After back to back draws for the Chelsea side with manager, Antonio Conte coming under fire as well as under performing Alvaro Morata, the win was needed to get the pressure of Chelsea at least for the moment.

Eden Hazard who was crucial in this match and bagged a brace was impressed with forward partners Willian and Michy Batshuayi after they helped Chelsea get back among the goals against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

Chelsea headed into the match on the back of a penalty shootout win over Norwich City in the FA Cup which saw star striker Alvaro Morata receive a red card for diving which was further preceded by three consecutive 0-0 draws in all competitions and Hazard felt their blistering start at the Amex Stadium – it was 2-0 within six minutes – was key.

“We started the game very well,” he told Sky Sports, having moved on to 101 top-flight goals in his career.

“The combinations between Michy, Willi and me, even the midfield, were brilliant. We need to do more like this week after week” he added.

Manchester also continued their impressive start to 2018 with another win making it four consecutive wins in all competitions this year.

Manchester United secured three points from a tight affair at Burnley, thanks to Anthony Martial’s winner, as Jose Mourinho’s men maintained our good form in 2018 with another victory and clean sheet.

Despite a positive opening, the Red Devils endured a largely unproductive and really disappointing first half as the opening 45 minutes yielded precious few efforts on goal for either side. Paul Pogba was at the heart of most of anything positive and hooked a volley over the top from an Ashley Young pass when offered a rare sight of Nick Pope’s goal.

The Clarets looked capable of producing moments of danger from set-pieces with James Tarkowski left worryingly clear to waste a headed chance from a free-kick and Ben Mee also meeting a corner with no real reward.

Romelu Lukaku did well when involved, even if he had to drop deep, but Pope remained untroubled for the entire half. Young supplied some class when a neat trick allowed him to get past Johann Berg Gudmundsson and ex-Red Phil Bardsley, only to bend his attempt the wrong side of the far post.

Martial fired well wide after a link-up with Pogba in stoppage time to suggest better would follow the break from United. Indeed, that was case as Jose’s team talk had the desired impact.

Nine minutes into the second half, the decisive moment arrived. Lukaku showed great perseverance in winning the ball and advancing forward to spot Martial in space with an inviting pass. Martial deceived Pope with a clinical finish that crashed home off the underside of the bar in front of the delighted travelling fans.

Burnley’s response was a good one, with Gudmundsson hitting the top of the bar from a free-kick in a promising position just outside the box. With the Clarets fans optimistically appealing for every decision, including a shout for handball by Chris Smalling when it appeared to hit his chest, it was never going to be an easy ride for the Reds.

And the Red Devils secured another clean sheet.

Source: Manchester & goal.

Image source: fifasoccerblog.com

CHELSEA AND MANCHESTER UNITED KICK OFF THE EPL WEEKEND WITH WINS.

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