Chelsea blow Manchester United away to give Jose Mourinho a return to forget

Jose Mourinho's Stamford Bridge return ended in humiliation as Chelsea hammered Manchester United 4-0 to move within one point of the Premier League summit.

The ex-Blues boss saw his afternoon turn pear-shaped inside 30 seconds when Daley Blind was caught out by the diagonal run of Pedro, who made no mistake as he rounded David De Gea and coolly fired into an empty net.

United struggled to contain the vibrant start from Antonio Conte's men and some more woeful defending at a right-wing set piece saw Gary Cahill pounce to make it two on 21 minutes.

The Red Devils improved after the break but were caught out on the counter attack just past the hour when Eden Hazard, whose form fell away badly during Mourinho's final season in charge, showed just how good he can be with some lovely footwork complemented by a devastating low finish beyond David De Gea.

It had turned into a nightmare homecoming for Mourinho and salt was rubbed in his wounds when N'Golo Kante was allowed to slalom into the area unchallenged before slotting into the corner.

The result sees Chelsea move above Tottenham into fourth spot on goal difference and just one point behind leaders, Manchester City as they continue to demonstrate their improvement since Conte's decision to switch systems.

United, who have now won just one in six league outings, are five points further back in seventh place, and six adrift of their table-topping neighbours with many observers already writing them off in what looks like being a tight title contest this season.

On the eve of this clash, the United boss admitted he won't be regarded as 'special' if he fails to win the title with Manchester United - and on this evidence he's got his work cut out. The Red Devils spent a small fortune in the summer but still look very much like a work in progress. Mourinho has built his career by winning from the start, but after a solid first few games the cracks are appearing. He couldn't repair them in the third season of his second spell at the Bridge and it doesn't look good at this stage for a man not known for his longevity. Mourinho once mocked managers who call for time, but now he desperately needs that and a result, with Man City next up in what is already looking like a massive League Cup clash on Wednesday night.

Eden Hazard (Chelsea). The Belgian is revitalised and back to his best. He was a danger throughout alongside Pedro and Diego Costa, capping a super showing with a wonderful third goal.

CHELSEA: Courtois 7; Azpilicueta 7, David Luiz 7, Cahill 8; Moses 6, Kante 8, Matic 8, Alonso 6; Pedro 8, Diego Costa 8, Hazard 9. Subs: Chalobah n/a, Willian n/a, Batshuayi n/a.

MAN UNITED: De Gea 6; Valencia 6, Smalling 5, Bailly 5, Blind 5; Fellaini 5, Herrera 6; Rashford 6, Pogba 5, Lingard 6; Ibrahimovic 5. Subs: Mata 6, Rojo 5, Martial 5.

1' - GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 MAN UNITED. Chelsea storm into the lead in 30 seconds! Pedro makes a clever diagonal run and rounds De Gea with his first touch before tucking into an empty net. What a start!

8' - MAN UNITED CHANCE! Ibrahimovic rises at the far post but heads over the top after a lovely run and cross from Valencia. The Swede should have done better after peeling off against Cesar Azpilicueta.

21' - GOAL! CHELSEA 2-0 MAN UNITED. It's a soft one but Cahill won't care. The ball drops off a United defender from the right-wing corner and the England defender reacts first to crash it past De Gea.

27' - CHELSEA CHANCE! Hazard marauds down the right and drills it low to the near post for Costa who can't quite sort out his feet. He should have tapped that home. De Gea makes the save once more.

62' - GOAL! CHELSEA 3-0 MAN UNITED. Hazard leads the counter, teasing the United defenders on the left wing before running in behind to take a pass, dazzle Smalling and fire a low shot across De Gea and into the far corner.

70' - GOAL! CHELSEA 4-0 MAN UNITED. It's turning into a hammering. Kante runs onto Pedro's flick and easily rounds some statuesque United defenders before rolling a low shot into the corner.

81' - MAN UNITED CHANCE! Zlatan with a smart chest and volley that Courtois does well to push to safety.

Pedro scored the fastest goal in the Premier League this season (30 seconds).

Pedro's goal was only the sixth Manchester United have conceded inside the opening minute of a Premier League game.

All four of Man Utd's heaviest PL defeats have come in October.

Only in 2014/15 (13) have Man Utd collected fewer points after their first nine PL games of a season than this campaign(14).

This is Mourinho’s heaviest PL defeat. Only against Barcelona in 2010 did he lose by a greater margin in all comps (5-0).