chelsea’s right flank time and again by Alejandro Garnacho.
Stuck to his task but lacked the required quality and was hooked at half-time for Reece James.
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Axel Disasi – 6
A few clumsy moments on the ball, well tested by United’s lively front line.
If anything was fortunate that Man Utd weren’t more clinical.
Thiago Silva – 5
Made a superb last-ditch block to deny Antony early on. As the game wore on the Brazilian veteran began to look exposed.
Perhaps it should be time for the Blues to try Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill together at centre-back.
Levi Colwill – 6
Named Chelsea’s captain for the evening by Pochettino.
Young England international didn’t produce his best performance and could benefit from being tried at his preferred centre-back.
Moises Caicedo – 5
Big-money summer signing really struggled to impose himself on the game.
Seldom got his team going and was hardly noticeable in Chelsea’s engine room.
Enzo Fernandez – 5
Conceded an early penalty by treading on Antony’s foot.
Like his midfield partner Caicedo, Fernandez didn’t manage to grab the game by the scruff of its neck.
Raheem Sterling – 6
Went down in the vicinity of Victor Lindelof but his pleas for a penalty were ignored.
Squared for Jackson in the first half only for the forward to be denied by Andre Onana.
Cole Palmer – 7
Boyhood Man Utd fan got plenty of stick for his former City allegiances. Quietened the home faithful with a smart shot passed into the bottom corner.
Conjured Chelsea’s best moment of quality by a mile but couldn’t drag his side to a point.
Mykhailo Mudryk – 4
Struck the post when played through on 12 minutes. Later fizzed a near-post effort wide with the goal at his mercy.
Showed the odd flash of quality but is far, far too wasteful for this level.
Nicolas Jackson – 6
Sent Mudryk clean through with a smart pass. Wasted a golden opportunity after being played in by Raheem Sterling.
Looked bright in the first half but faded as the match wore on.
Substitutes
Reece James (for Cucurella, 46) – 5
Went down too easily moments before McTominay’s second. Lucky to get away with an error that allowed Garnacho a run on goal.
Armando Broja (for Mudryk, 77) – 5
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Spurned a brilliant late chance from James’ cross, his header striking the post.
Subs not used: Petrovic, Gilchrist, Badiashile, Maatsen, Castledine, Matos, Washington
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
