United finds its bite in vital win over Chelsea

Bruno Fernandes struck his 100th goal for Manchester United on Saturday in a chaotic 2-1 win over Chelsea, helping ease the pressure on coach Ruben Amorim.

Fernandes and Casemiro struck in a wild first half at Old Trafford, where both teams went down to 10 men and Chelsea lost star player Cole Palmer to injury.

Fernandes hit a century of goals in his 200th Premier League appearance, but the biggest celebration came after the final whistle, as United won for only the second time this season.

"Every win, especially in this moment, is important against a great opponent," Amorim told the BBC. "Our crowd, our fans are easy to please. If you give everything, they will be there. That is something our players need to understand. To have the crowd with us, we just need to run, to fight and tackle."

Earlier, defending champion Liverpool maintained its 100 percent start with a 2-1 victory against Everton at Anfield in the Merseyside derby.

Relief for Amorim

Amorim will take wins however he can get them after a torrid 10 months in charge.

After overseeing the 20-time English champion's worst-ever Premier League campaign last season, there have been more struggles this term, raising questions about his ability to revive United.

So, when Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez was shown red for bringing down Bryan Mbeumo just outside the area, it looked like the perfect chance for United to get back to winning ways following last week's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

And United took advantage with Fernandes converting from close range in the 14th minute and Casemiro heading home in the 37th.

In a half that needed VAR to confirm Fernandes' goal and saw Chelsea make three substitutions, referee Peter Bankes played nearly 10 minutes of added time. During that period Casemiro was issued a second yellow for a foul on Andrey Santos.

United continued to make better chances, but when Trevoh Chalobah headed a goal for Chelsea in the 80th it set up a nervy finish, before the home fans erupted with relief at the final whistle.

"We deserve this, but we complicated our lives," Amorim said.

The win moved United up to 10th, and one point behind sixth-placed Chelsea, which was tipped to challenge for the title this season.

"We have to forget the good feeling of winning the game and get back to the urgency of feeling that we need to win the next game," Amorim said.

No late winner required

Ryan Gravenberch scored and assisted to help improve Liverpool's record to 5-0. For the first time this season, it didn't require a late goal to secure victory.

Gravenberch put Liverpool ahead in the 10th minute, when Mohamed Salah lofted a one-hop pass into his path. The defensive midfielder extended his right leg and, on the half-volley, lifted the ball over the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Gravenberch then provided a perfect through pass in the 29th for Hugo Ekitike to slot the ball through Pickford's legs and inside the far post.

Idrissa Gueye scored on a long-range shot after Iliman Ndiaye tapped back Jack Grealish's cross. About to turn 36 next Friday, Gueye became the second oldest Everton player to score in a Merseyside derby behind 37-year-old Sam Chedgzoy in 1926, according to Opta.

Liverpool has won five consecutive home games against Everton for the first time since 1937.

"We needed a different mentality today compared to the games before," said manager Arne Slot, who left Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak — costing a combined 225 million pounds ($303 million) — on the bench.

"You can see how well we can play when we are fresh in the first 45 minutes. We ran out of energy a bit, but we didn't run out of mentality."

Potter under fire

In another bad day for West Ham coach Graham Potter, his team lost for the fourth time in five games, going down 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace.

Former Chelsea coach Potter has won just six times in 25 games since being hired in January, and has lost 14 of them.

The subject of insulting crowd chants at London Stadium, Potter said, "I didn't hear it. I understand the frustration, but there's nothing I can say."

He lasted only seven months at Chelsea, and there has already been speculation in the British media about potential replacements at West Ham, including former Nottingham Forest coach Nuno Espirito Santo and club icon Slaven Bilic.

When asked if he thought he had the backing of the club hierarchy, Potter said: "I've no reason to think not, but I also understand the environment and the results."

Tyrick Mitchell scored a 68th-minute winner for Palace after Jean-Philippe Mateta's opening goal was canceled out by Jarrod Bowen.

West Ham was 18th in the standings with three points.

Wolves still bottom

It's even worse for Wolverhampton, which lost 3-1 at home to Leeds.

Vitor Pereira's team is in last place and still looking for its first points after five games.

Pereira signed a new contract at the club this week, but it looks like he's set for a tough season.

Defeat came despite Ladislav Krejci firing Wolves ahead inside eight minutes, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his first goal for Leeds since his move from Everton in the summer.

Spurs fightback

Trailing 2-0 at Brighton, Tottenham came back to salvage a 2-2 draw.

Goals from Yankuba Minteh and Yasin Ayari looked like putting Brighton on course for only its second win of the season, but Richarlison halved the deficit before halftime and an own goal from Jan Paul van Hecke in the 82nd secured a point for Spurs.

Ange Postecoglou got his first point as Nottingham Forest coach in a 1-1 draw at Burnley and Fulham beat Brentford 3-1 at Craven Cottage to climb to seventh.

Agencies via Xinhua