Manchester United Beat Leaders Chelsea To Open Up EPL Title Race

Chelsea’s lead at the top of the English Premier
League now stands at only four points and the title
race is wide open again after they were well
beaten on Sunday. The leaders were beaten 2-0 by a resurgent
Manchester United at Old Trafford. United manager Jose Mourinho has suffered this
season against the club where he was a three-time
champion, losing 0-4 in the league at Chelsea. He also lost out of the FA Cup quarter-final at
Stamford Bridge. Manchester United’s English midfielder Ashley Young (L) and Manchester United’s Ivorian defender Eric Bailly (R) congratulate Manchester United’s Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera (C) after Herrera scored their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on April 16, 2017. / AFP PHOTO The Portuguese was not to be denied this time as
Marcus Rashford, paired with Jesse Lingard up
front while a jaded Zlatan Ibrahimovic was rested,
finished coolly after seven minutes. Ander Herrera — detailed to do a brilliant man-
marking job on Eden Hazard — saw his shot
deflected in off Kurt Zouma four minutes after the
break. Zouma was a late replacement for Marcos Alonso,
who pulled out in the warm-up, but Chelsea can
offer no excuses here as they were second best
throughout. Tottenham now trail them by four points with six
games to go and have the superior goal
difference. Chelsea looked to be strolling to the title just a few
weeks ago — but a sudden stumble, including the
home defeat by struggling Crystal Palace, has held
them back. And an irresistible surge from Spurs have brought
renewed edge to the run-in. Conte will feel his side did not enjoy the best of
luck here, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois ruled
out with a training injury, while Alonso was
withdrawn after the warm-up. Referee Bobby Madley also missed what appeared
to be a clear handball from Herrera as he
intercepted Nemanja Matic’s pass before sending
Rashford clear for the opener.