Chelsea vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the fallout from Stamford Bridge
The Champions League trophy and the Super Cup were on display at Stamford Bridge before Chelsea’s stroll to victory over Crystal Palace. The silverware glittered in the sun. Thomas Tuchel’s team shone, too. The European champions dispatched Patrick Vieira’s side with the minimum of fuss.
Two first-half goals from Marcos Alonso and Christian Pulisic meant Chelsea never really had to build up a sweat. Trevoh Chalobah, the academy graduate making his Premier League debut, added a third after the break. It was all too easy.
A long winter lies ahead but the promise of more glory hung in the warm west London air. With Romelu Lukakuwaiting in the wings and options galore in the squad, Tuchel cannot fail to be optimistic. Chelsea were bright, their passing and movement were sharp and they allowed Palace little room to gain a foothold in the game.
Vieira, by contrast, must have felt a shiver. The Frenchman said before the game that his team will need time to adjust. With their 4-4-2 setup and lack of ambition it looked like Roy Hodgson had picked the side. Their lack of ambition and general aimlessness bodes badly for the season. Relive all the action below:
GOAL! Man Utd 4-1 Leeds (Fernandes ‘59 ⚽)
Man Utd add a fourth, and Fernandes gets his hat trick.
It’s a simple ball over the top, with the Portuguese attacker running in behind Leeds’ high line. Fernandes smashes the ball with his laces into the roof of the net, giving Meslier with absolutely no chance of saving the ball.
Game is good as over. But this could get worse for Leeds with half an hour remaining.
GOAL! Man Utd 3-1 Leeds (Fernandes ‘54 ⚽)
The home side have now doubled their advantage in the space of two minutes, and Leeds are shellshocked.
It’s Fernandes again, who makes the run from Pogba’s through ball, Fernandes sends Firpo the wrong way inside the box, before his shot creeps over the line, despite Ayling clearing the ball, but the ball was indeed over the line, and is given.
Three goals in about seven minutes!
GOAL! Manchester Utd 2-1 Leeds (Greenwod ‘51 ⚽)
Man Utd take the lead once more! An absolutely superb pass down the left hand channel by Pogba into the path of Greenwood, who sprints clear of Ayling, and Greenwood runs into the box and smashes a low drive into the far corner.
Superb goal.
GOAL! Manchester Utd 1-1 Leeds (Ayling ‘47 ⚽)
Leeds equalise through Ayling, and what a rocket!
Two minutes into the second half, the ball falls to Ayling just inside the Man Utd half, he runs unopposed towards the home side’s goal and unleashes a thunderbolt of a shot that arrows into the corner of De Gea’s goal, giving the Spanish stopper with absolutely no chance.
That’ll feature in the goal of the month compilation at the end of August!
Premier League: Manchester Utd 1-0 Leeds
Second half kicks off.
Leeds have made one change at the break, with new signing Junior Firpo coming on for Rodrigo.
Premier League: Manchester Utd 1-0 Leeds
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Premier League: Manchester Utd 1-0 Leeds
Half time at Old Trafford:
1-0 to the home side through a well-worked Bruno Fernandes goal.
A high intensity game that swung back and forth throughout the half. Neither side really controlled the game, with the ball spent ping ponging from one side to the other.
Fernandes’ goal was the product of a wonderful pass from Pogba, who nonchalantly chipped it into his path.
United could be another goal or two up, as they had the better chances, but Leeds also had opportunities to score, with the Rodrigo header being the main one.
Both managers will likely be happy with how their teams performed, but Solskjaer will be the happier of the two. The game is simmering nicely.
Premier League: Manchester Utd 1-0 Leeds
44 min: A chorus of ‘shoot’ when Pogba finds himself in a bit of space on the edge of the Leeds box, but he prefers to switch it side for James, who does shoot, but doesn’t get enough purchase on it.
Premier League: Manchester Utd 1-0 Leeds
42 min: Leeds have still performed decently in this first half, and pose a threat whilst attacking, but Man Utd just look capable of scoring every time they venture forward.
Premier League: Manchester Utd 1-0 Leeds
36 min: Leeds struggling a little at the minute, with the home side looking dangerous at every opportunity going forward.
Bielsa’s side need to see this out to half time, and regroup.
But Leeds are continuing to stream forward, as all Bielsa sides do.
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