LUKAKU INSPIRES MAN UTD FIGHTBACK TO BEAT CHELSEA
MANCHESTER, UK: Romelu Lukaku broke his barren run against top six Premier League opposition and provided the winner for Jesse Lingard as Manchester United came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford.
Victory against his former club was particularly sweet for Jose Mourinho as he got one over on Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, but more importantly moves United back above Liverpool into second place in the Premier League. Defeat allied to Tottenham Hotspur’s late win earlier in the day at Crystal Palace sees Chelsea slip to fifth.
The visitors enjoyed the better of the first period but failed to build on Willian’s 32nd minute opener.
Lukaku leveled seven minutes later from close range and then crossed for substitute Lingard to head home as a ruthless United took full advantage of their limited chances.
The specter of another fiery clash between Mourinho and Conte, who have publicly bickered in recent months, hogged the headlines before kick- off, but there was a peace offering when the pair shook hands before the action got underway.
Mourinho recalled Paul Pogba to his starting XI after dropping the £ 89 million ( 100 million euros, $124 million) midfielder for Wednesday’s stalemate at Sevilla in the Champions League.
But it was one of Conte’s two changes from his side’s 1-1 draw with Barcelona in midweek that nearly made an immediate impact.
Alvaro Morata started for the first time in six weeks, but saw his side- footed volley from Marcos Alonso’s driven cross come back off the bar just four minutes in.
Chelsea dominated possession in the opening quarter, but much like they did to Barcelona on Tuesday with limited time on the ball, United restricted them to few other clear-cut chances.
United had offered little going forward themselves until Anthony Martial’s low cross picked out Alexis Sanchez inside the area.
However, the Chilean is still waiting for his first big moment since joining United last month as he poked the ball tamely into the arms of Thibaut Courtois.