Match ends, Manchester United 4, Chelsea 0.
Man UtdManchester United4ChelseaChelsea0
Manchester United recorded their biggest Old Trafford win over Chelsea since 1965 to condemn Frank Lampard to a miserable start as a Premier League manager.
Marcus Rashford scored twice, either side of a close-range effort from Anthony Martial, who had been given the number nine shirt back following the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan.
Substitute Daniel James completed the scoring with a goal on his debut nine minutes from time.
The final scoreline was harsh on the visitors, who were the better side before the break and hit the frame of the goal through Tammy Abraham and Emerson, but still suffered their worst ever opening-day defeat in 104 league seasons.
The ecstatic home supporters did not care about that though, as the negativity of a difficult summer was swept away by their best result against Chelsea since they beat them by the same score in the 1994 FA Cup final.
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- VAR's Premier League debut - did it work?
- Wan-Bissaka your player of the match
An £80m introduction
United had to pay Leicester £80m - and make Harry Maguire the most expensive defender ever - to land manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's number one summer transfer target.
Maguire's England team-mate Rashford may grab the plaudits with his brace but the Yorkshireman's authoritative performance underlined why his new boss wanted him above getting the big name midfield or striking reinforcements so many United fans have demanded on social media.
His calmness under pressure helped ensure that when the home side looked shaky in the first half they did not add to their concerns with self-inflicted mistakes.
Maguire was happy to keep it simple in possession and push the ball on to Paul Pogba when he could, and had the awareness to spot team-mates in trouble, something former United boss Jose Mourinho rather churlishly said on TV might be frequently needed in the case of Luke Shaw.
The game was still in the balance when Maguire stepped up to challenge Abraham on the edge of the United box. Maguire calmly took possession, leaving Abraham on the floor in the process, and strode away, setting in motion the attack that ended with Martial bundling home.
Risky strategy
Lampard went for an early morning run around Old Trafford to prepare for his Premier League debut as Chelsea manager.
The Blues' record goal-scorer has made some bold decisions already, despite being barely a month into his new job.
He has picked seven home-grown players in his senior squad: the four in action against United - Abraham, Mason Mount, Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori - the currently injured duo of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi, and promising defender Reece James.
It is an unprecedented number for the Roman Abramovich era. But, while it is the philosophy of promoting youth from within that Chelsea's fans have wanted, it comes with risk.
For every powerful fourth-minute shot from Abraham that thunders off the inside of a post, there is the moment Mount had when, presented with a shooting opportunity from an angle on the right of the United box, the 20-year-old elected for a cut-back, which ran disappointingly through for new United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Given that investment in youth, this summer's transfer ban and the departure of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid, Lampard took a brave decision to sell David Luiz to Arsenal on deadline day.
The Brazilian may not be the most reliable defender but his experience is valuable and Luiz's replacement on Sunday, Kurt Zouma, struggled badly.
He not only conceded the penalty but was also caught out of position and gave away possession, both expensive mistakes in an era when top teams routinely build from the back.
Chelsea's inability to stem the flow of goals in the second half will be a major concern for Lampard, whose name was still being sung heartily by the visiting fans at the end.
A word for the referee
United's opening goal came from the penalty spot.
Referee Anthony Taylor played an excellent advantage after Andreas Pereira had been fouled, allowing play to continue as Zouma brought Rashford down.
Never a regular penalty taker for club or country, two of the three penalties Rashford has scored were in the World Cup last-16 shoot-out with Colombia last year and in the fourth-minute of injury-time to give United their memorable Champions League victory against Paris St-Germain in March.
Man of the match - Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Day to forget for Lampard - the stats
- Frank Lampard suffered the heaviest defeat by a Chelsea manager in his first match in charge since Danny Blanchflower lost 7-2 to Middlesbrough in December 1978.
- For a second consecutive season, Manchester United's first goal of their Premier League campaign has been a penalty (also Paul Pogba v Leicester City in 2018-19).
- Chelsea will end the day in the Premier League relegation-zone for the first time since 30 September 2000.
- Since his debut in September 2015, Anthony Martial has scored 49 goals in all competitions for Manchester United - more than any other player.
- The last manager before Frank Lampard to lose by four or more goals in his first Premier League match in charge was Gustavo Poyet in October 2013 (Swansea City 4-0 Sunderland).
- Chelsea's starting XI average age was 25 years and 199 days - compared to Manchester United's average age of 24 years and 227 days.
What's next?
United have a full week to prepare for the game at Wolves on 19 August (20:00 BST). Before then, Chelsea play two games - the Uefa Super Cup against Liverpool in Instanbul on Wednesday (20:00) and a home league game with Leicester next Sunday (16:30).
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 2LindelöfBooked at 69mins
- 5Maguire
- 23Shaw
- 6Pogba
- 39McTominay
- 14LingardBooked at 48minsSubstituted forMataat 86'minutes
- 15PereiraSubstituted forJamesat 74'minutes
- 10RashfordSubstituted forGreenwoodat 86'minutes
- 9MartialBooked at 80mins
Substitutes
- 8Mata
- 18Young
- 21James
- 22Romero
- 26Greenwood
- 31Matic
- 38Tuanzebe
Chelsea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 28Azpilicueta
- 4Christensen
- 15ZoumaBooked at 36mins
- 33Emerson
- 5JorginhoBooked at 52minsSubstituted forKantéat 73'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 17Kovacic
- 11Pedro
- 19Mount
- 8BarkleySubstituted forPulisicat 58'minutes
- 9AbrahamBooked at 57minsSubstituted forGiroudat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Alonso
- 7Kanté
- 13Caballero
- 16Kenedy
- 18Giroud
- 22Pulisic
- 29Tomori
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 73,620
Match Stats
Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamChelsea
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away7
- Corners
- Home3
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester United 4, Chelsea 0.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by David de Gea.
Post update
Attempt saved. Emerson (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Christian Pulisic.
Post update
Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
Post update
Daniel James (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Offside, Manchester United. Scott McTominay tries a through ball, but Anthony Martial is caught offside.
Booking
N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea).
Post update
Daniel James (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Pedro (Chelsea) with an attempt from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Emerson with a cross.
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Attempt blocked. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mason Mount.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Mason Greenwood (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aaron Wan-Bissaka with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Juan Mata replaces Jesse Lingard.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Mason Greenwood replaces Marcus Rashford.
Post update
Attempt saved. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Pedro.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester United 4, Chelsea 0. Daniel James (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Paul Pogba following a fast break.
Booking
Anthony Martial (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Comments
Join the conversation
Well played lads and keep it up.
Well, well, well!
This will make, or ruin, the weekend for many on here.
Chelsea: Twice hitting the woodwork isn't "unlucky", they are misses - Simple as!
Cracking match & welcome back Man Utd.
...Result as expected...move on...
James looks to have real potential.
Are United above Liverpool now?
Do I think we’ll win the league? No.
Do I think we’re at the level of City and Liverpool? No.
Do I think we won’t have some tough times ahead? No.
Absolutely made up to see such a positive, feel good game at Old Trafford. You’re not a football fan if you didn’t enjoy the moment Daniel James scored and the celebration. PL Season looks like it’s going to be a cracker!
There are many sensible adult fans of all clubs, happy to engage without negativity, critically debate without being rude with humour filled banter.
The problem is the trolls prefer to write tribal nonsense, posting frequently, repeating tired old cliches - drowning out all sense. And fans assume all opposing fans are the same when they are not!
Decent fans need to unite!!!
City fan.