football.london takes a look at the latest talking points to emerge from Manchester United vs Chelsea.
Blues boil over
It was a frustrating night for Chelsea. Supporters were left frustrated, though the away support was in good voice, Frank Lampard was left frustrated, and throughout the course of 90 minutes Chelsea's players were left frustrated.
It is understandable to be unhappy with a 4-1 defeat but these moments were present before the game was lost. Not for the first time, players on the ball were left raising their head and the arms in disbelief as they were presented with no movement from their teammates ahead of them. Enzo Fernandez's distaste was even made clear on one occasion when Mykhailo Mudryk miscontrolled the ball as the Blues looked to test the opposition goal.
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That was the only the start, as the Blues got rattled by the Red Devils. Fernandez had handbags with Jadon Sancho as the former Borussia Dortmund star put a shoulder towards the World Cup winner after Bruno Fernandes scored his second half penalty. The Chelsea stars reaction in return saw Fred intervene and a variety of bodies head towards the penalty box and Kepa Arrizabalaga played peacemaker.
Clearly there was a degree of passion as Fernandez refused to back down to the likes of Tyrell Malacia and Fred but did put himself among the Manchester United stars. Of course it shows a degree of passion but there was a sense that some focus had gone across the team that was exacerbated by Wesley Fofana's errors.
On the other hand, perhaps a few more bodies backing Fernandez up may have been more reassuring of some comradeship. Fofana did try to separate Fernandez from Fernandes as Trevoh Chalobah looked to break things up, but when you're the losing team it always feels more like heads have gone.
Similarly, Christian Pulisic was left rattled by David De Geo. The American competed with the goalkeeper for Azpilicueta's cross and the Manchester United star did not take kindly to the physicality. A push from De Gea followed before Victor Lindelof ensured the winger could not get close despite his fury.
Chelsea need something to spark their form but this didn't feel like it.
Chelsea records tumble
The record that will steal the headlines will be the fact Chelsea have lost more games than in any other Premier League season as they hit their 16th loss. As things stand they have just one win against teams in the top 10, Aston Villa in October under a different manager.
Nevertheless, perhaps heart can be taken from another record. Per Opta, Chelsea fielded their youngest ever starting XI in a Premier League match at 23 years and 238 days. Only Kepa Arrizabalaga and Cesar Azpilicueta were 24 or older with the latter's 33 years probably doing a great deal of heavy lifting on the average. While veteran Thiago Silva was on the bench, 19-year-old Alfie Gilchrist was present for the first time too.
The Blues are only the third team to start as many as nine players aged under 24, showing how the profile of the west London side is set to change. The result did not come but there was some indication in the XI that the future is coming.
Mauricio Pochettino's biggest test
While he refuses to be too specific, Frank Lampard has clearly been impressed with some of the effort and endeavour he has seen in Chelsea training sessions. He does not necessarily think the players are entirely to blame, but his unhappiness with their capacity has been an undercurrent of the last six weeks.
Rather than simply providing excuses it seems to be an issue of application too with Lampard just going a step further than previous in his press conference, when asked if his players are good enough.
He said: "It's a question I think as a professional at the top level, will be asked of you in a period of bad form. The only way to answer that is to answer with your performance and it starts with how you work and how you train and how you prepare and if I'm honest collectively that's been the thing that was quite glaringly short.
"There are a lot of reasons for that, that's not just a dig, that's because there sometimes are variables. It's been a tough season, people talk about the squad size, things that are very valid. At the same time, coming in this short period, you can see, when a group is training and it's really together and pushing and pushing each other, then good things come and you as an individual improve within that. At the moment, that momentum is not there, it's clear."
For Mauricio Pochettino, the task will be more than simply dealing with a trimmed down squad. He must harness his own arrival to inspire a new work ethic and new, positive momentum heading into next season. The fitness requirements will be clear from the start and no passengers can be carried.
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