CHELSEA picked up a Premier League point after a goalless draw at Manchester United.
Meanwhile, the Blues are reportedly offering Declan Rice £120,000-a-week to join the club in January.
Get all the latest updates from Stamford Bridge here…
- Josh Graham
ACTION REPLAY
Catch highlight's of Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Saturday here.
- Josh Graham
FEEL THE WERN
Chelsea legend Alan Hudson says he feels sorry for Chelsea's new forward Timo Werner.
Hudson told CaughtOffside: “Frank was desperate to stop conceding so set his stall out to do so, therefore not having a shot on goal at the other end for so long, and in 90 minutes less than any other match this season.
“He has now got himself into quite a predicament and is ‘stuck in the middle’. After two 0-0s he’s put himself in a very tricky situation as to how to go about future matches. The creativity was clear – there was none, and the whole team were tuned into keeping a clean sheet as a defeat would have been harmful.
On Werner and Havertz, Hudson added: “They were both disappointing because this defensive formula was foreign to them. They are both forward thinking players and they must be thinking ‘How many do we have to score to win?’
“I feel sorry for Werner in particular, because he’s making some great runs but not being picked out or spotted. If that continues he might stop making them.
“I watched him against Southampton and for the last goal his head went down as much as to say ‘What have I got to do to be on a winning side?’ Almost every goal he has scored he has had to create himself which tells a story alone.”
- Josh Graham
ED AND SHOULDERS ABOVE
Edouard Mendy has replaced Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Chelsea goal and seems to have had an instant impact.
Check out the key stats for the Blues' new No1.
- Josh Graham
SILVA LINING
Chelsea new boy Thiago Silva has seemingly become a rock already at the back for the Blues.
He helped them to a clean sheet against Manchester United on Saturday – much to the delight of his manager.
And the stats back up the impression he is doing a fine job.
- Josh Graham
HAPPY AS CAN ZIY
Frank Lampard is 'happy' with Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz after the new signings copped some criticism.
Ex-Everton man Tim Cahill had a pop at them for dribbling too much but boss Lamps isn't worried.
In his virtual press conference after the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford, Lampard said: “I am least worried about the front end of the pitch with the players that we have there.
“It is normal that it will take some time for relationships [to build]. For when we have got to put the ball in behind, the ball into feet, clearly these things are going to take time to build. The reason we brought Timo and Kai into the club is to add to the quality we already have here.
“Hakim Ziyech is looking like he is getting close to starting a game with his fitness. I have no worries about that.
“The last bit didn’t happen for us today. It is normal, that happens in football but I am very happy with the players.”
- Josh Graham
MENDY THE LEAK
Chelsea's new keeper Edouard Mendy is the only shot-stopper in the big six sides to have kept two clean sheets.
And he has only played two games!
The ex-Rennes man was lauded for his display, including a number of crucial stops, in the 0-0 draw against Manchester United on Saturday.
He also kept Sevilla out in the Champions League to kick off his Blues career in style after being signed to replace flop Kepa as No1 at Stamford Bridge.
- Josh Graham
BEING FRANK
Frank Lampard spoke about Chelsea' defensive resolve at the back after Saturday's 0-0 draw away at Manchester United.
Lampard told the club's website: “I thought we defended the box very well [at Old Trafford].
“Defending for me at this level when you have individual players with good quality is about concentration. Concentration is what defines defending in top players generally.
“Thiago Silva on Saturday was a great example of a defender who concentrates at every moment of a game, not just to affect things himself but to affect those around him. That was a big plus.”
- John Hutchinson
GOOD MORNING CHELSEA FANS
Chelsea will reportedly go all out to grab Declan Rice in January – while West Ham will offer a double-your-money £120,000-a-week deal to keep him.
The Hammers will demand £80million for the player they grabbed after he was released by the Blues as a kid.
According to the Daily Star, Chelsea are determined to get him back.
But boss David Moyes is determined to keep his man – out of contract in 2024 – and the East Londoners will offer Rice a new £120,000-a-week five-year deal.
Meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has claimed that a full Stretford End would have roared Manchester United on to victory against Chelsea on Saturday.
Despite many indoor theatres and other venues being open to spectators, fans are still not permitted into football stadia due to coronavirus restrictions.
Solskjaer fumed: “If we had that stadium or the Stretford End full we could have created more urgency. It lacks, that game lacks.
“You're here watching the game and it's a different sport. We miss the fans.”
In other news, N'Golo Kante has insisted the 0-0 draw with Manchester United was a 'fair result'.
Speaking on the club website, he said: “It was a difficult game for both teams.
“It was tight in the midfield, it was difficult to get chances, so I think a draw is a fair result.”
- Joe Miles
EXCLUSIVE
Writing for SunSport, legendary referee Mark Halsey has assessed Harry Maguire's grapple with Cesar Azpilicueta on Saturday.
He writes: “It was like a strangle hold on one of those old wrestling shows.
“A referee always tries to get in the best possible position for the ultimate viewing angle but Martin Atkinson has not seen it.
“I would have thought VAR would have recommended a review.
“In my opinion it is a clear and obvious error. That’s why we have VAR.
“Stuart Attwell was the VAR official. Had he asked Atkinson to go over and check, he would have awarded a penalty.
“The statement from the PGMOL and the Premier League was that it was not a clear and obvious error.
“I am bemused by that statement.
“VAR is simple for me. The IFAB protocol is: was that incident a clear and obvious error? One word, in capital letters. YES.”
- Joe Miles
'GREAT DEFENDING'
Michael Owen has highlighted how Thiago Silva stopped Edinson Cavani from making a dream debut.
The Manchester United forward came close to scoring with his first touch of the ball during Saturday's match.
Owen told Premier League Productions: “Thiago [Silva] played alongside him at Paris Saint-Germain, he knows exactly how he does it, when he tries to time, you could see that, talk about knowing your players, great defending.
“Normally, against most defenders he might have got there in front, nicked it and he would've have got a block in.”
- Joe Miles
KANTE BELIEVE IT
Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has insisted the 0-0 draw with Manchester United was a 'fair result'.
Speaking on the club website, he said: “It was a difficult game for both teams.
“It was tight in the midfield, it was difficult to get chances, so I think a draw is a fair result.
“It's a good thing we got a clean sheet away from home, but we wanted to win this game.”
- Joe Miles
SILVA LINING
Veteran defender Thiago Silva completed an incredible 82 passes against Manchester United.
That's how to lead by example.
- Joe Miles
SHAW-LY NOT
Luke Shaw has praised Chelsea goalkeeper following his performance during Saturday's 0-0 draw.
The Manchester United star said: “I feel like we created the better chances.
“Their keeper made wonderful saves at times.
“I was right behind [Rashford's shot] and, like I said, their keeper was very good today.
“He made a couple of very good saves that kept them in the game.”
- Joe Miles
FIVE ALIVE
Here's how Chelsea's next five games look following the bore draw with Manchester United.
- Krasnodar vs Chelsea – October 28
- Burnley vs Chelsea – October 31
- Chelsea vs Rennes – November 4
- Chelsea vs Sheffield United – November 7
- Newcastle vs Chelsea – November 21
HAV A LOOK
Blues star Kai Havertz shared this snap with his Twitter followers today.
The 21-year-old has scored one goal in six Premier League games this season.
IN A HARRY
Ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has revealed why Chelsea were not given a penalty against Manchester United.
Harry Maguire was seen with his arms wrapped around Cesar Azpilicueta in the penalty area in the first half on Saturday.
He told Premier League Productions: “I think it's solely because the ball is in play and he cleared it too quickly.
“I think he looked at it, cleared it very quickly and didn't scrutinise it.
“I think when you look at it in depth, as we have, there's no doubt whatsoever if Martin Atkinson is sent to the monitor, I think he'd make a different decision.”
FROM END TO END
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reckons a full Stretford End would have roared Manchester United on to victory against Chelsea.
Despite many indoor theatres and other venues being open to spectators, fans are still not permitted into football stadia due to coronavirus restrictions.
Solskjaer fumed: “If we had that stadium or the Stretford End full we could have created more urgency. It lacks, that game lacks.
“You're here watching the game and it's a different sport. We miss the fans.
“It's the same for all teams but everyone agrees that football now has a little less in it, the edge has gone and we can't wait to get the fans back.”
NO CHIL
Chelsea have shared Ben Chilwell's touch map from Saturday's game against Manchester United.
And it's safe to say that the former Leicester City star was not pinned back in defence.
NEW EIRA
Arsenal new Thomas Partey idolises Chelsea legend Michael Essien.
Tema president Wilfred Osei Palmer, who worked with Partey when he was a teenager, has compared the two players.
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, he said: “They share a similar role. Essien was box-to-box and also applies the brain-work.
“Thomas has got good timing, energy but not as boisterous.
“In terms of power and drive they have similar qualities.
“He can turn a defensive position into an offensive opportunity. He plays long searching passes.
“Thomas will grow and have better qualities than Essien, trust me. Yes, Thomas will give you something better.”
KANTE HOPES
Chelsea midfieler N'golo Kante has taken positives from his side's draw against Manchester United.
Kante is adamant that although his side drew the game, they had a chance to win to win.
He said: “It’s a good thing we got a clean sheet away from home, but we wanted to win this game. It was possible.
“We managed to move very well the midfield of Manchester United, but it was more difficult to create chances. We take a point.”
AMPADU LIFT
Chelsea supporters have suggested that Ethan Ampadu should get an opportunity when he returns to Stamford Bridge – and look to recall him if they can.
The 20-year-old played the full 90 minutes of Sheffield United's defeat at defending Premier League champions Liverpool yesterday, and caught the eye with an assured display despite the result.
One Twitter user hailed his performance at Anfield as 'absolutely superb', while another suggested that he should be 'at least a squad player' for the west London club.
LAMPS PRAISE
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has been praised for his decision to sign Thiago Silva this summer.
Critics beleive that the best transfer decision he made this summer was the signing of Thiago Silva on a free transfer.
Pundit Danny Murphy believes says Silva showed his worth in his with a man-of-the-match performance against United.
In his Daily Mail column he said: “I said in the summer that for all the business Chelsea did, Thiago Silva could be their cleverest signing.
“He showed that on Saturday night and was the best player on the pitch.”
ZIYECH CRITICISMS
Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech has explained that he stands by his criticism of Dutch football legend Marco van Basten.
Ziyech played under Van Basten at Heerenveen early in his career and remembered an incident which convinced him that the former AC Milan star would not be able to cut it as a manager.
He said: “He didn’t communicate at all. I realised at AZ that he was not suitable for it (coaching). He already had that at Heerenveen.”
DECLAN PRICE
West Ham are reportedly preparing large contract offer to star man Declan Rice in the hope of fending off Chelsea's interest in his signature.
The Hammers are set to offer Rice a new deal which would double his £60,000-a-week wages.
Rice was linked with a £60million move to Stamford Bridge in the summer but a move never materialised.
VAR FURY
Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta has questioned the use of VAR after the Blues were denied a penalty in their draw against Manchester United.
United captain Harry Maguire prevented Azpilicueta getting his head to a free-kick first during the opening 45 minutes of the game.
Speaking on the decision not to award the penalty he said: “‘The referee can make the decision, the VAR is there and it is very difficult sometimes for the VAR to say yes or no, but I encourage more for the referee to go to the monitor.
“Martin Atkinson is the main referee so he has to take the main decision and the monitor is there on the side to help him.”
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