Man Utd Make Worst Premier League Start After Draw With Chelsea

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.

With just 12 points won, this is Manchester United’s worst return after 10 games of a league campaign since 1986-87 (8). Meanwhile, their total of nine goals is their fewest at this stage of a league campaign since 1973-74 (also 9).

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Chelsea, now without victory at Old Trafford in the league on their last 12 visits, were the better side for most of the game but allowed United to get in front through Bruno Fernandes’ second-half penalty after Rasmus Hojlund was brought down by Robert Sanchez.

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.”