Scott McTominay scored twice as Manchester United defeated Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford.

The midfielder scored either side of Cole Palmer’s strike as the Red Devils climbed to sixth, just three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.

How the match unfolded

Man Utd started brightly in a thrilling end-to-end encounter featuring 41 shots, with 28 for the hosts and 13 for Chelsea. 

The Red Devils had the opportunity to take a deserved lead after just eight minutes when Enzo Fernandez trod on Antony’s foot in the box.

Bruno Fernandes stepped up to take the penalty, but Robert Sanchez dived to his right to keep the ball out and Rasmus Hojlund fired the rebound over.

It was the United captain’s third failure from his past six spot-kicks in all competitions, while Sanchez became the first Chelsea goalkeeper to save a Premier League penalty since May 2021, when Edouard Mendy denied Sergio Aguero.

Three minutes later Chelsea went close at the other end as Mykhailo Mudryk burst down the left side and forced a low save from Andre Onana at the near post.

Man Utd took the lead in the 20th minute through McTominay. Chelsea lost possession and Marc Cucurella’s block from Harry Maguire’s shot fell kindly to McTominay, who coolly took a touch before tucking his finish into the bottom-right corner.

Sanchez continued to make crucial stops for Chelsea with an amazing close-range double save in the 32nd minute to deny McTominay.

Those stops looked particularly important when Chelsea equalised just before the break as Palmer scored his fifth goal of the season, and his first from open play. The boyhood Man Utd fan received a good pass from Mudryk on the edge of the area and worked his way across the box before shooting back across goal into the bottom-right corner.  

The start of the second half was evenly contested, but McTominay remained one of the biggest threats on the pitch. He rose highest to connect with Luke Shaw’s corner in the 64th minute but was again denied by Sanchez.

McTominay finally scored his second goal of the match in the 70th minute when he got on the end of Alejandro Garnacho’s cross and headed past Sanchez at the back post.

The Scotland international almost completed his hat-trick just minutes later, but he lost his composure at the last second and shot wide of goal.

Substitute Armando Broja came closest to equalising for Chelsea, but his header in stoppage time was from a tight angle and comfortably saved by Onana.

Man Utd move to 27 points, while Chelsea remain 10th on 19 points.

Man Utd report | Chelsea report

Match officials

Referee: Chris Kavanagh. Assistants: Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan. Fourth official: Tim Robinson. VAR: David Coote. Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.