Football Features

    ‘Lucky’ Maguire dominates headlines: Full player ratings as Man Utd beat frustrated Chelsea

    By Mohamed Moallim

    Published: 22:15, 17 February 2020

    Manchester United completed a first Premier League double over Chelsea on Monday evening.

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men ran out hardfought 2-0 winners in a game that saw VAR once again grab the headlines.

    Harry Maguire was fortunate not to have been sent off for violent conduct and his stave off execution came back to bite the Blues with him doubling United’s lead.

    Anthony Martial had given the visitors the lead on the stroke off half-time with Chelsea seeing two second half goals ruled out through the video assistant referee.

    Here’s how the players rated at Stamford Bridge:

    Chelsea

    Willy Caballero – 4 – Chances of him being Chelsea’s long-term goalkeeper are slim, as he was rooted on the spot for both of United’s goals.

    Reece James – 5 – Never lost that adventurous streak and had the first real shot in anger, but after the opening salvo his impact weakened.

    Andreas Christensen – 6 – Picked up a knock in the moments leading to United’s opponents, nothing he could have done after Martial beat him in the air.

    Antonio Rüdiger – 5 – Seemingly won everything in the air in open play, but sadly for the Blues wasn’t near Maguire.

    César Azpilicueta – 6 – You can never accuse Azpilicueta of lacking passion, he more than anyone in a blue jersey left this game with his head held high.

    N’Golo Kanté – N/A – Unfortunately for Lampard the omnipresent French midfielder sustained a worrisome injury before ten minutes had even been played.

    Jorginho – 5 – Couldn’t get a tight grip of this game even if he was his normal metronomic self.

    Mateo Kovačić – 5 – Brought some zip into Chelsea’s play and created a couple of chances.

    Willian – 4 – Booked for simulation just before the half-time interval. On second look was unfortunate not to have won the Blues a free-kick outside the box.

    Michy Batshuayi – 4 – Made a rare Premier League start, coming in for the injured Tammy Abraham, squandered a golden chance with the game just over 25 minutes old.

    Pedro – 3 – Rarely found himself in a goalscoring opportunity, but when he did fluffed his line.

    Substitutes:

    Mason Mount (for Kanté 12) – 4 – Would have felt bad for starting on the bench, once coming on early into the game couldn’t impose himself but saw a late free-kick hit the post.

    Kurt Zouma (for Christensen 46) – 5 – Thought he’d equalised 10 minutes after coming on, but his first-time effort from a corner was disallowed after Cesar Azpilicueta was judged to have pushed Williams, moments later picked up a yellow card after finding himself in a scuffle.

    Olivier Giroud (for Batshuayi 68) – 5 – Again, another Chelsea substitute who thought he’d found the net, his powerful header was disallowed after being offside.

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    Man Utd

    David de Gea – 7 – Was beaten twice, but neither goal counted, aside from that wasn’t really put under any sort of pressure.

    Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 7 – Not renowned for his crossing, but put in a spectacular effort for Antjony Martial to head the Red Devils into the lead. Elsewhere popped up with vital interventions.

    Eric Bailly – 8 – Back in Man Utd’s starting lineup after recovering from a serious knee injury and following a shaky start returned to his calm, cool and collected self.

    Harry Maguire – 8 – Very lucky to not have been sent off after kicking Michy Batshuayi, he’d subsequently doubled Man Utd’s lead from a corner, his first in the league for the Red Devils.

    Luke Shaw – 7 – Playing as a left centre-back looked more comfortable and returning to a semblance of his former self.

    Brandon Williams – 7 – Grew into the game, initially never looked totally confident in this wing-back role and needlessly gave away possession.

    Fred – 8 – Kept busy in the heart of Man Utd’s midfield winning all three of his attempted tackles and won a number of fouls.

    Nemanja Matić – 7 – Back at the place he called home for many years, didn’t really stand out, but did his usual diligent work.

    Bruno Fernandes – 8 – Could have broken his Premier League duck but saw a free-kick struck Caballero, but soon after registered a first assist for United.

    Daniel James – 6 – Had a few nice touches but the least effective of United’s forward players.

    Anthony Martial – 7 – Another mixed performance for Man Utd’s ‘number nine’, gave the ball away four times but was there to head Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men in front.

    Substitutes:

    Andreas Pereira (for James 80) – N/A – A late sub.

    Odion Ighalo (for Martial 90) – N/A – A late sub.

    Diogo Dalot (for Fernandes 90+1) – N/A – A late sub.

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