Chelsea

LONDON -- With 35 minutes played at Stamford Bridge the opening goal seemed inevitable, that it was coming for Manchester United no less certain.

Kepa had been on an upwards trajectory -- or at least pulling out of his tailspin -- before the change in head coach but it is only since Potter's arrival that he has looked like one of the Premier League's best goalkeepers. This is the Potter that Ostersunds, Swansea and Brighton raved about, that caught the imagination of Todd Boehly and convinced the new owner to ditch a Champions League winner for a coach who had only previously seen Europe's top competition on TV. It was then a cruel irony that Kepa's last great parry could only divert Casemiro's header onto the post, the ball slipping agonizingly beyond the goal line to deny Chelsea three points their Spaniard had deserved. "He got better and better and grew into the game. This year's model was swift enough not just to get himself behind the initial effort but to make sure he was first on the scene to quell any trouble when the ball wobbled loose. In years gone by those looking to mitigate the mirth around the world's most expensive goalkeeper might have pointed to the cavalcade of bodies that stood between him and the Jadon Sancho shot that would have rolled in in 2019-20. With a three-man defense, Chelsea had had plenty of options square of them when they looked to build up play but every avenue up the field seemed to be jammed by United's superiority in midfield. They had stemmed the tide but only at the cost of turning Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling into near passengers of the game. If one is looking for evidence of Potter's wizardry [look CBS audience, you had better get used to these shoehorned references to a certain beloved children's literature staple] it does not come in the tactical tweaks. Chalobah's fifth successive start was his best performance in some time, thundering into headers and showing quick feet to work his way around the Manchester United press. Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes were dragging the Chelsea midfield out towards their right flank, opening up pockets on the edge of the box for Antony to create. London has been rich with volte face this week but few have been as effective as that of the Chelsea manager.