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Manchester United and Chelsea ground out a drab goalless draw in the Old Trafford rain that will convince no-one either side will be challenging for the Premier League this season.
Chelsea will probably be happier with a point and might have had more if United skipper Harry Maguire had been punished for wrapping his arm around the throat of Cesar Azpilicueta as he defended a first-half corner.
Although they remain stuck in the bottom half of the table, United were at least able to avoid losing a third straight home league game at the start of the season for the first time since 1930.
In addition, they can also point to three good saves from Edouard Mendy, two to deny Marcus Rashford, including one in the final minute, and one where Bruno Fernandes was thwarted.
However, Chelsea’s biggest scare was Mendy passing the ball across his goal and out for a corner in the first half when trying to pass to Thiago Silva.
Neither Edinson Cavani, on his debut, nor Paul Pogba could change things in the home side’s favour after they were introduced as substitutes. Mason Greenwood was given the final eight minutes to make an impression – but did not.
Chelsea gain in defence but lose in attack
Successive clean sheets does provide Chelsea with the kind of platform they have been lacking so far this season.
The return of Thiago Silva to anchor a three-man defence provided solidity. Yet it also seemed to cost Chelsea their edge in attack.
Too often Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic were left trying to take United’s defence on alone and rarely did the visitors mount concerted pressure around the United box, even though they dominated possession for long periods.
England defender Reece James looked their most inventive attacking threat with his forceful bursts down the right flank. However, his final ball was poor and United keeper David de Gea did not have to make a meaningful save.
Sixth place may look presentable for Frank Lampard’s men at the moment but they could slide down the league over the weekend and evidently, a large summer outlay is yet to pay dividends.
More to follow.
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Manchester United
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Squad number6Player namePogba
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Squad number7Player nameCavani
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Squad number11Player nameGreenwood
Chelsea
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Squad number16Player nameMendy
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Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
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Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
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Squad number15Player nameZouma
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Squad number24Player nameJames
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Squad number5Player nameJorginho
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Squad number7Player nameKanté
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Squad number21Player nameChilwell
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Squad number29Player nameHavertz
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Squad number10Player namePulisic
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Squad number11Player nameWerner
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Squad number9Player nameAbraham
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Squad number19Player nameMount
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Squad number22Player nameZiyech
Line-ups
Man Utd
- 1de Gea
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 2Lindelöf
- 5Maguire
- 23ShawBooked at 39mins
- 39McTominaySubstituted forGreenwoodat 83′minutes
- 17FredBooked at 46mins
- 8MataSubstituted forPogbaat 58′minutes
- 18Bruno Fernandes
- 21JamesSubstituted forCavaniat 58′minutes
- 10RashfordBooked at 76mins
Substitutes
- 6Pogba
- 7Cavani
- 11Greenwood
- 26Henderson
- 31Matic
- 34van de Beek
- 38Tuanzebe
Chelsea
- 16Mendy
- 28Azpilicueta
- 6Thiago Silva
- 15Zouma
- 24James
- 5Jorginho
- 7Kanté
- 21Chilwell
- 29HavertzBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMountat 72′minutes
- 10PulisicSubstituted forZiyechat 81′minutes
- 11WernerSubstituted forAbrahamat 71′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Rüdiger
- 9Abraham
- 13Caballero
- 17Kovacic
- 18Giroud
- 19Mount
- 22Ziyech
Live Text
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Match ends, Manchester United 0, Chelsea 0.
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Second Half ends, Manchester United 0, Chelsea 0.
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Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Edouard Mendy.
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Attempt saved. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
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Attempt blocked. Edinson Cavani (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mason Greenwood with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
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Attempt missed. Jorginho (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Fred.
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Mason Mount (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Mason Greenwood (Manchester United).
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Luke Shaw.
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Substitution, Manchester United. Mason Greenwood replaces Scott McTominay.
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Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United).
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Substitution, Chelsea. Hakim Ziyech replaces Christian Pulisic.
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Attempt blocked. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Victor Lindelöf.
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Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Thiago Silva.
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Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
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Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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