Five impressive stats as clinical Manchester United eased past title-chasing Chelsea

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3 – Marcus Rashford runs Chelsea back-line ragged

Given the opportunity to lead the line alongside Jesse Lingard in the absence of the rested Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford certainly took his chance in a breath-taking display.

From the fourth minute, when he ran onto a through ball and lashed wide, he looked up for the challenge against the Premier League’s third-leanest defence, using his acceleration and cunning runs in behind to exploit the lack of pace that Gary Cahill and David Luiz have.

His curving run and finish for United’s opener was the sign of a man in confidence, and Chelsea’s back four couldn’t cope with him all match; at times it took four men to take the ball off him.

Two goals in his last two Premier League matches sees Rashford as the highest scoring teenager in England’s top flight (5) this season, and it’s hard to say that it isn’t deserved based on recent performances.

The 19-year-old completed three take ons, had four shots – including his deserved goal – made six crosses and kept things alive in the final third with an 87% passing accuracy.

Most impressive was the maturity shown from the youngster in a lead striking role, knowing when to run at the defence and when to spread the play instead; criticised for his lack of cutting edge in the opposition half this season, he silenced the doubters with an exemplary display of attacking football.