Man Utd vs Chelsea as it happened: Premier League result and reaction after tempers flare late on

Ruud van Nistelrooy set off down the touchline in celebration, leaping as he punched the air. And yet what threatened to be a triumphant occasion for a great goalscorer was instead altered by an occasional one. Chelsea committed £115m for Moises Caicedo in part because of their propensity to overpay for many a player. It certainly was not, however, for his capacity to find the net.

Yet fees of such magnitude can demand a player has a transformative impact and, in an unexpected way, the biggest signing in Premier League history did. A volley was struck beautifully, nestling in the corner of the Manchester United net. Van Nistelrooy only had four minutes to savour a lead he greeted so dramatically. Chelsea had a point at Old Trafford which, given their last league win here came when Sir Alex Ferguson was still managing, may have been the best they could achieve.

A memorable second half from Tottenham Hotspur, borne out of a memorable message from Ange Postecoglou.

“I keep saying to the players, if I was a racehorse, I’d have blinkers.”

The point that Postecoglou was making was to block everything out and just go for it – and his team duly hit a pace that Aston Villa couldn’t reach. The entire second half was a manifestation of the manager’s ideal. It was a whirlwind that Aston Villa got caught up in, as the control that Unai Emery attempted to assert in the first half was simply blown away. Spurs, by the end, were good value for a 4-1 victory. They’d kept going, attempting to play the football that Villa wouldn’t.

At the ripe old age of 32, Mohamed Salah cannot give defenders a headache for 90 minutes like he used to, nor will the numbers continue to be as otherworldly as they once were. What these once-in-a-lifetime talents can do, however, is conjure season-defining moments, when his team needs them most.

For large swathes of Saturday’s gripping clash with Brighton & Hove Albion, the visitors were head and shoulders above their opponents, making Liverpool look foolish as they chased shadows in the first half.

But only going into the break 1-0 up never felt enough. Not when the Salahs of this world are around. We have all seen strikes like his second-half winner to complete a crucial comeback success, made even sweeter on a day that Manchester City and Arsenal both lost, before.

Arsenal’s longest journey of the Premier League season once again turned out be their most dispiriting. Two-and-a-half years ago, their challenge for a Champions League place ground to a halt against Newcastle at St James’ Park. Now a title challenge may have reached a premature end on Tyneside. Certainly, Arsenal have seven months to assess just how damaging a third defeat in four visits will prove.

With one point from a possible nine, with a second successive away loss, they have stumbled when they needed to surge. This time, the loss of points was not due to a loss of players. Arsenal finished with the full 11 but with a solitary shot on target. Nor could this be attributed to the officiating, unlike last autumn’s loss to Newcastle. Instead, they were unsuccessful and uninspired, shorn of ideas and incision. “We deserved to lose,” admitted Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta. “It is not about winning the title, it is about being our best version every week.” They weren’t, leaving him speechless: “We will struggle to find the words today.”

Manchester City’s 32-game unbeaten run in the Premier League was ended by Bournemouth who gave a superb display to beat the champions 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium.

Not since losing to Aston Villa on December 6 last year had City lost in the league, but from the first moments on the south coast Andoni Iraola’s side looked a match for them, their energy and industry rewarded by goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson.

It looked at times like Bournemouth would run away from City. Marcus Tavernier struck a post at 2-0 to leave Pep Guardiola’s side clinging on by their fingertips, before Josko Gvardiol set up a nervous finish when he headed in Ilkay Gundogan’s cross.

Earlier on, Enzo Maresc told the media that Chelsea “are happy”.

“We knew it was a difficult game for many reasons. We scored, we came back. After the goal we tried to win.

“We are happy because we knew how difficult it would be.

“The [United] players want to prove they’re good enough. A new manager with different ideas so we had to prepare a different way.”

On his half-time change when he brought on Marc Cucurella for Malo Gusto: “It was quite clear. We tried something different tactically. Not an injury for Malo [Gusto], just a tactical decision.”

Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media, and he says that he is “slightly disappointed”.

“I think we had the better of the chances in the game. Overall, the performance of the players was fantastic.

“The players did really well and fought in every inch of the pitch. It was very good to watch that bit.

“Overall the chances we created, we could have scored one more to win the game. It was a shame we couldn’t. Overall I’m slightly disappointed we didn’t win.

“It’s an emotional rollercoaster - it’s been almost a full week where so many things happened. My job was to steady the ship. The players reacted very well, [there’s] something to build on in the next two games.

“I came here to help the club in any capacity. After these two games that will continue and hopefully it can work out. It’s special to be back in the city and at the club.

“I try to share the culture of the club, the culture of the town and the fans. That’s an important part. I’m glad I can share these moments and help the players understand the spirit.

“I saw the spirit on the pitch on Wednesday and today. That’s the foundation to grow.”

In his post-match reaction, Bruno Fernandes says that “everyone knows how much I wanted the goal to come”.

“I need to help the team with goals and assists. It’s been one of the most disappointing things this season - but I got some in the cup. Now [I’m] scoring in the Premier League.

“It was a lot of disappointment in the dressing room. We could have won the game.

“Not much has changed. We get the point and we can be happy for that. We need to be disappointed because we’re far back in the league.

On incoming manager Ruben Amorim, he says: “I am a big fan of Sporting and watch a lot of their games”.

“Ruben Amorim brought the excitement back to the club - it was a little bit split when he came [to Sporting]. He transformed everything and brought everyone together.”

The Sy punditry team seem to agree that Martinez’s challenge at the end should have been a red. 50/50 really, you couldn’t complain either way.

There was little contact but the intention was definitely there!

On Sky Sports, Jamie Redknapp mentions that it “was like a pub game at times”, while Frank Lampard says that United “are probably the worst pressing team in the league.”

More reaction to come here.