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THE Premier League table does not lie.

Jose Mourinho is already eight points behind Pep’s free-scoring Manchester City side. That hurts.

 Alvaro Morata rose majestically to head Chelsea into a second-half lead
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Alvaro Morata rose majestically to head Chelsea into a second-half leadCredit: Reuters
 It was the Spanish striker's first goal for six games in all competitions for Chelsea
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It was the Spanish striker's first goal for six games in all competitions for ChelseaCredit: Rex Features

So, too, does a defeat like this.

To Chelsea. To the champions. To Antonio Conte.

You just know how much Jose Mourinho will hate a setback like this.

Stamford Bridge used to be his home, a fortress for the Special One when he was managing Chelsea.

 Alvaro Morata was clearly delighted to have ended his barren run without scoring
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Alvaro Morata was clearly delighted to have ended his barren run without scoringCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
 Alvaro Morata is then joined by his team-mates to celebrate scoring the opening goal
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Alvaro Morata is then joined by his team-mates to celebrate scoring the opening goalCredit: REUTERS

Not any more.

It was nothing like last season’s 4-0 tonking, but one will do when it is Mourinho and Manchester United.


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Alvaro Morata got it ten minutes into second half, separating these two sides when he latched on to Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross from the right.

He celebrated on one knee, pulling back on an imaginary bow and arrow before taking aim in front of the delirious fans in the Matthew Harding Stand.

Morata hit the bullseye here.

This is a recovery, reaching out to the fans again after they capitulated in Rome on Tuesday.

Beating the Special One will make them feel a whole lot better about life again.

“Champions of England, we know what we are” they sang after Morata’s strike. At times, they played like them.

Eden Hazard, at times, was back to his dreamy, silky skilled best.

Contempt, animosity and anger is still festering between Hazard and the Special One.

Neither of them could even contemplate skin on skin.

INTERACTIVE STATS - CLICK on the categories to find out how the teams fared 

Match Stats

Hazard did not look up and Mourinho slipped his hand in his pocket as the two sides marched out of tunnel.

That is what this game does to people.

It makes enemies, with the resentment stretching back to Mourinho’s final few weeks in charge of Chelsea.

Hazard was a target on the pitch too, riding one hefty challenges from Phil Jones and Ander Herrera at the start of the second half.

 Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was left frustrated as he team lost to Chelsea
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Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was left frustrated as he team lost to ChelseaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Jose Mourinho snubbed by Antonio Conte after failing to shake his hand on full time whistle

They were both booked, deservedly so.

In his own mind Judas is still No1, with those three Premier League titles in two separate spells keeping him out in front.

Those Chelsea fans singing “sit down Mourinho” and rising to acclaim “Antonio” have other ideas.

The champions responded, spluttering into life after being walloped 3-0 by Roma in the Champions League.

Hazard’s touches were decent, as was the shot directed straight at David De Gea 18 minutes in.

By then the ball had already been in the United net when Phil Jones steered Marcos Alonso’s cross beyond De Gea.

Referee Anthony Taylor ruled it out, with Alvaro Morata penalised when for giving Jones a nudge just as the United defender made contact.

 Alvaro Morata battles for the ball with Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera
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Alvaro Morata battles for the ball with Manchester United midfielder Ander HerreraCredit: PA:Press Association

At least this was a different Chelsea to the side who surrendered against Roma in the Champions League last Tuesday.

It was the night Conte lost control.

This looked a lot better, with a bit of the old title-winning Chelsea about them.

Mourinho’s return, whatever they feel about him down here, was always going to provide additional motivation.

He just has that kind of effect.

Hazard was super-charged, forcing another save out of De Gea when he caught the ball on the half-volley inside the area.

It was starting to heat up.

The Special One needed to win here, to keep breathing down the necks of Manchester City after their cosy 3-1 victory over Arsenal.

INTERACTIVE LINE-UPS– CLICK on a player’s number below to see their stats

MatchDay Live

At times they flickered.

Marcus Rashford, just about keeping Anthony Martial out of the starting line up, headed over when he connected with Ashley Young’s cross.

Romelu Lukaku, without a goal in six games, had a decent effort on the turn parried away by Thibaut Courtois after 16 minutes.

The agony goes on.

Morata, struggling to find the net himself after a glorious purple patch at the start of his Chelsea career, made the breakthrough.

Did Alvaro Morata foul Phil Jones as he scored an own goal for Manchester United at Chelsea?
 Manchester United introduced Marouane Fellaini off the bench - but he failed to make a difference
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Manchester United introduced Marouane Fellaini off the bench - but he failed to make a differenceCredit: REUTERS

It was a clever finish, losing his markers in the United defender ten minutes after the break to steer Cesar Azpilucueta’s cross beyond De Gea.

Mourinho sent for reinforcements, with super sub Anthony Martial and Marouane Fellaini on for the final half four.

Martial, with four goals from the bench this season, was supposed to offer firepower. Fellaini was the hired muscle.

In the event they got nowhere, suffocated by this dedicated Chelsea defence.

David Luiz sat this out, failing to even make the substitutes’ bench as Conte made some big calls for this clash with United.

In the event he got it spot on.

The gap at the top suits City, streaking into the international break eight points clear of their rivals.

Being second best will not suit the Special One.

 Jose Mourinho headed back to Manchester with no points after a 1-0 defeat at his old club Chelsea
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Jose Mourinho headed back to Manchester with no points after a 1-0 defeat at his old club ChelseaCredit: Rex Features

Facts, Stats, Goals and Lols

  • Jose Mourinho delivered an incredible snub to Eden Hazard before kick-off. The Man United boss acknowledged his former players at Stamford Bridge with a handshake or friendly tap, but thrust his hands in his pockets when Hazard approached.
  • Phil Jones is a lucky boy. With just six minutes played he delivered a vicious volley that flew into the back of the net - his own net. His face was probably one of shock - then relief as the referee adjudged Alvaro Morata to have pushed him. It was the faintest of pushes.
  • No player has scored more headed goals in the big five European leagues since the start of last season than Alvaro Morata.
  • Cesar Azpilicueta has provided five assists for Alvaro Morata in the Premier League this term; the most by one player for a teammate.
  • Chelsea have lost just one of their last 16 home PL games against Man United (in Oct 2012), winning nine and drawing five.
 Cesc Fabregas believed he was elbowed in the first half by former team-mate Nemanja Matic
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Cesc Fabregas believed he was elbowed in the first half by former team-mate Nemanja MaticCredit: Rex Features

Social says

What They Said

Cesc Fabregas: "Overall it was a very good performance, but maybe a little bit more open than we wanted.

"We prepared the game in a way that we knew how they like to play. We had more possession than usual, which for me is something we have been lacking.

"It's fantastic to defend well, but we need to play and have possession. We have fantastic players and we need to take advantage of that.

"If you play for Chelsea, you have to win every single game. You go to any stadium in the Premier League it is always difficult."

Matchwinner Alvaro Morata: "It's important we won, and we had a very good chance to come back to winning ways.

"We are very happy because now with an international break we can go away with the three points."

 Alvaro Morata was the matchwinner to secure his Chelsea side the three points
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Alvaro Morata was the matchwinner to secure his Chelsea side the three pointsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Jose Mourinho delivers incredible handshake snub to Eden Hazard but manages handshake with Antonio Conte

Dream Team Ratings

Chelsea: Courtois 7, Azpilicueta 8, Christensen 7, Cahill 7, Kanté 7, Zappacosta 6 (Rüdiger, 65 6), Fàbregas 7 (Drinkwater 79 6), Bakayoko 6, Alonso 7, Morata 7, E Hazard 7 (Willian, 87 6)

Subs: Caballero, Pedro, Batshuayi, Ampadu

Goals: Morata (55)

Booked: Bakayoko (14)

 

Manchester United: De Gea 7, Bailly 7, Smalling 6, Jones 6 (Fellaini, 62 6), A Valencia 6, Herrera 6, Matic 7, Young 6 (Lingard, 78 6), Mkhitaryan 6 (Martial, 62 6), R Lukaku 6, Rashford 5

Subs: Blind, Romero, Darmian, McTominay

Goals: None

Booked: Jones (49), Herrera (55), Fellaini (71)

Star Man: Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

English Premier League Table

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