Alvaro Morata’s second-half header gave Chelsea 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday
Cesar Azpilicueta found his fellow Spaniard with a perfectly delivered cross from the right and an unmarked Morata finished emphatically.
It meant another losing return to the Bridge for former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, whose United side were beaten there twice last season.
It also meant fourth-placed Blues went into the international break a point behind second-placed United and nine points behind leaders Manchester City.
Chelsea boss, Antonio Conte, axed David Luiz and was able to recall N’Golo Kante following the midfielder’s hamstring problem.
Kante, badly missed while sidelined, helped the home side secure the deserved three points.
It was Mourinho’s third straight loss at Stamford Bridge since he became United manager.
The defeat, United’s second in the league this season, leaves the visitors eight points adrift of leaders Manchester City in second place with hopes of a title challenge fading fast.
And the result also extended United’s dismal run in front of goal against last season’s top six. Since the start of last season, United have scored just once in 630 minutes away from home in the Premier League against Chelsea, Tottenham, City, Liverpool and Arsenal — the solitary goal a consolation strike by Wayne Rooney during a 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane.
United rarely looked like scoring on this occasion either, with Marcus Rashford heading over in the first half after Romelu Lukaku forced a save from Thibaut Courtois with a turn and shot on 16 minutes.
Lukaku has now gone seven games without a goal for United. His lacklustre performance was in stark contrast to that of Morata — the player United rejected in favour of the Belgian.
Morata’s goal, his first since September, will do wonders for the Spaniard’s confidence, but the victory will be more important for his manager who is working under constant pressure due to the champions’ slow start to the season, but a win against United and Mourinho will always work in a Chelsea manager’s favour and this result will help to steady the ship.
