The 90 minutes certainly didn't lack drama. Nor goalscoring opportunities. In the opening period, Estevao Willian had the ball in the net for the Blues, as did Matheus Cunha for United. Yet the goals were both ruled out for offside.

Xabi Alonso's side took control after the break – and we broke the deadlock in some style. Rogers collected the ball in midfield, breezed past Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, and clipped a finish over Senne Lammens.

Our second arrived in the 64th minute, with Palmer converting from 12 yards. The penalty was awarded after a VAR review for Martinez elbowing Wesley Fofana from a corner. The Argentine defender was shown a second yellow card and a red for the incident.

With a man and a two-goal advantage, the Blues were certain of the points. We appeared to have added a third goal when Estevao powered a finish into the roof of the net, but he was denied by a VAR review for offside.

It didn't change the outcome of the contest, as after two painful defeats in league and cup, we got back on track and claimed the three points.

Changes made

Alonso made four alterations to his side. Marco Palestra made his first Premier League start, Levi Colwill returned to the defence, and Palmer and Estevao Willian were included in the attack. Malo Gusto, Maxence Lacroix, Jordan Henderson, who was absent through illness, and Danny Welbeck dropped out of the starting XI

The opening 45 minutes ebbed and flowed. The Blues fashioned chances; United did the same. Sustained pressure was fleeting.

Estevao fired the first warning shot of the afternoon. The winger cut inside onto his stronger right foot and whipped a shot toward the far corner. Senne Lammens was beaten, but the ball flew wide.

United responded with an attempt of their own. A neat move around our penalty box saw Bruno Fernandes tee up former Blue Andrey Santos, and the midfielder guided a shot narrowly wide.

Throughout the opening period, opportunities arrived via counter-attacks, and in the 14th minute, one led to what appeared to be our opening goal. Estevao launched a break and fed Pedro Neto, who forced a save from Lammens. The Brazilian converted the rebound from close range, only for the offside flag to be raised.

From United's next attack, launched following a Chelsea corner, Bryan Mbeumo played an expertly weighted crossfield pass to Fernandes. The Portuguese controlled but skewed his shot high and wide.

Visitors threaten

Fernandes looked to return the favour to Mbeumo soon after, flashing the ball across the Blues' six-yard box. Yet the United forward couldn't react to finish. It was a let-off.

A flurry of United chances followed. First, Mike Penders reacted well to push clear a powerful low shot from Amad Diallo, and Josh Acheampong did well on the rebound to deny Matheus Cunha. Amad then forced Penders into a near-post stop.

A key moment in the game arrived ten minutes before the interval. Maguire met a back-post corner and Matheus Cunha was able to nod the ball past Penders from close range. The United forward celebrated, as did his team-mates. Then came a VAR review: the Brazilian was offside and the goal was ruled out.

United continued to threaten, and Amad twice came close either side of Moises Caicedo striking the base of the post from an Estevao corner. Wesley Fofana denied the United winger with an excellent block, and from his second attempt, the winger missed a one-on-one with Penders.

The final opportunities of the opening period were ours. Neto first robbed Maguire in his own defensive third, broke into the box and tried to finish. Unfortunately, his far-post attempt flew wide. Estevao then drew a save from Lammens to draw the half to a close.

A fine opener

Alonso opted against any substitutions at the break – and five minutes after the restart was rewarded as the Blues broke the deadlock. It was quite the goal.

The impressive Romeo Lavia did excellently to win back possession in midfield and laid a pass to Rogers, who began to advance 35 yards from goal. The England international wasn't challenged, then eased beyond Maguire and Martinez into the box, and lifted a deft finish over Lammens.

With momentum and confidence, the Blues then took – and did not relinquish – control. It was one-way traffic, with Penders hardly tested.

Lammens was far busier. He first had to deny a header from Neto, and then had to be alert to avoid being caught out by an Estevao corner destined for the net.

Our second arrives

Pressure was building on the United goal. We earned a corner that Estevao delivered to the back post and, under pressure from Martinez, Fofana fell to the ground holding his face. Another corner was awarded, but VAR intervened.

Referee Peter Bankes went to the monitor and, following a review, awarded a penalty. Martinez was shown a second yellow card and then a red. United were down to ten – and moments later were two goals behind as Palmer powered his spot-kick through Lammens.

From then on, it was clear the three points would be staying at Stamford Bridge. Only the final scoreline was uncertain.

Denied a third

The Blues supporters did have the chance to celebrate a third goal as, after winning the ball back in United's half, Palmer slipped a pass through to Estevao, who advanced and drilled a shot into the roof of the net.

The Brazilian celebrated with his team-mates and Alonso, but following a delayed VAR review, the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside.

Estevao was determined to get his name on the score-sheet, though, and twice forced Lammens into good stops. The second was a powerful effort that required a full-length stop.

Alonso shuffled his pack as the half progressed. Pep Chavarria was introduced for Palestra; Malo Gusto, Valentin Barco and Danny Welbeck came on late for Caicedo, Estevao and Neto.

Seeing the game out

Ten minutes were added. They didn't pass without incident. First, Mbeumo thumped a shot against the crossbar from 20 yards before the Blues cleared. Replays showed Penders got the merest of touches to deflect it onto the woodwork.

An impressive run forward from Acheampong and a neat pass from Chavarria then presented Palmer with a chance, but he curled his effort over. Barco then missed the final chance of the contest, firing wide from close range after a Gusto cross.

What comes next...

The Blues have a full week to prepare for our next top-flight fixture, which comes next weekend as we travel to Sunderland on 8 November.

The teams

Chelsea: Penders; Acheampong, Fofana, Colwill, Palestra (Chavarria 74); Caicedo (c) (Welbeck 87), Lavia; Estevao (Gusto 87), Palmer (Quenda 90+7), Rogers; Neto (Barco 87)
Unused substitutes: Sharman-Lowe, Subuloye, Nicoll-Jazuli, Emegha
Scorers: Rogers 50, Palmer 64 pen
Booked: Penders 90+3

Manchester United: Lammens; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Andrey Santos (Heaven 66), Baleba (Mainoo 58); Diallo (Zirkzee 77), Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha (Mount 66); Mbeumo
Unused substitutes: Darlow, Mazraoui, de Ligt, Tielemans, Lacey
Booked: Martinez, Maguire 65, Mainoo 70, Mbeumo 81, Zirkzee 86
Sent off: Martinez 63