Man United vs Chelsea player ratings and what we learned: Edouard Mendy stars as Lampard finds new dimension
In any of the last three seasons, Manchester United and Chelsea would already be out of this title race.
Just how realistic their ambitions are remain up for debate. But the chaotic nature of this Premier League has handed them a lifeline that simply wouldn’t have been there in recent years.
As such, a goalless draw that was as miserable as the Manchester weather was far from disastrous for either side. But both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Frank Lampard will know they cannot continue to squander point if they are to realise their minimum expectations of mounting a serious challenge to Liverpool and Manchester City.
City’s draw at West Ham was further evidence of an unpredictable campaign where we are learning to expect the unexpected.
Liverpool’s 7-2 defeat to Aston Villa remains a ‘pinch me’ moment. Yet the anticipation is that Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola will get it together. It is just a question of how much of an advantage their rivals build up in the meantime.
In the cases of United and Chelsea, neither have managed to make the most of the new normal in English football.
Instead they are at the heart of a wild opening to the campaign and as guilty as any other team in terms of inconsistency.
Where these two were concerned, it was hard to imagine beforehand what result would serve as a surprise. As it was, a 0-0 was probably it.
It did neither side any favours - but neither could honestly claim they deserved more.
In the context of the season so far, it feels like two points lost, rather than one gained.
Chelsea’s new dimension
Lampard went for a switch of system at Old Trafford - ditching the 4-2-3-1 he's been working on in favour of a back three and wingbacks. It allowed him to keep the the impressive Reece James in the side, along with captain Cesar Azpilicueta.
James and Ben Chilwell were heavily involved in some of Chelsea’s best work up front - both creating dangerous openings either side of the break.
But their high pressing also forced Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to check their own ambition - limiting United’s threat out wide.
As a pair they have added a new dimension to Chelsea’s attack and have the potential to be a considerable weapon for club and country.
Mendy avoids calamity and justifies Lampard’s faith
Edouard Mendy avoided joining Chelsea’s calamity 'keeper club - and then showed precisely why Frank Lampard has put his faith in him.
The Senegal international had his heart in his mouth when he got his feet all wrong with a simple pass across the box to Thiago Silva. He was relieved to see the ball screw wide of the post and out for a corner.
After finally losing patience with error-prone Kepa Arrizabalaga, Lampard must have had a serious sense of deja vu.
But he is convinced Mendy is a player to follow in the footsteps of Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois as a long-term Chelsea No1. And that confidence was justified as the keeper produced an outstanding save with his foot to deny Marcus Rashford when one-on-one, before pushing a Juan Mata effort round the post.
His flying save at the death prevented man of the moment Rashford from a dramatic winner.
Chelsea player ratings
(3-4-2-1): Mendy 8, Azpilicueta 7, Silva 7, Zouma 7, James 8, Jorginho 6, Kante 6, Chilwell 7, Havertz 6 (Mount 72, 4), Pulisic 6 (Ziyech 81), Werner 5 (Abraham 71, 4)
Star man: Edouard Mendy. Narrowly avoided a horror moment to produced two quality saves to deny Rashford
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