Highlights: Manchester United Hits Record Low Premier League Start After 1-1 Draw with Chelsea

Moises Caicedo’s goal denied Manchester United a win in their first Premier League game since Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, as Chelsea secured a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday. Interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, soon to be replaced by Ruben Amorim, celebrated on the sidelines after Bruno Fernandes put United ahead with a penalty 20 minutes before full time.

However, Chelsea equalized quickly, with Caicedo’s goal pushing them ahead of Arsenal into fourth place on goal difference. United remains in 13th position, six points shy of the top four, with just 12 points from their first 10 games, marking their worst league start since 1986/87.

Amorim, still managing Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League against Manchester City, was not present at Old Trafford. Despite showing improvement over heavy home losses to Liverpool and Tottenham, United continued to struggle with some of the issues that led to Ten Hag’s departure.

In midweek, Van Nistelrooy’s first match saw United dominate a weakened Leicester team 5-2 in the League Cup quarter-finals. Returning as a fan favorite from his days as United’s top striker, he received chants from an enthusiastic home crowd. However, a resilient Chelsea side, now with just one loss in their last nine league games, presented a more challenging test.

Both teams had close calls in the first half, with Noni Madueke hitting the post for Chelsea and Marcus Rashford clipping the bar for United. Chelsea nearly struck again early in the second half, but Pedro Neto’s shot narrowly missed the post. Despite Chelsea’s efforts, Cole Palmer, their main creative force, was largely subdued by United’s midfield pairing of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.

United’s scoring struggles, which plagued Ten Hag’s tenure, persisted. Van Nistelrooy, who has two games left to oversee, expressed confidence that results will eventually turn around as players find their rhythm in front of goal. Alejandro Garnacho had a prime opportunity to score but saw his shot fall into the arms of Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

United finally broke through when Sanchez fouled Rasmus Hojlund, leading to a penalty converted by Fernandes. But their lead was short-lived, as Caicedo quickly responded with a well-taken strike from the edge of the box. Since joining Chelsea in a British record transfer, Caicedo is starting to make his mark after an inconsistent first season, with coach Enzo Maresca praising his improvement.

Chelsea nearly took the lead when Enzo Fernandez missed an open goal, while United’s Garnacho went close in the closing minutes with an acrobatic attempt that just missed the mark.