Pressure intensified on beleaguered Manchester United manager Michael Carrick after his side finished with 10 men in a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Chelsea on Saturday to record its ninth straight game without a win in all competitions.
The United board decided to stick with Carrick for the Chelsea game despite a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth last weekend after a 4-1 drubbing at Como in the Champions League, but it lost again to goals from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer.
The result leaves United in provisional 16th spot with seven points from nine games, just a point above the relegation zone, while Chelsea is now fourth on 16 points.
United was punished four minutes into the second half when Rogers picked up the ball just inside the opponent’s half and cantered past a hesitant defence before delicately lifting it past goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
The visitors found themselves a man down in the 63rd minute when Lisandro Martinez floored Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana in the area to give away a penalty and was shown a second yellow card. Palmer scored from the spot despite Lammens getting his hand to the ball as he dived to his right.
The home fans taunted Carrick, who enjoyed a highly successful 12-year career as a United midfielder, with chants of “You’ll be sacked in the morning.”
Chelsea vs Manchester United player ratings:
Chelsea: Mike Penders (7.4/10), Josh Acheampong (8.0/10), Wesley Fofana (6.2/10), Levi Colwill (6.8/10), Marco Palestra (6.1/10), Moisés Caicedo (7.5/10), Roméo Lavia (8.5/10), Pedro Neto (7.0/10), Cole Palmer (7.1/10), Estêvão (6.8/10), Morgan Rogers (8.1/10)
Subs: Pep Chavarría (6.3/10), Malo Gusto (6.4/10), Danny Welbeck (6.0/10), Valentín Barco (6.0/10), Geovany Quenda (6.0/10)
Manchester United: Senne Lammens (7.0/10), Diogo Dalot (6.2/10), Leny Yoro (6.0/10), Harry Maguire (5.8/10), Lisandro Martínez (4.5/10), Carlos Baleba (6.6/10), Andrey Santos (6.1/10), Amad Diallo (6.9/10), Ferno Mathes (6.5/10), Bruno Fernande (6.10/10). Cunha (6.3/10), Bryan Mbeumo (6.7/10)
Subs: Youri Tielemans (6.2/10), Kobbie Mainoo (6.3/10), Joshua Zirkzee (5.9/10), Shea Lacey (6.0/10)
(With inputs from Reuters)
Published on Oct 31, 2026