Palmer scores twice in under two minutes as Chelsea stun Man Utd 4-3 after late drama

Cole Palmer’s goal deep into added time earned Chelsea a quite sensational victory at Stamford Bridge, as they came from behind to beat Manchester United 4-3 in the most dramatic of circumstances.

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TALKING POINT – Has the tide turned for Poch?PLAYER OF THE MATCH PLAYER RATINGS KEY MOMENTS KEY STATS

The hosts drew first blood within the opening four minutes, with Conor Gallagher converting Malo Gusto’s deflected shot, before Palmer doubled the lead when slotting home from the penalty spot after a foul on Marc Cucurella.

The two-goal cushion did not last long though. The Red Devils levelled before the break, as Garnacho pulled one back following a Moises Caicedo error, before Bruno Fernandes equalised with a guided header.

Gallagher hit the post in added time as Chelsea tried to retake the lead, but they found themselves behind after half-time when Garnacho nodded home his second.

From there, the game looked to be fizzling out, but Palmer had other ideas, making it 3-3 with another penalty after Diogo Dalot had fouled Noni Madueke, before the former Manchester City man completed his hat-trick by smashing a deflected shot past Andre Onana.

TALKING POINT – Has the tide turned for Poch?

There’s no doubt that the pressure has been piled on Mauricio Pochettino by Chelsea’s results this season, and calls for him to be sacked would only have intensified had his side lost again tonight – especially from 3-2 up.

However, things have been steadily improving in recent weeks, registering three wins over a five-match unbeaten run across all competitions, including progression to the FA Cup semi-finals.

This, though, could be real lift off. From 3-2 down and heading to a despairing victory, his side pulled a rabbit out of the hat to earn three points and move into the top half of the table. The momentum is there to be built upon.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Cole Palmer (Chelsea). Cole Palmer has had a remarkable season since swapping the Etihad Stadium for Stamford Bridge, and he was on song again in this fixture as almost every Chelsea attack went through him. In fact, quite simply, he did no wrong.

The forward, who has now scored in four successive games at Stamford Bridge, kept dropping into pockets of space to pick up possession, before plotting his way into the box.

A drop of the shoulder or neat piece of skill usually saw him past his man, and then it was a case of finding the final pass, which he so often did. And what about his finishing? Clinical. Let’s hope Gareth Southgate was watching.

PLAYER RATINGS

CHELSEA: Petrovic 7; Gusto 6, Disasi 6, Badiashile 6, Cucurella 6; Palmer 10, Caicedo 6, Gallagher 7, Fernandez 6, Mudryk 5; Jackson 5. Subs: Sterling 6, Chukwuemeka 6, Gilchrist n/a, Chalobah n/a, Madueke 7

MANCHESTER UNITED: Onana 7; Dalot 6, Varane 5, Maguire 7, Wan-Bissaka 8; Antony 8, Casemiro 6, Fernandes 7, Mainoo 6, Garnacho 8; Hojlund 5. Subs: Evans 7, Rashford n/a, Kambwala n/a, Mount n/a

KEY MOMENTS

4’ GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (Conor Gallagher). We have lift off within four minutes at the Bridge! Chelsea break forward down the right after United cheaply give possession away. A cross into the box by Malo Gusto deflects to Conor Gallagher, who slots under Andre Onana and into the back of the net. In truth, the goalkeeper should probably do better.

19’ GOAL! CHELSEA 2-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (Cole Palmer). Cucurella is played in by Mudryk, only to be brought down by Antony. It’s a penalty, and Palmer converts, slotting into the bottom right as Onana dives the wrong way.

34’ GOAL! CHELSEA 2-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (Alejandro Garnacho). The visitors are back in it and they have Chelsea to thank! A horrible bit of defending by Moises Caicedo, who instead of passing the ball back to his goalkeeper, plays it along the defence and straight to Garnacho. The forward bursts forward and slots past the goalkeeper

39’ GOAL! CHELSEA 2-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (Bruno Fernandes). Wow! What a comeback! The game has been turned on its head! Bruno Fernandes superbly nods back across goal and in at the far post after a fantastic United counter-attack, started by Onana. The cross by Dalot is superb too

45+4’ GALLAGHER HITS THE POST. A superb Chelsea move as Palmer slides a low pass to Gallagher in the area and the England international smashes a shot against the near post. Fantastic football

67’ GOAL! CHELSEA 2-3 MANCHESTER UNITED (Alejandro Garnacho) Oh my days, that is SENSATIONAL from Antony. He’s on the right with little support, but plays a stunning outside-of-the-boot cross to Garnacho in the middle, and the forward stoops to nod past the on-rushing goalkeeper. You will not see a better assist all season

90+10’ GOAL! CHELSEA 3-3 MANCHESTER UNITED (Cole Palmer). For the second time tonight, Palmer converts from the penalty spot. He went to the right in the first half, and on this occasion sends Onana the wrong way by finding the same corner! 3-3!

90+11’ GOAL! CHELSEA 4-3 MANCHESTER UNITED (Cole Palmer). WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?! Chelsea take the corner short and Palmer is in acres of space on the edge of the area. He unleashes a fizzing shot that takes a deflection and whistles past Onana, who is wrong-footed! WHERE WAS THE UNITED DEFENCE?!