Manchester United took full advantage of Robert Sanchez’s early red card to claim a vital Premier League victory over Chelsea in relentless rain at Old Trafford.
In a match packed with drama, United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro struck in the first half to seal the win, although Casemiro’s dismissal just before the break ensured both sides ended with 10 men.
Trevor Chalobah’s late header offered Chelsea hope, but United held firm to secure only their second league success of the season.
The decisive moment came in the fifth minute when Sanchez rushed from his area to stop Bryan Mbeumo breaking clear, only to foul the striker and leave referee Anthony Taylor with little choice but to show red.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca reshaped his side by sacrificing attackers Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian for defensive reinforcements.
Matters worsened when star forward Cole Palmer limped off with a groin issue inside 20 minutes, forcing Chelsea into three substitutions before the half-hour mark.
United seized control.
Fernandes fired them in front, before Casemiro’s header doubled the advantage.
However, the Brazilian then received a needless second booking for dragging back Andrey Santos, putting his side under pressure for the second half.
Chalobah’s late goal gave the visitors a glimmer, but United kept their composure to see out the contest.
The win, watched by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, lifted United into the top half of the table and eased pressure on head coach Ruben Amorim, who had been backed publicly only days earlier.
Fernandes embodied the urgency of the performance, demanding energy from the stands and celebrating wildly with supporters after near misses late on.
For Chelsea, it was another dismal night at Old Trafford.
The Blues have not won at the stadium since 2013, and this latest setback was marked by chaos and misfortune.
Sanchez’s dismissal – the earliest Premier League red card in the club’s history – undermined any tactical plan.
Maresca’s defensive reshuffle invited pressure, and Palmer’s injury compounded a miserable opening spell that left Chelsea chasing the game.
Despite Chalobah’s consolation, Chelsea’s winless run at United continues, while questions grow around Maresca’s ability to stabilise a side that too often unravels in big moments.
With Palmer’s fitness now in doubt after a gruelling week featuring a draw at Brentford and defeat to Bayern Munich, the Italian faces yet another pressing problem ahead of the next fixtures.
