Premier League 2026/27 Matchweek 9 Recap: Chelsea vs Man United 2-0, Arsenal Win at Anfield

Chelsea vs Man United: Morgan Rogers of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his side's first goal at Stamford Bridge in London.

My Manchester United lost 2-0 at Chelsea the day before and now sit 17th. Is Michael Carrick's job safe? Hold that thought.

Chelsea vs Man United 2-0: 45 Good Minutes, Then the Usual

Bruno Fernandes was back in the XI after sitting unused in last week's 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth. He had been dropped after publicly criticising the tactics following the 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como, and Carrick called it a football decision. Lisandro Martinez returned too.

For 45 minutes, United were the better team. Bruno flew through on a counter and fired over. Amad Diallo had two shots saved by Mike Penders. Matheus Cunha headed in from a corner routine, but VAR ruled his standing leg offside.

Then the second half started, and so did the pain. Within minutes, Romeo Lavia won the ball in midfield, Morgan Rogers ran straight through our defence and chipped Senne Lammens.

Just after the hour, Martinez was booked for a rash tackle. About 84 seconds later he barged into Wesley Fofana at a corner with a leading arm. He never looked at the ball. VAR sent the referee to the screen: penalty and a second yellow. Lammens got a strong hand to Cole Palmer's spot kick and still pushed it in. Palmer's 50th Premier League goal for Chelsea.

Here is the coach in me. I tell my kids every week: at a corner, the ball first, the man second. Martinez did the opposite, and it cost United the game.

Bryan Mbeumo rattled the crossbar in stoppage time. At full-time the travelling fans sang Carrick's name, then booed the players. Carrick said his team "found a way to unravel" and that he expects to be in charge for the next game.

The numbers are ugly. Nine games without a win in all competitions. Seven in the league. Three straight defeats. United are 17th with seven points, level with 18th-placed Crystal Palace and ahead only on goal difference. I keep asking if it can get worse. It CAN, and with Martinez now suspended, it might.

Arsenal End the Anfield Curse, City Stumble Again

Declan Rice made the goal, his league-best fifth assist, and Havertz became the top German scorer in Premier League history with 46. Arsenal have kept six clean sheets in nine games. This is not a team that wins pretty. It is a team that refuses to concede.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk felt a clear penalty on Alexander Isak was missed. Andoni Iraola's side are fifth on 15.

City lost 1-0 at home to Brighton. Yasin Ayari scored early and Bart Verbruggen made seven saves to protect it. Two straight league defeats for Enzo Maresca, who blamed "silly goals." Brighton are third on 19. And Arsenal? Five days before Anfield, League Two Fleetwood Town knocked them out of the Carabao Cup on penalties. Football makes no sense, and that is why we watch.

Bournemouth 2-0 Leeds: One Short Pass Too Many

Leeds were the better side for half an hour. On 11 minutes Dominic Calvert-Lewin finished a lovely move that started with James Trafford and Tarik Muharemović's perfect switch to the right, but VAR ruled it out for handball.

On 31 minutes, Muharemović played a short goal kick to Trafford, who tried to find Ao Tanaka and passed it straight to Justin Kluivert. Kluivert squared, Evanilson rolled it into an empty net. Sub Amine Adli added a second in the 95th minute, and Leeds finished with one shot on target.

Daniel Farke said Leeds "would have deserved so much more" and fully backed his keeper. Fair, but five league games without a win is a trend, not bad luck. Bournemouth have now won six in a row.

Around the League: Red Cards, Fumbles and Nervous Managers

Tottenham beat 10-man Crystal Palace 2-0 after Jean-Philippe Mateta saw red following a VAR review.

Aston Villa drew 1-1 with Fulham: John McGinn hit the bar with a penalty, Nicolas Jackson scored, then keeper Zion Suzuki fumbled a corner into his own net.

At the bottom, Coventry beat Sunderland 3-1, leaving the Black Cats last on five points, and Brentford beat Nottingham Forest 2-0.

Verdicts

• Arsenal: Six clean sheets in nine and a win at Anfield. They are the team to beat.
• Manchester United: The first half was the best United have looked in weeks, which tells you how bad the other weeks were.
• Leeds: Too good to be this close to a slump, but Farke needs goals, not compliments.

Up next: Man Utd v AS Roma (Champions League, Old Trafford), then Man Utd v Aston Villa (Premier League, home); Leeds v Tottenham (Premier League, Elland Road). Biggest game of the round: Man Utd v Aston Villa, with United one bad result from the bottom three.

Can Carrick survive Roma and Villa? Tell me on Instagram @soccermaniak801.