Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher fired his side ahead after four minutes against Manchester United – as Marcus Rashford started on the bench for the first time in the top flight this year.
Midfielder Gallagher beat Andre Onana with a low shot from 16 yards at Stamford Bridge, picking up a deflected Malo Gusto pass.
Gallagher had more cause to celebrate when fellow England international Cole Palmer curled in a penalty to double the lead 15 minutes later.
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Marc Cucurella had won the spot kick when the full-back was impeded by much-maligned United winger Antony.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were seeking a return to winning ways, having been held 2-2 at home on Saturday by 10-man Burnley, who scored an 81st-minute equaliser.
Conor Gallagher opens the scoring inside 4 minutes against Man Utd! ⚽️
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/8cE8Qn90o7
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2024
United forward Marcus Rashford could only watch the goals from the bench, failing to start a Premier League game for the first time since December 23.
Manager Erik ten Hag suggested he was rotating his squad rather than basing his decision on Rashford’s performances and there was a measure of hope for the Dutchman when Alejandro Garnacho pounced on a poor Moises Caicedo pass to reply after 34 minutes.
Bruno Fernandes then completed United’s rapid comeback with his ninth goal of the season, heading in Diogo Dalot’s cross from the left at the far post in the culmination of a sweeping, swift attack.
Cole Palmer makes it 1⃣9⃣ goals this season! 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/IblFZJLrQF
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2024
Mason Mount injury: ‘Not ready to start’
Asked about the returning Mason Mount, Ten Hag told TNT Sports: “He’s not ready for a start.
“We will bring him on carefully. He’s had so many problems over the course of the season and we want to bring up his minutes.”
Ten Hag will face even more pressure if United fail to beat Chelsea, which would deal another major blow to their fading hopes of a top-five finish and Uefa Champions League football next season.
Gallagher’s goal came a day after Chelsea issued a statement saying a video circulating on social media about him had “been taken considerably out of context.”
“The subsequent level of abuse and defamatory comments directed towards Conor Gallagher is completely unacceptable,” the Blues added.
