The Premier League defending champions went into the international break with a big relief after registering a narrow 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The Blues had suffered a humiliating 3-0 loss during the midweek of Champions League in Italy, so the Londoners needed to bounce back to the Premier League title race by defeating Manchester United.
The hosts were happy to welcome back N'golo Kante to the fold after missing some matches. However, Chelsea went to the contest without Victor Moses who was sidelined with an injury.
Manchester United made a trip to the capital city after learning that their crossroad neighbors, Manchester City had prevailed over Arsenal with a 3-1 victory in a match that was played earlier in the day.The defeat leaves Manchester United tied at twenty-three points with Tottenham Hotspurs, but the Red Devils remain second in the league standings due to their superior goal difference.
What transpired
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte made two changes in the squad that lost in Italy in Champions League on Tuesday. David Luiz was dropped, and N'golo Kante assumed his defensive midfield role while Antonio Ruediger gave way for Andreas Christensen at the heart of a three-man defense. The Chelsea tactician went to the contest with the infamous 3-1-4-2 formation where Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata led the Chelsea onslaught at the opposition's goal area.
The visitors traveled to London missing key players through injuries, but the manager had alternatives for the affected positions. Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marouane Fellaini, and Michael Carrick were all out with injuries while Marcos Rojo missed the game due to his unfitness status.Jose Mourinho made four changes from the team that was victorious against Benfica in midweek in the Champions League.
Juan Mata, Scott McTominay, and Jesse Lingard gave way to fresher players.
The hosts dominated in every positive statistics except the corner-kicks and the aerial duels. The Blues could've gone ahead earlier in the first-half through an own goal from Phil Jones, but the referee ruled out the goal after noticing an infringement on the defender from Alvaro Morata.
The Blues took the lead in the fifty-fifth minute when Alvaro Morata headed a meticulous cross from Cesar Azpilicueta past Manchester United goalkeeper. The goal was Alvaro Morata first goal in seven matches with the Spanish striker failing to find the net in all competitions since the emphatic 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in September.
Chelsea remained in the fourth position despite the victory while are still second even after losing the match. manchester city who had defeated Arsenal 3-1 earlier in the day was the biggest beneficiary of Chelsea's win as the Citizens opened an eight-point lead in the league standings.
Friends turn foes
The game witnessed the second match that the Chelsea's most decorated manager was playing facing the team that he had helped win three Premier League titles.
Jose Mourinho's two travels with Manchester United to Stamford Bridge haven't been fruitful as the Red Devils have suffered a uniform 1-0 loss on each occasion.
Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic who had once played for Chelsea got an opportunity to face their former club while Danny Drinkwater also featured against his ex-employer.
