Chelsea Beat Ten-Man Manchester United 2-0 as Rogers and Palmer Strike and Martinez Sees Red

Chelsea could have had more. Estevao had a goal ruled out for offside and forced a full-stretch save from Senne Lammens. Sky Sports put the hosts at 59 percent possession, and the only surprise at the end was that the margin was not wider.

Why is Michael Carrick under so much pressure?

United had their chances before the collapse. Bruno Fernandes, recalled after being dropped for the Bournemouth game, missed a good opening from Bryan Mbeumo's cross, and Amad Diallo was twice denied by Mike Penders. But the numbers around this team are grim. United have not kept a clean sheet in their first nine league games, have failed to win any of their first seven away matches in all competitions for the first time since 1973-74, and are level on points with 18th-placed Crystal Palace.

Carrick told Sky Sports that his side "found a way of unravelling in the second half" and that the sending-off and penalty left them right up against it. His future is already being openly questioned, and the fixture list offers no breather: United host Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday 3 November.

Where does this leave Chelsea?

Xabi Alonso was measured rather than triumphant. He said the team can do better and that it is taking a step forward without knowing how far it has to go. Chelsea have won three of their four league games since the last international break, and did it on Saturday without Joao Pedro, their top league scorer with five goals.

By the time Chelsea play again in the league, the table around fourth place may have shifted again, with Liverpool and Arsenal meeting at Anfield on Sunday. For United, the questions start on Tuesday night and will not wait for the weekend.