Ferdinand tells two United players what they should’ve done to show more leadership for Palmer’s winner

Rio Ferdinand was put through a whirlwind of emotions during Manchester United’s chaotic clash with Chelsea last night.

Unfortunately, the former Red was alongside Joe Cole on the TNT Sports panel as the seven-goal thriller ultimately culminated with Chelsea reigning victorious in stoppage time. 

It came courtesy of two Cole Palmer goals, with the latter – a deflected strike off of Scott McTominay – completing his hat-trick while setting a new Premier League record for the latest goal on record (100:39 minutes). 

As well as that, United held a 3-2 advantage up until the 10th minute of injury time, which led to another PL record of the latest a side has ever led before going on to lose in a match. 

The leveller, Palmer’s second, was due to a somewhat debatable penalty call when Diogo Dalot was adjudged to have fouled the fresh-legged Noni Madueke after slipping and bringing the attacker – and himself – down in the box.

It was checked by VAR before being awarded, with Palmer then converting by slotting it into the bottom-right corner. 

In true United fashion that we’re all so accustomed to seeing, the home side were then awarded a corner in the dying embers of additional time. Enzo Fernandez fired a direct ball to Palmer on the edge of the area, who was completely unmarked and, therefore, able to dispatch an unchallenged strike towards Andre Onana.

Viewers were left dumbfounded that Erik ten Hag’s players had left Chelsea’s most prolific and dangerous forward standing alone during a set-piece. 

Ferdinand reacts to last-gasp winner

Post-match, Ferdinand analysed the match-winning phase of play on TNT Sports, saying: “It happens to all players, [to] the best players. But, then you need someone in your team that has a clear head, that points and shouts and drags people about to get out to him [Palmer].

“You know what you do in that situation? You look, at a corner, a set piece, at that moment in the last stage of the game… who’s their best at heading the ball? Get him. Harry Maguire’s in there you’ve got Bruno [Fernandes], they’re leaders, they’re big characters, big experienced players. You need to find someone to do that.

“He [Palmer] can’t be getting in that space at that stage of the game after scoring two and, for most parts of the game, being the most dominant Chelsea player on the pitch. You’ve got to identify that.”