Chelsea Beat Manchester United 2-0 as Rogers and Palmer Score and Martinez Sees Red

Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in the Premier League, with second half goals from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer. United finished the match with ten men after Lisandro Martinez was sent off, and the defeat was their ninth straight game without a win in all competitions.

The result lifted Chelsea into fourth place on 16 points. United stayed in provisional 16th place with seven points from nine games, one point above the relegation zone, and the pressure on manager Michael Carrick grew again.

United waste the better first half

United had the better of the first half and did not take their chances. Captain Bruno Fernandes, restored to the side after falling out with Carrick, was involved in much of their best work, Reuters reported. Matheus Cunha had a goal ruled offside, and Amad also threatened, but the half ended goalless.

Chelsea punished that waste four minutes into the second half. Rogers picked up the ball just inside the United half, ran past a hesitant defence and lifted a delicate finish over goalkeeper Senne Lammens, Reuters reported. It was the moment the match turned, because United had controlled long spells before the break and offered little after it.

Three minutes that ended the contest

Martinez had only just been booked for a foul on Rogers when the match slipped away from United. In the 63rd minute he floored Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana in the penalty area at a corner. Referee Peter Bankes awarded a penalty after a video review and showed Martinez a second yellow card, Sky Sports and Reuters reported.

Palmer scored from the spot even though Lammens got a hand to the ball as he dived to his right. The goal was Palmer's 50th in the Premier League for Chelsea, reached in his 105th game for the club, Opta Analyst reported. Only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Diego Costa reached that mark for Chelsea in fewer games.

Estevao had efforts ruled out for offside as Chelsea looked for a third goal. At the other end, Bryan Mbeumo struck the crossbar in stoppage time after a save from Mike Penders, and that was as close as United came to a reply.

What the result leaves behind

The United board had kept Carrick in charge for this match despite a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth last weekend, which followed a 4-1 defeat at Como in the Champions League, Reuters reported. A third straight defeat now leaves his position open to fresh questions, and United could end the weekend in the relegation zone depending on other results.

For Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, the win was a first clean sheet at home in the league in 13 matches, Sky Sports reported. His side took their chances after half time, defended their lead with an extra man, and moved into the top four.