Improved Red Devils secure victory against Chelsea: Man Utd 2-1 Player ratings

Manchester United put in an impressive performance, with Scott McTominay scoring twice to secure a crucial Premier League victory against a lackluster Chelsea team at Old Trafford.

An early penalty opportunity was squandered by Bruno Fernandes, but McTominay was soon able to make good with a goal before halftime, showcasing a brilliant first half by Erik ten Hag’s squad.

A score from Cole Palmer, a former Manchester City forward and lifelong United fan, tied the game just before the first half ended. Despite missed opportunities by both teams, it was McTominay's second-half header that decided the match.

United started strongly after enduring a tough few days of criticism. Early attempts by Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund threatened the Chelsea goal, with Hojlund's snap shot from the left side resulting in a crucial save by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Sanchez was the savior again as he blocked Fernandes' penalty shot, won by Antony after a clumsy challenge by Enzo Fernandez, which required VAR intervention to confirm.

Sanchez continued to fend off Manchester United's offensive pressure by denying shots from Alejandro Garnacho and Antony. Meanwhile, at the other end, Chelsea's first significant offensive move of the match resulted in Mykhailo Mudryk hitting the edge of the post with a shot from a narrow angle. Chelsea's Andre Onana also handled a moving Fernandez shot skillfully.

Though Chelsea started to get into the groove, it wasn't enough to prevent McTominay's opening goal. After an initial shot by Harry Maguire was blocked, McTominay skillfully controlled the rebound and drove it home with a volley shot.

Despite Sanchez's stellar double save and Chelsea's efforts to counterattack, it was Palmer's equalizer that gave Chelsea a brief moment of brilliance amidst a series of wasted chances. Palmer managed to find the bottom corner of the goal, out of Onana's reach, with careful execution from Mudryk's pass.

The second half was slower paced, with Antony's deflected shot causing a scramble. A potential handball by Levi Colwill during a Luke Shaw attempt was dismissed by both the referee and VAR. This suggested a shift in momentum as McTominay, who had been searching for a second goal since his first, expertly met Garnacho's cross from the left, netting the deciding goal of the match.

McTominay could have clinched a hat-trick but missed a seemingly easy shot, putting Chelsea on the defensive. A misplay by Reece James allowed Garnacho to break free, but a united effort by Sanchez and James successfully blocked his shot. Despite the pressure, the Argentinian missed a close-range shot as the clock wound down.

Despite their dominance, Manchester United couldn't relax without a two-goal lead and narrowly avoided a late equalizer by Chelsea substitute Armando Broja. His close-range header hit the post as stoppage time began.

Player Scores: Goalkeeper Andre Onana receives a 6/10 for his performance, while defender Harry Maguire, forward Antony, and midfielder Bruno Fernandez each were awarded 7/10. Meanwhile, defender Diogo Dalot, midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, and standout midfielder Scott McTominay were given scores of 7, 7 and 9 out of 10, respectively.