Setback for Chelsea as Herrera inspires United victory

Manchester United 2 Chelsea 0

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Chelsea remain four points clear of rivals Tottenham at the top of the Premier League after losing at Old Trafford.

Ander Herrera was instrumental in Manchester United’s victory – the Spaniard man-marked Eden Hazard, was involved in a controversial build up to Marcus Rashford’s opening goal, and scored the second.

Chelsea, looking to re-establish a seven-point lead over second-placed Spurs, went behind after seven minutes.

Herrera used his arm to intercept a pass from Nemanja Matic before playing the ball through to Rashford, who drifted away from David Luiz and fired past Asmir Begovic.

And worse followed for Antonio Conte’s side four minutes into the second half when Herrera’s shot took a heavy deflection off Kurt Zouma, wrong-footing Begovic and doubling United’s lead.

Keeper Begovic was brought in after Thibaut Courtois was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Chelsea were forced to make another change when Marcos Alonso, who has been ill, was withdrawn from the starting line-up shortly before kick-off and replaced in the side by Zouma.

That change seriously affected the balance of the Chelsea team and they were second best throughout despite Jose Mourinho opting to rest striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Former Chelsea boss Mourinho endured two unhappy returns to Stamford Bridge with United this season, seeing his team thrashed 4-0 in the league and more recently knocked out of the FA Cup.

This time, however, there was a United victory over Chelsea for Mourinho – and Tottenham – to savour, with the pacy attacking duo of Rashford and Jesse Lingard causing the visitors major problems.