Palmer impresses with his gesture towards Lavia as Alonso finds a player Chelsea can't exclude

Chelsea secured a deserved victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, after manager Xabi Alonso successfully got his team back on track following two consecutive defeats to Tottenham and Liverpool earlier in the week.

The match saw a standout performance from several Chelsea players, led by Roméo Lavia, who delivered one of his best displays since joining the team in the summer of 2023. He dominated the midfield, showcasing great ability to link the lines, as well as his accuracy in passing, movement, and decision-making.

Roméo Lavia seized his chance to start in the absence of Jordan Henderson due to illness, playing a key role in the opening goal scored by Morgan Rogers. He regained possession from Braian Mbeumo, then outmaneuvered Carlos Baleba before passing it to Rogers, who made a brilliant individual effort and finished the attack successfully. Alonso praised the Belgian player's performance, stating that he had a great match and showed impressive form in recent weeks.

Rogers was not the only one to appreciate Lavia's role, as Cole Palmer caught attention with his actions after the final whistle, returning to the pitch to congratulate his Belgian teammate on his performance, as well as for successfully playing two full matches in less than three days.

Lavia has firmly established himself in Alonso's plans, becoming a key candidate to retain his place in the lineup for the upcoming match against Sunderland. The match also saw a standout performance from Brazilian Estevao Willian, who made his first start in the Premier League under Alonso, delivering an impressive attacking display despite not scoring. He took six shots, had two goals disallowed for offside, and had another effort saved by Manchester United's goalkeeper.

Alonso expressed his happiness with the young player's performance, noting that he responded in the best possible way after being informed of his participation decision following the Tottenham match. He proved his readiness to earn more playing minutes. Chelsea are set to face Sunderland away next week, with anticipation regarding the continued reliance on Estêvão, after he provided enough to warrant a larger role in the team.