David de Gea error denies United as Chelsea earn point to stay in top-four driving seat
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Updated 28/04/2019 at 20:45 GMT
Premier League, Old Trafford – Manchester United 1 (Mata 11') Chelsea 1 (Alonso 43')
David de Gea of Manchester United reacts after making a mistake which resulted in Chelsea scoring a goal to make it 1-1 during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea FC at Old Trafford on April 28, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdo
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David de Gea had another day to forget as Manchester United's top-four push suffered a major blow following a 1-1 draw with rivals Chelsea at Old Trafford.
The Spanish stopper, so often the Red Devils' saviour in recent years, continued his wretched recent form as he spilled Antonio Rudiger's speculative drive to allow Marcos Alonso to level just prior to the break.
Birthday-boy Juan Mata had rewarded the hosts for a high tempo start with a well-taken opener from Luke Shaw's cut back to end United's run of 538 minutes without a goal in open play.
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David De Gea of Manchester United acknowledges the fans as he looks dejected at half time during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea FC at Old Trafford on April 28, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
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However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men couldn't pick up the victory their much-improved first-half display was suggesting, and their bid to end the season in the Champions League places now looks a tall order with just two games to play.
Chelsea stay fourth, two points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal. United are a point further back in sixth spot, with a significantly inferior goal difference.
Next up, Maurizio Sarri's Blues will turn their attention to Thursday's Europa League semi-final, first leg at Eintracht Frankfurt while United face bottom of the table Huddersfield Town on Sunday.
TALKING POINT
Chelsea remain in the driving seat for fourth as De Gea's misery continues. Ahead of this 'must-win' contest for United, Solskjaer had thrown his backing behind De Gea following a succession of high-profile errors. Many observers, including former players, suggested the Spanish keeper should be dropped - and after another costly gaffe those calls will only intensify.
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Marcos Alonso of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea FC at Old Trafford on April 28, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
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With just two games remaining in a rollercoaster battle for the top four, De Gea's error means Chelsea now join Spurs as the sides firmly in the driving seat to take the final two places. The Blues have Europa League semi final matches either side of hosting Watford next weekend, before concluding with a trip to Leicester City but their three-point cushion over United - and superior goal difference - means they are now favourites. Arsenal could yet have a say and you can't quite rule out some late drama in what has been a topsy-turvy battle from third down to sixth, but Sarri and Co look the more likely as we head into the penultimate round of league fixtures next weekend.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Marcos Alonso (Chelsea). Played an important role as Chelsea struggled to deal with United's early pressure. The full back then followed up like a good striker to take advantage of De Gea's fumble and earn his side what could be a big point in the quest to finish in the top four.
PLAYER RATINGS
MAN UTD: De Gea 5, Young 7, Bailly 7, Lindelof 6, Shaw 7, Herrera 6, Matic 7, Pogba 6, Mata 7, Rashford 7, Lukaku 7. Subs: Sanchez 5, Rojo 5, McTominay n/a.
CHELSEA: Kepa 7, Azpilicueta 7, Rudiger 7, Luiz 6, Alonso 8, Jorginho 7, Kante 7, Kovacic 7, Hazard 7, Higuain 6, Willian 6. Subs: Christensen 6, Loftus-Cheek 6, Pedro n/a.
KEY MOMENTS
4' - MAN UTD CHANCE! A big chance early doors for Lukaku. The Belgian is sent racing clear via a route one ball over the top from Shaw. He cuts back past Rudiger but then sees his shot well blocked by Kepa.
11' - GOAL! Man Utd 1-0 Chelsea. Mata fires a low shot into the back of the net after Shaw had brilliantly cut the ball back from the byline. That was a delightful move involving Pogba and Lukaku down the left.
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Juan Mata of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea FC at Old Trafford on April 28, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
29' - MAN UTD CHANCE! Bailly meets Young's left-wing corner with a flick header that flashes inches wide of the far post.
43' - GOAL! Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea. The visitors level out the blue! De Gea makes another howler as fumbles Rudiger's speculative 30-yard effort into the path of Alonso, who clips it in via the post from a narrow angle.
90+3' - MAN UTD CHANCE! Rojo meets a left-wing corner but sees his header nodded off the line by Pedro.
90+7' - CHELSEA CHANCE! Higuain races on to Pedro's clipped pass. He beats the offside trap, but can't dink it over De Gea, who makes a fine save.
KEY STATS
De Gea has made three errors leading to goals in his last four games in all competitions for Manchester United - as many as in his previous 123 matches combined for the Red Devils.
United have now gone 13 matches in all competitions without a clean sheet. It is the club's longest run since a 16-game streak in 1970.
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