The Reds began the second half well but United hearts were in mouths briefly on 56 minutes when substitute Zouma volleyed home what appeared to be an equaliser from a corner. Seconds earlier Wan-Bissaka had got a superb block in as Pedro took aim from close range, but from the resulting set piece, Zouma netted only for VAR to rightly rule that Azpilicueta had pushed Williams over in the box.

Ten minutes later, the Reds went up the other end and doubled the advantage. Having seen a brilliant free-kick fly back off the outside of the post, Fernandes then sent in an inviting corner which Maguire superbly rose to meet and power home. The skipper ran to celebrate with the away fans, clearly delighted to have got on the scoresheet with his head – something he had told us recently he was desperate to do.

United were buoyant but also had reason to feel very relieved twice in the space of six minutes. On 73 minutes, Jorginho slipped a pass through to Mateo Kovacic who took aim but a long outstretched leg from Bailly, flying across the box, blocked the effort. Six minutes later, VAR intervened once more when Mount and Giroud combined, with the latter heading home the former’s cross. However, replays showed Giroud’s foot was marginally offside and the decision again was ‘no goal.’

Both sides went close to finding the net late on, with Mount curling a free-kick onto the outside of the box and United debutant Ighalo seeing a shot point-blank shot saved by Willy Caballero. Ultimately, the goals from Martial and Maguire proved to be enough as the Reds recorded another excellent Stamford Bridge triumph – the third under Solskjaer – and completed the club’s first league double over Chelsea since 1988/89.