Chelsea v Manchester United – in pictures

With the pitch at Stamford Bridge in pristine condition thanks to undersoil heating, there was little chance of the fixture being pulled after snow hit London Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Stripped of the England armband in midweek for the second time in his career and sidelined from Sunday's match by injury, John Terry is not having the best of weeks. He will be replaced in defence by Chelsea debutant Gary Cahill Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Terry watches this one from the bench – a vantage point that Frank Lampard has become used to this season Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

At least Terry's absence has spared us all the awkwardness of another 'Will they? Won't they?' hand-shake moment Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Chelsea team-mates David Luiz and Fernando Torres could do with some divine inspiration. Since joining the club last year, neither has been overly impressive Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Antonio Valencia and José Bosingwa tussle for the ball Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Cahill makes a dubious challenge on the edge of the box, bringing Danny Welbeck to the floor, but the referee says he got the ball Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Fernando Torres and Jonny Evans are also among the action in the first-half. Who will be the first to score? Torres surely, no? Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Nope. Evans is the first to get his name on the scoresheet - albeit at the wrong end. Daniel Sturridge's cut-back smacked the helpless United defender in the chest before crossing the line. Chelsea go into the break 1-0 up Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Within moments of the restart, Juan Mata doubles Chelsea's lead with a walloping volley following a glorious deep cross from Torres. Even if the goalkeeper, David de Gea, had got a hand to that shot it would probably have knocked him to the floor Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

In the 50th minute, United find themselves back at the centre circle once more. They are now 3-0 down Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

It will go down as a header from David Luiz but a heavy deflection off the shoulder of Rio Ferdinand was what caused the ball to arc into the top corner Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Chelsea fans are lapping it up ... and giving Ashley Young a mouthful Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

But when Patrice Evra is felled by Sturridge inside the Chelsea box, Wayne Rooney crashes the resulting spot-kick high into the net to make it 3-1 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Next to go down inside the Chelsea box is Welbeck. And once again the referee, Howard Webb, points to the spot. This time he appears to have got it wrong, though, as Branislav Ivanovic's foot was firmly planted on the floor when Welbeck's boot swung into it Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Having gone top left with his first penalty, Rooney goes bottom right with his second effort – and scores again. It's 3-2. Game on Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

United are dominating the play, yet Chelsea have a great chance to extend their lead when Torres cuts into the United penalty area. However, the Spaniard fails to fire a shot when the opportunity presents itself Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Predictably, that gives United further momentum. Javier Hernández rises unmarked inside the box six minutes from full-time and heads United level Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

What a turn around. 3-0 down and now back to 3-3. United aren't going to let Manchester City walk off with the title this year without an almighty scrap Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

After a superb, finger-tip save by De Gea from Mata's free-kick in injury-time, United are able to celebrate a hard-earned point. It was an unlikely, extraordinary and potentially very precious point Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian