Chelsea 1-1 Man Utd (Jorginho pen, 87′, Casemiro 90+4)
Casemiro chose an opportune time to score his first goal for Manchester United as his injury-time header earned a point a matter of minutes after Jorginho had given Chelsea the lead via the penalty spot.
Although both clubs have chopped and changed their managers in recent years, meetings between the two have tended to follow a similar pattern: the last six Premier League fixtures have ended all square with three 0-0s and three 1-1s.
For a long while, it looked as though a largely uneventful affair would end goalless, but Jorginho handed his side the lead in the 87th minute after Scott McTominay had wrestled Armando Broja to the floor. United rallied, though, and levelled through Casemiro who expertly guided a header beyond Kepa’s outstretched fingertips and in off the post. It was the type of effort that the absent Cristiano Ronaldo would have been proud of.
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The most noteworthy incident of the second half prior to the late goals was when Raphael Varane left the pitch in tears after appearing to twist his knee awkwardly as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sped past him. Judging by that reaction Varane must be a major doubt to represent the reigning World Cup champions France in Qatar in a month’s time.
Here’s how the players rated:
Chelsea player ratings
Kepa Arrizabalaga – Fumbled the ball behind for a corner after a loss of concentration but that mistake fortunately went unpunished. Denied Rashford twice in quick succession in the first half and swept up superbly to prevent Antony from racing onto a raking Fernandes pass shortly after the restart. Inches away from stopping Casemiro’s equaliser but couldn’t quite stretch enough to keep it out. 7/10
Kepa denies Rashford and Sancho
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 22, 2022| #CHEMAN pic.twitter.com/VRcepug1Dj
Trevoh Chalobah – Has generally played as a centre back in a back three for Chelsea but was pressed into action in a flat four after Potter’s tactical tweak and acquitted himself well. Made a crucial intervention on the slide to prevent a one-on-one for Rashford. Came close to scoring with a header that kissed the bar. 7/10
Thiago Silva – Typically strong in the air and read the game with his usual studiousness. Will be disappointed at the manner of United’s equaliser given it came from a header. 7/10
Marc Cucurella – Taken off before half-time as Potter sought to wrestle control away from United and while no player would relish being substituted so early he didn’t do anything particularly wrong. 6/10
Cesar Azpilicueta – Moved level with Petr Cech into third place in Chelsea’s all-time appearance list in the Premier League with 333. That statistic is evidence of his consistency and staying power but he lacks the attacking qualities and athleticism that Potter likes from his wing-backs. 5/10
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – Enjoying a consistent run in the team for the first time in years but along with Jorginho found himself swamped in central midfield in the opening half an hour. Improved after the restart but not one of his more impactful displays. 6/10
Jorginho – Couldn’t get a foothold in the game in the first half an hour or so but saw more of the ball once Potter brought on Kovacic. Calmy sent De Gea the wrong way from the penalty spot before earning a yellow for a cynical trip on Elanga. 7/10
JORGINHOOOO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 22, 2022
Chelsea take the lead in the final few minutespic.twitter.com/1x79JvqGXb
Ben Chilwell – The fact he remained on the pitch while Cucurella was replaced suggests that the England man is currently first-choice in Potter’s left-back pecking order. Is yet to hit the attacking heights he found last year since returning from an ACL injury. Roy Keane blasted Chilwell for being “lazy” by not challenging Casemiro in the air for the Brazilian’s goal. 6/10
Mason Mount – Has been Chelsea’s most influential player during Potter’s time in charge but was subdued in the first half and not up to his usual standards from dead ball situations. That being said, he did set up Chalobah’s chance from a corner to the back post. 6/10
Raheem Sterling – Sterling’s mystifying hoodoo against United continues: he has now gone 24 games without scoring and in truth never really looked like getting one. Hasn’t quite had the impact expected since moving from Manchester City in the summer. 5/10
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Snatched at a couple of half chances that came his way and looked a yard or two off the pace at times. Replaced by Pulisic as the Blues chased a winner. 5/10
Subs:
Mateo Kovacic – Introduced to give Chelsea greater control in midfield and made the impact desired. 7/10
Christian Pulisic – Didn’t influence the game after replacing Aubameyang. 6/10
Armando Broja – The Albanian is a handful and it was his penalty area presence that led to the penalty award. 7/10
Carney Chukwuemeka – Late substitute. N/A
Man Utd player ratings
David De Gea – Far less busy than his compatriot at the opposite end – De Gea didn’t have a single save to make in the first half. Unable to prevent Jorginho’s penalty, despite being given some lengthy instructions from Fernandes. 6/10
Diogo Dalot – Hasn’t always been appreciated by United’s supporters but has made big strides under Ten Hag and caught the eye again, both going forward and at the back. 7/10
Raphael Varane – Made a vital sliding interception as Aubameyang lurked menacingly behind him but his day ended prematurely as he was forced off the pitch due to a knee injury. The Frenchman’s tearful reaction to coming off suggests that he believes his chances of featuring at the World Cup are now over. 6/10
Lisandro Martinez – Rapidly growing into a cult hero among United supporters for his no-nonsense style and would have gained a few more fans after niggling Mount. Arguably the game’s best player which gives an indication into the kind of contest it was. 8/10
Luke Shaw – Lashed a shot wide in an early statement of intent. Looked the more in-form of the two left-backs vying for a starting place for England in Qatar. 6/10
Casemiro – Settling nicely into United’s midfield after a slow start to his career in Manchester and popped up with a vital equaliser with a striker’s finish. 7/10
WHAT A HEADER FROM CASEMIRO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 22, 2022
Manchester United have equalisedpic.twitter.com/U3ari0WeI4
Christian Eriksen – Replaced Fred in the starting line-up and his crisp passing brought an element of control to his team. Faded in the second period. 6/10
Antony – Forced Kepa into a save down to his right with a curing effort from range that is fast becoming his signature move. If the Brazilian has a glaring weakness it is his weaker right foot which was shown when he fired a shot wide from a promising position just before the interval. 6/10
Bruno Fernandes – Prodded and probed in front of Chelsea’s backline, releasing Rashford and Antony into space down Chelsea’s left-hand channel and will have been disappointed that neither pass ended in an assist. One of the few attacking players to make an impression. 7/10
Jadon Sancho – Saw plenty of the ball early on as United made a dominant start, but didn’t do an awful lot with it. Subbed off six minutes into the second half as Ten Hag bolstered his midfield. Another quiet afternoon for the winger who is rapidly running out of time to convince Gareth Southgate to pick him in his World Cup squad. 5/10
Marcus Rashford – Led the line again in Ronaldo’s absence and had the first big opening but was unable to lift the ball over Kepa before stinging the Spaniard’s palms with a well-struck shot soon after. Not really involved after the restart, however. 6/10
Subs:
Fred – Scored in midweek but squandered a good opportunity with an effort that was neither a shot nor a cross. 6/10
Victor Lindelof – Replaced the injured Varane and was fine. 6/10
Scott McTominay – Had precisely the opposite impact he was supposed to by conceding a penalty. Bailed out by Casemiro. 5/10
Anthony Elanga – Late substitute. N/A
Manager reaction
Erik ten Hag confirmed it is too early to tell whether Varane will miss the World Cup but acknowledged that the defender’s reaction was not promising.
“It’s not possible [to give a diagnosis]. But he feels, of course, a certain perspective. But you don’t know. We have to wait a minimum of 24 hours and maybe even longer when it’s that injury.”
During his press conference Ten Hag added: “I can understand, we can all probably understand he would be emotional [if he is out of the World Cup], but I think he also has to wait.
“You don’t know [how bad it is]. Of course he is experienced, but [the] medical [staff] have to do their job, have to make the assessment and set the right diagnosis, and then from there on can come to a conclusion.”
On Casemiro’s goal, the Dutchman added: “Great! We buy him also for this reason because we need headers and I think that was a great finish. But I want to value the spirit of the team. It was a tough game.”
Graham Potter admitted that Chelsea can still improve their attacking play after struggling to play their way through United’s defence.
“I didn’t feel we had enough control of the game, we probably needed an extra body in midfield to try and put a bit more pressure on, create turnovers to win the ball. I thought we were better after that.
“The boys gave everything, we can improve a lot in terms of our attacking play because we can create a bit more but we were playing against a good side.
“Kepa was a bit unlucky but it’s only just gone in and the first goal we have conceded in a while but we have to take the positives. I thought we could’ve attacked a bit better at times. We had chances, they had chances so a point is about right.”
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