LONDON: Antonio Conte lives to fight another day. Victory over fellow Premier title chasers Manchester United by 1-0 at Stamford Bridge may have been only a narrow margin by its significance was enormous.

The champions’ Italian manager has been an increasingly troubled figure after the mixed start to the season and his dissatisfaction with the club’s transfer work compounded by speculation of a return for Carlo Ancelotti and the disappointing 3-0 defeat by Roma in the Champions League.

However Chelsea fans were chanting: “Antonio . . . Antonio,” in delight and not derision after a second half strike from Alvaro Morata put them in control against second-placed United under old Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Pressure had been even more intense for Chelsea than for United. They had been stung not only by the three-goal defeat by Roma in midweek but by the sloppy defensive work and subsequent reports about Conte’s fragile relationship with the club management.

His response was to drop David Luiz and reorganise defence, leaving Antonio Rudiger on the substitutes’ bench. Conte explained the omission of Luiz by saying: “It’s a a tactical decision. There is Andreas Christensen in good form and we have Ethan Ampadu who is a good, young player at the club. We are conceding many goals so we have to find stability and solidity.”

At least Chelsea had Ngolo Kante fit to resume in midfield after having been injured on international duty for what was expected to be a contest mainly between the Chelsea attack and the United.

Instead, however, the opening exchanges revealed that Mourinho and United believed that Chelsea were there to be taken. Chelsea did claim an early goal but Phil Jones was rescued after heading into his own net by referee Anthony Taylor’s decision that he had been pushed by Alvaro Morata.

At the other end Romelu Lukaku, the former Chelsea centre-forward, looked hungry for the ball and was finding space to keep Thibaut Courtois under pressure. The goalkeeper dived low to his right to keep out from his Belgium World Cup team-mate.

Earlier United had an even better chance when Marcus Rashford headed a left-wing cross over the bar, taking his eye off the ball as Courtois jumped to challenge him.

David de Gea, Courtois’s opposite number, saved well from Eden Hazard, cutting in from the right, in a high-pace contest which resembled a cup-tie more than a league duel.

Tiemoue Bakayoko tried his luck with a couple of low drives and Christensen headed over the bar but the game remained goalless at the interval though the balance of power had shifted back towards Chelsea.

Ten minutes after the interval, to emphasise the point, Morata finally broke his seven-game goalscoring drought. Cesar Azpilicueta was allowed to power through the right side of midfield and deliver a long cross which the unmarked Morata headed home.

This was the former Real Madrid centre-forward’s seventh league goal since his arrival from Spain in the summer but his first since September.

Mourinho would have been furious at the enormous space Morata was allowed. He may also have reflected that Paul Pogba, out injured now 12 matches in all competitions, would not have allowed Azpilicueta to charge forward as he did.

United’s manager reacted by bringing on Marouane Fellaini and Anthony Martial for Jones and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

At first it was Chelsea who came closer to more goals: Bakayoko shot badly wide after robbing Fellaini of possession then Hazard saw a low drive saved by De Gea, diving to his right. But, at the other end and in a frantic finale, Courtois made a fine save at close range from Fellaini.

City march on

Manchester City continue to look unstoppable at the top of the table while Arsenal continue to look mired in confusion.

City defeated the Gunners 3-1 to lift their point tally to 31 in 11 games, a personal record, better than anything he ever accomplished from the start of a season at either Barcelona or FC Bayern. City’s command was ever at risk only once and only briefly.

Kevin De Bruyne scored City’s 50th goal of the season with a shot through Lurent Koscielny’s legs which took keeper Petr Cech by surprise. Sergio Aguero increased their lead early in the second half from a penalty after Nacho Monreal felled Raheem Sterling.

Aguero thus extended to 179 the record he had claimed for himself against Napoli in midweek. He wore specially-made golden boots for the Arsenal match during which he was substituted shortly after scoring.

City, facing an Arsenal side with no specific striker in the first half, then relaxed and paid the penalty when Gunners’ substitute Alexandre Lacazette pulled one goal back. That prompted City into raising the pace and reclaiming command through Aguero’s substitute, Gabriel Jesus, albeit from an apparently offside position.

Mesut Ozil had another ineffective day, with only a late yellow card to show for his ineffectual efforts.

De Bruyne, commenting on a club record-extending 15th successive win, said: “We know Arsenal are a quality side but I think we contained them quite well. We created more chances, kept our composure and it is a great win. But we will not relax. We know that the more matches you win, the more all the other teams want to beat you.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger complained about what appeared to have been a clear penalty award and conceded that his team had played too deep in the early stages.

Guardiola was satisfied with both victory and performance “after the game at Napoli which was so tough. Now my wish is that the players come back healthy from the international break.”

Arsenal thus slipped down into sixth place, trailing Liverpool on goal difference and 12 points behind City.

Everton battle back

** Everton caretaker Dave Unsworth’s prospects of being appointed as full-time managerial successor to Ronald Koeman still hang in the balance after the Toffeemen hit back from two goals down to beat Watford 3-2.

Their first win in the league since September 23 against Bournemouth was secured when ex-Everton midfield Tom Cleverley missed a stoppage-time penalty for Watford.

England will not have Dele Alli to threaten Germany at Wembley on Friday. The two-goal hero of Tottenham’s Champions League victory also collected a hamstring injury. He will miss both England’s friendlies against Germany and Brazil next Tuesday.

Alli’s deputy, Son Heung-min, struck Spurs’ winner in their 1-0 derby defeat of struggling Crystal Palace. Victory kept Spurs third, on Manchester United’s heels.

** Three managers enter the international break uncertain whether they will still have a job in two weeks’ time. Slaven Bilic is most at risk after West Ham’s 4-1 collapse at home to Liverpool but so are West Bromwich’s Tony Pulis (0-1 at Huddersfield) and Swansea’s Paul Clement (0-1 home v Brighton).

** Blackpool, famous FA Cup winners with Sir Stanley Matthews in 1953 and now in the third division, have been knocked out in the first round by semi-professional Boreham Wood in this year’s first round. Boreham Wood are in the effective fifth division.

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