After a promising, energetic start from Chelsea, Kurt Zouma conceded a penalty for a clumsy challenge on Marcus Rashford, which the striker duly converted.
At half-time, the game still felt in the balance but Chelsea’s pursuit of an equaliser left them open to United’s potent counter-attack, which came into effect when Andreas Pereira’s pinpoint cross was steered in by Anthony Martial.
Rashford bagged a third 17 seconds after the restart, with Paul Pogba’s delightful through ball putting the England international one-on-one with Kepa Arrizabalaga, before new signing Daniel James finished off the rout with a fourth 10 minutes from time.
United praise was plentiful and the Chelsea autopsy was deep but did you spot everything that happened at Old Trafford? Express Sport brings you three things you may have missed…
Mourinho takes aim at Woodward
Jose Mourinho has joined the Sky Sports punditry roster for the 2019/20 season – until his next managerial appointment, at least – and did not withhold his thoughts on his two former clubs.
Harry Maguire was named Man of the Match by the television network and Mourinho knows all too well about the centre-back’s quality, having tried to sign him when he ruled the roost at Old Trafford last summer.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward obstructed the signing, however, citing that Mourinho already £60m worth of centre-halves in Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof.
Mourinho’s gripe about the transfer that never was seeped into his dealings with the press and ultimately laid the foundations for his ill-fated third season.
After asserting the Englishman was “solid as a rock” against Chelsea, Mourinho added: “Maguire was good, Lindelof was good, as I always said, Lindelof can be a very good player and with Maguire they can be a very, very good player.”
Chelsea dominate most stats… but not the important one
It’s an adage commonly thrown about that the only statistic that matters is the one in the top left of the screen (which has been ruined somewhat by BT Sport’s coverage).
The proverb certainly rang true for Chelsea yesterday as they dominated almost every attacking statistic but the scoreline.
Lampard’s side had more possession (54% vs 46%), shots (18 vs 11), shots on target (7 vs 5), accurate passes (442 vs 364) and corners (5 vs 3) than United but could not get past David de Gea.
The opener allowed United to hurt the Blues thereafter the only way they know how – on the counter-attack – but the stats shows there is reason for Chelsea fans’ moods to not reflect the colour of their team’s shirt.