PLAYER RATINGS: Cole Palmer seals dramatic late win for Chelsea after Alejandro Garnacho and Antony had inspired United comeback… but one Blues star rates just THREE out of 10

Chelsea pulled off a scarcely believable injury-time comeback to beat Manchester United 4-3 at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening.  

Conor Gallagher wasted no time opening the scoring with his effort after just four minutes played, and errant play from Antony saw Cole Palmer send in a typically nerveless strike from the box 15 minutes later to double the scoreline. 

But sloppy midfield play from the hosts allowed Alejandro Garnacho to give the travellers a foot-hold in the tie in the 34th minute, with Bruno Fernandes stepping up to provide the equaliser one minute before half-time. 

Despite being hampered by injury, Man United clung on in the second-half and thought they had claimed victory through a second from Garnacho – until Palmer took just 82 seconds to score a penalty, and then the latest of winners. 

Here, Kieran Gills runs the rule over the players on the pitch for both sides on a promising night for Erik ten Hag‘s side.  

The former Manchester City forward’s 82-second showstopping display sparked jubilation

Mauricio Pochettino watched his side go from being on the receiving end of a dismal loss to recording a historic win

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1)

Djordje Petrovic 5

Helpless for the first two goals he conceded as Chelsea’s defence failed in their protection of him, but hard not to think he could have been braver in stopping Garnacho’s header.

Malo Gusto 6

His sprinting forward down the right-hand side was key to Chelsea scoring after four minutes as his cross worked its way to Gallagher but defensively, nobody impressed here.

Axel Disasi 5

Loves a celebration whenever he does something good defensively, though he is prone to the odd moment of madness as Chelsea’s back line had another bad day at the office.

Benoit Badiashile 4.5

The culprit who lost possession as United stormed upfield to score their third goal and make it 3-2, having tried and failed to control a lumped ball. Nowhere near good enough.

Djorde Petrovic wasn’t given much help by his defenders but could have been a braver figure

Benoit Badiashile had an unimpressive showing and was at fault in the face of United’s third

Moises Caicedo had a night to forget and will thank his team-mates for sparing his blushes 

Marc Cucurella 6

Great block to deny Fernandes and good work in winning the penalty after his one-two with Mudryk saw Antony bring him down from behind, as soft as it was.

Moises Caicedo 3

An absolute gift to get the visitors back into this game – an aimless pass to leave Garnacho with only Petrovic to beat to make it 2-1. Costly as that kickstarted the comeback.

Enzo Fernandez 5

Nice pass in behind for Gusto so he could cross for Gallagher’s goal but otherwise, he played too many erroneous passes and was nowhere near dominant enough in midfield.

Cole Palmer 8.5

Sent Onana the wrong way to make it seven penalties scored out of seven for the season and then made it eight out of eight in stoppage time, before that winner sparked bedlam at Stamford Bridge. 

Conor Gallagher opened the scoring after just four minutes but Chelsea came close to squandering their lead

Palmer’s hat-trick started off with his early penalty as Chelsea doubled the scoreline early on

Conor Gallagher 7

Captaining the team again, he produced a fine sweeping finish to score before striking the post in first-half stoppage time. Needs that new contract. Never stops working.

Mykhailo Mudryk 6

The confidence is coursing through Mudryk ever since his strike for Ukraine sent them to Euro 2024. Started ahead of Sterling and exchanged a one-two with Cucurella to win the penalty.

Nicolas Jackson 6

Stinging the palms of Onana was as close as he got to scoring but he had a front-row seat to witness a remarkable match, even if he was not as involved as he would have liked. 

Nicolas Jackson showed off a new hairstyle for the occasion – which he may now think about making permanent

SUBSTITUTES

Raheem Sterling 71 (for Mudryk) – 6

Carney Chukwuemeka (71 (for Caicedo) – 6

Trevoh Chalobah 75 (for Disasi) – 6

Alfie Gilchrist 75 (for Gusto) – 6

Noni Madueke 89 (for Gallagher) – N/A 

MANAGER

Mauricio Pochettino 6

Chelsea have an awful habit of making a mess when they seem in the clear. Yet again, this was a surrender from a winning position. At least they won, thanks to Palmer’s late heroics. 

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1)

Andre Onana 5

Fairly helpless for Chelsea’s first two goals and had to withstand a barrage towards the end as Palmer then stunned him twice in stoppage time. 

Diogo Dalot 4

There were times when Palmer made a fool out of Dalot, but it was his cross which found Fernandes to make it 2-2. Then, at the death, he fouled Madueke to gift Chelsea that penalty for 3-3. 

Raphael Varane 6

Deflection accidentally helped Chelsea take the lead as the ball fell kindly to Gallagher before he was substituted at half-time for Evans, who was then subbed himself.

Alejandro Garnacho provided two of Manchester United’s three goals at Stamford Bridge

Diogo Dalot’s late conceding of a second penalty sparked Chelsea’s incredible fightback – and United’s demise

Harry Maguire 6

United’s defence were all over the shop in the first half and Maguire was never shy in showing his anger towards his team-mates before they got their act together. Until that crazy ending in stoppage time. 

Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6.5

Tasked with tying down Mudryk, he was made to work. Performed well on the left of United’s back four as he tried to deal with that threat, while adding his own.

Casemiro 6

On the receiving end of the odd crunching challenge by Gallagher and was disappointed not to get on the scoresheet from a header he should have buried.

Kobbie Mainoo 7

Gave away the ball cheaply in the seconds building up to Chelsea’s opener but soon shook off that annoyance at himself to impress against a multi-million pound midfield.

Antony 7.5

Brushed Cucurella to give away a penalty, as harsh as it looked upon second glance, but his most impressive contribution was that cross with the outside of the boot for Garnacho’s goal.

Antony made up for errant play in the first-half when he tumbled Marc Cucurella for Chelsea’s first penalty 

Captain Bruno Fernandes also netted, but the visitors were unable to claim the win on the road

Bruno Fernandes 6.5

Flashed a few of his trademark moans as Chelsea led 2-0 but his header made it 2-2 as United got themselves back into this game and then some.

Alejandro Garnacho 8

Made no mistake in scoring his one-on-one after accepting Caicedo’s gift and then brave in making sure he got his head to the ball to make it 3-2.

Rasmus Hojlund 6

Smart in leaving Dalot’s cross because he knew Fernandes was behind him, waiting to head home. One of his quieter evenings for United.

SUBSTITUTES

Jonny Evans 46 (for Maguire) – 6

Marcus Rashford 66 (for Hojlund) – 6

Willy Kambwala (for Evans) – 6

Scott McTominay 75 (for Casemiro) – 6

Mason Mount 85 (for Garnacho) – N/A

Mason Mount’s return to Stamford Bridge was sountracked by boos from the home supporters

Erik ten Hag had thought his side were close to pulling off a promising victory only to leave without points

MANAGER

Erik ten Hag – 5

We all thought they were down and out as Chelsea led 2-0 but then his team showed their courage in coming back to make it 3-2. But they showed their own soft side in conceding those two stoppage-time strikes. 

REFEREE

Jarred Gillett – 6