Man Utd stun Chelsea to close gap at the top four
Manchester United moved to within three points of fourth-placed Chelsea with a smash and grab 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge because of goals from Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire on Monday.
Chelsea had two goals disallowed by VAR reviews and were furious Maguire had not been sent-off in early stages for an off-the-ball kick out at Michy Batshuayi.
However, Blues boss Frank Lampard cut a frustrated figure as the flaws in both boxes that have seen his side win just four of their last 14 league games were exposed once again against ordinary opposition.
Victory lifts United up to seventh and within two points of Tottenham in fifth, that could be sufficient to qualify for the Champions League next season pending Manchester City's appeal again a two-season ban from European competition.
Lampard made a bold call before kick-off by again dropping the priciest goalkeeper in football history, Kepa Arrizabalaga, to the bench towards the 38-year-old Willy Caballero.
Batshuayi also started with Tammy Abraham eliminated by injury and Lampard's anger at passing up on a striker in the January window was borne out by an unhealthy night for the misfiring Belgium forward.
Chelsea suffered another injury blow early on when N'Golo Kante hobbled off and the France World Cup winner is currently a doubt to handle Bayern Munich in the Champions League in a few days.
The loss of Kante didn't disrupt the house side's early rhythm as Reece James and Willian fired just wide.
Chelsea were then furious Maguire somehow escaped without having to be sent-off for kicking Batshuayi following the two collided before the dugouts.
The former Marseille attacker then squandered the to begin a host of chances by firing wide from Mason Mount's cut-back.
- One-way traffic -
Chelsea's sense of injustice increased when Willian was harshly booked for diving as he transpired under a challenge from Bruno Fernandes searching for a penalty.
United hadn't made Caballero make a single save before going in front a minute prior to the break when Martial planted an excellent header in to the far corner from Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross.
There is still time for Batshuayi to miss another chance before half-time when he skewed wide from a narrow angle.
The one-way traffic continued in the beginning of the second period as Mount hit the post and a brave block from Wan-Bissaka deflected Pedro's goal-bound effort behind.
But even when Chelsea did get the ball in the net through substitute Kurt Zouma, the goal was ruled out by VAR for a push on Brandon Williams by Cesar Azpilicueta.
Fernandes was struggling to make much of an impact from open play in his second United appearance since a £47 million ($62 million) move from Sporting Lisbon.
However, the Portuguese international is an enormous threat from set-pieces and almost caught Caballero out with a free-kick that crashed back off the post.
Moments later, Fernandes provided his first assist for the Red Devils with a corner which Maguire powered home.
Lampard had seen enough from Batshuayi and handed Olivier Giroud a rare appearance off the bench for the final quarter.
The French striker thought he had given Chelsea a lifeline with a near post header, but was ruled offside after a VAR review.
