Manchester United’s new-manager bounce fell flat as they shared the points in a stale 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford that confirmed their worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, United’s interim boss until Ruben Amorim arrives on November 11, was unable to help his side replicate their free-scoring performance from Wednesday’s 5-2 Carabao Cup win over a weakened Leicester.
Stunned into action, Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, the best player on the pitch in a game sorely lacking quality, clapped back four minutes later with a sweetly-struck volley that beat Andre Onana through the legs of Mykhailo Murdyk.
Lisandro Martinez rode his luck in the closing stages with a knee-high challenge on Cole Palmer, which was reviewed by the Video Assistant referee, but deemed not worthy of a sending off, contrary to the opinion of Gary Neville. “Martinez is lucky. I think it is a red.”