This week will see the Red Devils conclude a testy run of fixtures which includes this one as well as Arsenal on Thursday. What the midweek win at Villarreal shows me was that United needed to go back to basics, that is a 4-4-2, which brings the best out of the wingers. One player who benefits from this system is Jadon Sancho, the big money signing from Dortmund. Caretaker manager Carrick kept Rashford on the left wing in continuation of that last 15 minutes in Spain. But the 4 in midfield consisted of just one attacking player, Bruno Fernandes with three anchorman, Fred , McTominay and Matic.The Fred chance squandered at the end illustrates my point. Most important of all, NO CHRISTIANO RONALDO. Big call by a young manager which will definitely endear himself to the high ups at Old Trafford. It wasn't personal but tactical but as usual Ronaldo's prima donna attitude shone through at full time when he headed straight to the tunnel.Definitely a tactic to stifle any quick breaks from Jorginho and Kante/Loftus Cheek. It worked. The absence of the suspended Maguire was a blessing in disguise as it provided the opportunity to assess the relatively untried combination of Lindelof and Bailly.

Chelsea made a lot of changes from the side that conquered Juve notably Werner starting upfront. We know he struggles for goals in the big matches. Why? He tends to drift wide on the break. United keeper De Gea was the MAN again between the sticks, his saves from Rudiger and Hudson-Odoi making sure honors would be even. One might look at it as evidence of a weak defense , the fact that the Spaniard is being called upon to make those saves. The goal scored by Jadon Sancho shows the disadvantages of holding a high press, acres and acres of space to run onto once Jorginho made the error. Chelsea had all the possession and attempts but it took a penalty to level it up. The merits of the spot kick was always going to be debatable. If you miss the ball you get punished just like Wan Bissaka did. Chelsea see their lead at top of the Premier League cut to one point. United await Ralf Rangnick's arrival in good stead unbeaten since sacking Ole.

1 Previous Position 1 Chelsea 13 9 3 1 31 5 +26 30 WSaturday 23 October 2021CHE  7 -0  NOR WSaturday 30 October 2021NEW  0 -3  CHE DSaturday 6 November 2021CHE  1 -1  BUR WSaturday 20 November 2021LEI  0 -3  CHE DSunday 28 November 2021CHE  1 -1  MUN WatfordWednesday 01 December 2021WAT    CHE
2 Previous Position 2 Manchester City 13 9 2 2 27 7 +20 29 WSaturday 23 October 2021BHA  1 -4  MCI LSaturday 30 October 2021MCI  0 -2  CRY WSaturday 6 November 2021MUN  0 -2  MCI WSunday 21 November 2021MCI  3 -0  EVE WSunday 28 November 2021MCI  2 -1  WHU Aston VillaWednesday 01 December 2021AVL    MCI
3 Previous Position 3 Liverpool 13 8 4 1 39 11 +28 28 WSunday 24 October 2021MUN  0 -5  LIV DSaturday 30 October 2021LIV  2 -2  BHA LSunday 7 November 2021WHU  3 -2  LIV WSaturday 20 November 2021LIV  4 -0  ARS WSaturday 27 November 2021LIV  4 -0  SOU EvertonWednesday 01 December 2021EVE    LIV
4 Previous Position 4 West Ham United 13 7 2 4 24 16 +8 23 WSunday 24 October 2021WHU  1 -0  TOT WSunday 31 October 2021AVL  1 -4  WHU WSunday 7 November 2021WHU  3 -2  LIV LSaturday 20 November 2021WOL  1 -0  WHU LSunday 28 November 2021MCI  2 -1  WHU Brighton and Hove AlbionWednesday 01 December 2021WHU    BHA
5 Previous Position 5 Arsenal 13 7 2 4 15 17 -2 23 WFriday 22 October 2021ARS  3 -1  AVL WSaturday 30 October 2021LEI  0 -2  ARS WSunday 7 November 2021ARS  1 -0  WAT LSaturday 20 November 2021LIV  4 -0  ARS WSaturday 27 November 2021ARS  2 -0  NEW Manchester UnitedThursday 02 December 2021MUN    ARS
6 Previous Position 6 Wolverhampton Wanderers 13 6 2 5 12 12 0 20 DSaturday 23 October 2021LEE  1 -1  WOL WMonday 1 November 2021WOL  2 -1  EVE LSaturday 6 November 2021CRY  2 -0  WOL WSaturday 20 November 2021WOL  1 -0  WHU DSaturday 27 November 2021NOR  0 -0  WOL BurnleyWednesday 01 December 2021WOL    BUR
7 Previous Position 7 Tottenham Hotspur 12 6 1 5 11 17 -6 19 WSunday 17 October 2021NEW  2 -3  TOT LSunday 24 October 2021WHU  1 -0  TOT LSaturday 30 October 2021TOT  0 -3  MUN DSunday 7 November 2021EVE  0 -0  TOT WSunday 21 November 2021TOT  2 -1  LEE BrentfordThursday 02 December 2021TOT    BRE
8 Previous Position 8 Manchester United 13 5 3 5 21 22 -1 18 LSunday 24 October 2021MUN  0 -5  LIV WSaturday 30 October 2021TOT  0 -3  MUN LSaturday 6 November 2021MUN  0 -2  MCI LSaturday 20 November 2021WAT  4 -1  MUN DSunday 28 November 2021CHE  1 -1  MUN ArsenalThursday 02 December 2021MUN    ARS
9 Previous Position 9 Brighton and Hove Albion