*Manchester Utd 2 Chelsea 1
*Liverpool 2 Everton 1
By Richard Martin, at Old Trafford, & Richie Mills, at Anfield
Finally, Manchester United, today, beat a top-level opponent under Ruben Amorim as they saw off Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford.
But the coach should still face hard questions after his side made life hard for themselves despite taking a 2-0 lead against 10 men.
Goalie Robert Sanchez’s early red card got United off to a dream start and they marched into the lead with goals from Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.
However, the Brazilian was then sent off, wiping out the numerical advantage and making for a nervy second half, with Trevoh Chalobah halving the deficit in the 80th minute.
United needed a response after their wimpy derby defeat at Manchester City and they were handed a massive favour by Sanchez, who was shown a red card in the fifth minute after rushing out of his area and clattering into Bryan Mbeumo.
United did not take long to take advantage, Fernandes stooping in to head home a cross-shot from Patrick Dorgu as the hosts swarmed around Chelsea’s area.
Things got even better for Amorim’s side when Cole Palmer was taken off midway through the first half with a suspected recurrence of the groin injury he had just recovered from.
It was the third substitute Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made and surely not even United could blow such an advantage. However, they nearly did.
Casemiro bludgeoned in a second goal with his head before half-time after some aerial bombardment involving Patrick Dorgu and Harry Maguire but then undid all his good work with a stupid sending off right before half-time.
Both his actions to earn deserved yellow cards were totally needless and handed Chelsea the momentum. Chalobah headed home from a corner to send shivers down United’s spine but the Red Devils dug deep to preserve their lead and hold on for a vital win.
At Anfield, Liverpool’s £125 million recruit, Alexander Isak, was outshone by his fellow forward as the Reds claimed a 2-1 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby.
Isak had to make do with a spot on the bench and, for the time being, he may have to play second fiddle to the on-fire Hugo Ekitike, who found the back of the net once again.
Arne Slot’s side ensured they scored for the 39th successive Premier League game in a row when Ryan Gravenberch magnificently volleyed in Mohamed Salah’s lofted cross into the box in the 10th minute for his second of the campaign.
The current kings of late winners seemed intent on not requiring a grandstand finish, and they doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark when Gravenberch fed Ekitike, who swept home for his fourth goal of the season.
The hosts started the second half in scrappy fashion, and in the 58th minute, they were punished when Idrissa Gueye rocketed a strike into the top corner from 12 yards.
Everton pushed hard but Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League as they managed the game well in the final minutes, limiting the Toffees to half chances.
PHOTO CAPTION: Casemiro (left) and Fernandes knock heads while relishing Man Utd’s victory… today.
Full Results From Major Domestic Leagues Across Europe
ENGLAND: Premiership
Liverpool – Everton 2:1
Brighton – Tottenham 2:2
Burnley – Nottingham 1:1
West Ham – Crystal Palace 1:2
Wolves – Leeds 1:3
Manchester Utd – Chelsea 2:1
Fulham – Brentford 0:1 (Ongoing as of press time)
FRANCE: Ligue 1
Nantes – Rennes 2:2
Brest – Nice 4:1
Lens – Lille 0:0 (Ongoing as of press time)
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Augsburg – Mainz 1:4
Hamburger SV – Heidenheim 2:1
Hoffenheim – Bayern Munich 1:4
Werder Bremen – Freiburg 0:3
RB Leipzig – FC Koln 3:1
ITALY: Serie A
Bologna – Genoa 2:1
Verona – Juventus 1:1
Udinese – AC Milan 0:1 (Ongoing as of press time)
NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie
FC Volendam – Excelsior 1:2
Groningen – Telstar 2:0
Sittard – Utrecht 1:0 (Ongoing as of press time)
NAC Breda – Heracles 0:1(Ongoing as of press time)
SPAIN: LaLiga
Girona – Levante 0:4
Real Madrid – Espanyol 2:0
Alaves – Sevilla 1:2
Villarreal – Osasuna 2:1
Valencia – Ath Bilbao 0:0 (Ongoing as of press time).
