Chelsea Vs. Manchester United: Reaction, Analysis, Gallery
Whenever Chelsea and Manchester United square off, no matter the occasion, there has always been room for competitive banter back and forth.
And with the furious pace that United have set so far this season in the Premiership, the rest of the field in England's top flight — Chelsea included — are playing catch up.
With both teams fielding world class squads, the question is always "who is better?"
Today's 2-1 result at Stamford Bridge leans the argument towards Chelsea's direction, but Manchester United seemed to have lost some flair and energy towards the end of the match.
A great match from start to finish, but as always, there is a lion's share of takeaways from Monday's premier fixture, including the impact the result has on the race for the EPL crown.
Reaction and Analysis
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1st Half:
-Nani continues to play very well. Nevermind his Ronaldo-esque whining tactics, maybe it's a Portuguese thing, but his delivery is top class. Not sure there is a better winger with his consistent delivery skills. He's a big reason why United have the separation at the top of the table.
-Great goal from Wayne Rooney. What a strike. Even a keeper of Petr Cech's class couldn't muster a fingertip save. With Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez producing at such a scorching rate, it is hard to see any other club challenging United for the EPL crown.
-David Luiz is proving to be worth every pound that Chelsea paid for him. The Brazilian is a stout defender, and he looks the part of an anchor at the back end of the Blues' defense for some time.
-As big as Rooney's goal was, Edwin van der Sar's triple-save on Frank Lampard's set piece towards the end of the first half was equally as impressive. Van der Sar looks in no position to retire. His save also kept Branislav Ivanovic from netting his fourth goal this season.
-Still waiting for Fernando Torres to gel with this Chelsea squad, but they are missing a proper distributing midfielder. Torres may prove to be a great signing in the future, but Carlo Ancelotti needs a Paul Scholes type of player to manufacture goals and facilitate better ball movement.
2nd Half:
-Composed equalizer from Luiz, his first in Chelsea colors. Really impressed by his versatility and technique on that strike.
-Ramires just doesn't seem like a good fit on this club. Maybe he needs more time, maybe Chelsea lack options.
-Not sure what Ancelotti gets out of starting Nicolas Anelka over Didier Drogba, but with the Ivorian subbing in for the Frenchman in the second period, this is the more dangerous Chelsea attack. Would love to see a Drogba-Torres relationship when both are in top form.
-Real back and forth game that is starting to open up. That much was expected from squads of this quality. At 1-1, unlikely it finishes as a draw.
-Unlucky but deserving penalty from Chris Smalling, and coolly converted by Lampard. Chelsea 2-1.
-Nemanja Vidic got sloppy towards the end. Uncharacteristic play from the United captain.
Final Thoughts:
-Great, resilient win from Chelsea, though they did play at the Bridge.
-Gently shakes up the landscape at the top of the table. Man Utd (60), Arsenal (56), Man City (50), Chelsea (48).
-Man City and Chelsea look like unfinished products, while United and Arsenal (despite the Gunners' injury troubles) form what could be a two-horse race for the title.
What Now?
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The likes of Arsenal and Manchester City are applauding this Chelsea squad for handing Manchester United just its second defeat of the season, squashing any chance of the top club extending its lead.
With the win, Chelsea crept back into the top four, jumping Tottenham by a single point and keeping the Blues' shady chances of repeating as champions alive.
Manchester United, on the other hand, are still playing the league's best football, but its advantage is not as comfortable as it once was.
United still has matches at Anfield, the Emirates and a home fixture against Chelsea in May.
Chelsea plays Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in three weeks, as well as back-to-back games against Tottenham and United.
