Manchester United vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and final score as United seal Champions League place
Manchester United 4-1 Chelsea: Erik ten Hag’s side booked their place in the Champions League with a commanding second-half display as the Blues fell apart at Old Trafford
Manchester United secured qualification for next season’s Champions League as Erik ten Hag’s men roared to a comprehensive 4-1 victory against wasteful Chelsea.
The Dutchman has led the Red Devils to Carabao Cup glory and next month’s FA Cup final during a promising first season that looked certain to end in a top-four finish until a recent wobble.
But Ten Hag has righted the ship and United secured a return to European football’s top table with a game to spare as Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford scored against toothless Chelsea.
This was a club record 16th defeat in a 38-match Premier League season for Frank Lampard’s Blues, who saw a bad early Mykhailo Mudryk miss punished by a sixth minute Casemiro header.
Further Chelsea chances went begging across the evening, including the miss by Conor Gallagher in first half stoppage time that was followed by Martial scoring.
Bruno Fernandes’ penalty and substitute Marcus Rashford’s goal – his 30th of the season in all competitions – wrapped up a victory that was only dampened by Antony’s exit on a stretcher and a late Joao Felix consolation.
We will bring you all the action and updates from today's game in the live blog below:
GOAL! Manchester United 3-0 Chelsea (FERNANDES pen 73’)
Fernandes stutters... and sends Kepa the wrong way!
Easy.
PENALTY! Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
71 mins: Fernandes nutmegs Fofana, there’s an outstretched leg - penalty!
Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
68 mins: Chelsea are still trying - Gallagher tries to work a yard in the box but is halted by the imperious Casemiro. There’s a half-shout for a penalty but Gallagher slipped.
Chelsea fans are now singing: “You’re nothing special, we lose every week.”
Ouch.
Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
64 mins: Double change for Chelsea: Havertz and Mudryk are replaced by Pulisic and Felix.
Havertz is... not pleased. The German kicks out at something as he makes his way to the bench.
Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
62 mins: Madueke goes down after running into Casemiro in the box, before Havertz heads straight at De Gea.
Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
60 mins:... and now United break with a four-on-three! End-to-end stuff at Old Trafford but United make a mess of it, as Fernandes passes behind Rashford.
Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
58 mins: SAVE! Excellent again from Lewis Hall - who has been Chelsea’s best player by a mile tonight - as he cuts inside onto his left foot and fires at goal. De Gea punches clear, before Mudryk tries his luck. This time the shot loops up well and De Gea can collect.
Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
56 mins: Well, the game is certainly more reflective of the scoreline now. Whatever Ten Hag said at half time has worked and United have been much improved.
Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
51 mins: CLOSE! How did this not go in?! Excellent again from United - as Malacia gets to the byline and pulls it back for Eriksen, who somehow can’t flick it over the line! It was just behind him.
Casemiro then fires wide from outside of the box.
Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
47 mins: OFF THE BAR! Lovely football from United - Sancho’s flick sets up Fernandes, but he places his shot against the crossbar!
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