Man Utd draw at Chelsea
LONDON — The cautious game plan, with Cristiano Ronaldo dropped to the bench, worked for Manchester United.
Hitting Chelsea on the counterattack, with Jadon Sancho scoring his first Premier League goal, and grabbing a point is the type of damage limitation-mode United is in this season.
Snatching a 1-1 draw on Sunday — after home humiliations to Liverpool and Manchester City in the fading embers of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign — gives Ralf Rangnick a platform to build on.
The German is yet to officially take charge — with a post-Brexit work permit still to be secured — but this could well be Michael Carrick’s final act as interim caretaker manager.
The disappointment for United will be not holding onto the lead after Aaron Wan-Bissaka caught the back of Thiago Silva’s heel when clearing the ball. Jorginho equalized from a penalty in the 69th minute — a day before the Italian discovers wether he has won the Ballon d’Or.
Jorginho had been at fault for the United goal in the 50th minute. Mis-controlling a clearance from United midfielder Bruno Fernandes’ hooked long ball allowed Jadon Sancho to seize possession. The 21-year-old forward had the space to race through on goal before slipping a shot past goalkeeper Edouard Mendy that crept inside the right post.
Sancho, who joined in July for 85 million euros (then $100 million), also netted in the Champions League on Tuesday in a win at Villarreal.
Now another positive result — after losing five of its last seven league games under Solskjaer — has taken United to within five points of West Ham in the fourth Champions League qualification place.
CHELSEA’S LEAD CUT
Manchester City beat West Ham 2-1 as the defending champions trimmed Chelsea’s lead at the top to a single point.
Ilkay Gundogan tapped in City’s opener in the 33rd minute from Riyad Mahrez’s deflected crossfield ball. Fernandinho’s strike in the 90th meant Manuel Lanzini’s dipping shot in stoppage time would only be a consolation.
Snow was falling at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester but it was a heavier storm about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north at Turf Moor that forced the postponement of Burnley’s home game against Tottenham less than an hour before kickoff.
EVERTON STRUGGLES
Ahead of the Merseyside derby reunion with former club Liverpool, Rafa Benitez has gone a seventh match without a win as Everton manager.
Ivan Toney, who played under Benitez at Newcastle but struggled for playing time, scored the goal that gave Brentford a 1-0 win over Everton.
Brentford claimed a first home league win since opening day against Arsenal in August to move up to 12th. Everton is two places lower in the standings.