Manchester United v Chelsea - in pictures

After setting up two goals in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen in midweek, Fernando Torres retains his place in the starting line-up against Manchester United. Allied by Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge, the former Liverpool marksman will be hunting for only his second goal for Chelsea in seven months. Old Trafford is not exactly the easiest place to score, but Torres has form here. Just ask Nemanja Vidic Photograph: Jon Super/AP

The game is still young when Chris Smalling puts United in front at the far post with a measured header from Ashley Young's free-kick Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Smalling may have been half a yard offside, but he was totally unmarked in the box Photograph: Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

Torres looks to have renewed confidence. His runs with the ball are increasingly intricate and his threat to the United defence is patent. At one stage he even attempts a flying volley - like Rooney against Manchester City last season - yet although he connects with the ball the acrobatic effort loops wide Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images

The pace of play accelerates through the half and only when Nani cuts in from the right flank and fires an exquisite drive into the top corner of the net do United have a cushion in the match Photograph: Tom Purslow/Man Utd via Getty Images

No wonder they're all coming over to congratulate him. That was a beautifully crisp strike from the Portuguese Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images

Moments before the interval, Rooney, who's bagged hat-tricks in each of his last two games for United, taps home at the far post after the ball had fortuitously rebounded across the open goalmouth into his path Photograph: Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

3-0 at half-time and plenty for for André Villas-Boas and his assistant Roberto Di Matteo to whisper about Photograph: Jon Super/AP

Remarkably, it's Torres who leads Chelsea's fightback by dinking a shot over United's onrushing keeper, David de Gea, soon after the restart Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

That was the touch of a class striker: delicate and decisive Photograph: Jon Super/AP

But after a shot from Nani comes back off the bar, José Bosingwa drags him down. That has given Rooney the chance to score his second goal of the day from the spot ... Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

But Rooney loses his footing and scuffs the ball comically high and wide. Doubtless he won't get much sympathy from John Terry Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Chelsea, having been reprieved, attack United with verve. But when Javier Hernández has his ankles chopped by Ashley Cole during a United breakaway, another penalty looks to be on the cards. Bizarrely the referee books the Chelsea full-back but does not award a spot-kick. Chicharito hobbles from the field and has to be replaced by Dimitar Berbatov Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

With eight minutes remaining and Chelsea sensing the game is not yet lost, Torres collects a piercing through ball on the edge of the box and casually dummies De Gea ... Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

But with the goal open he skews his left-footed shot wide and, with it, blows any hopes of a Chelsea comeback Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

That's a truly terrible miss - one of the worst in Premier League history. Arguably, Ronnie Rosenthal's mantle has been stolen. What a game this has been! It ends 3-1 Photograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images