Get ready for another week of agonising over the sorry state of Manchester United. The legends of old will rage on podcasts, clips of a fuming Gary Neville will fly around social media and by the time United play again there is every chance a new manager will be in the dugout.

There were echoes of Erik ten Hag’s final game in charge as the walls closed in on Michael Carrick here on Saturday. United missed chances at 0-0, just as they did when Ten Hag lost to West Ham a day before his sacking two years ago, and Chelsea exacted punishment after initially delivering a performance so bad it had you worrying for the nascent Xabi Alonso project.

Chelsea were appalling during the first half, so it was just as well their opponents were in a giving mood. United had opportunities to make their decision to give Carrick a stay of execution look like a wise move rather than the consequence of executive-level confusion, but the finishing was awful and the defending was worse. Morgan Rogers cantered past five players to make it 1-0 and a seventh defeat in 13 games was confirmed when Lisandro Martínez’s faux hard man act led to him being sent off after conceding the penalty that allowed Cole Palmer to seal Chelsea’s rise into fourth place.

Here was a moment to symbolise United’s decline under the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Martínez has had a lot to say about those above him recently, but this is a player who should have been sold along. United have too many in that category and it is hard to see a change of manager alone fixing the problem.

Carrick could limp on until the international break. He is symptom rather than cause, although perhaps a different voice is required. United host Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday, but they will be playing in the Championship if this persists.

They are winless in nine games, their worst run since 1988, and are drifting into a relegation battle. The ending was similar to last week’s defeat to Bournemouth, the away end serenading Carrick before booing United’s players, and there was plenty of hate to go around. Chants criticising Jason Wilcox’s work as director of football and urging the Glazers to sell up captured the sense of mutiny.

The first half had been encouraging from United, but with Benjamin Sesko absent until the new year the lack of a finisher proved costly. Bruno Fernandes, restored after clear the air talks with Carrick, fired an early chance over, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo produced glaring misses and the returning Matheus Cunha had a goal ruled out for offside at 0-0.

The spotlight was also on Alonso, defeats to Tottenham in the league and Liverpool in the Carabao Cup sparking criticism over team selections, and he lifted Chelsea by handing Estêvão Willian his first start in the league this season.

Estêvão was dangerous on the right flank as Alonso adjusted without João Pedro up front. Pedro Neto rather than Danny Welbeck led the line in a 4-2-3-1 system, but it was United who threatened first. Diogo Dalot combined with Cunha before Andrey Santos, who left Chelsea for United in the summer, swept a shot just wide.

Both sides were vulnerable. Chelsea had a long list of absentees – illness ruled Jordan Henderson out in midfield – and their defence wobbled without Maxence Lacroix. United, though not exactly secure whenever Chelsea punched through on the counterattack, felt optimistic at first.

The visitors had an escape when Senne Lammens spilled a Neto shot and an offside Estêvão tapped home. Diallo ran at Marco Palestra and Fernandes shimmered in a floating role from the left.

Chelsea, enjoying neither possession nor control against Santos and Carlos Baleba, were forced back. Levi Colwill intervened when Cunha broke through and Wesley Fofana, a £75m accident waiting to happen, took flak from the home fans after a couple of trademark brain fades.

United could not take advantage. There were a couple of flashes from Chelsea as half-time approached; Moisés Caicedo diverted a Fofana header against the woodwork and Neto shot wide after a stumble from Harry Maguire.

Chelsea were more assertive at the start of the second half and it was easy to predict United’s unravelling. They were punished when Mbeumo turned into trouble. Caicedo blocked his path, Roméo Lavia nicked the ball past Baleba and Rogers sauntering through the middle placed United’s failure to strengthen in defence into sharp focus.

It was brilliant from Rogers, but a bit like a goal you see at the end of a five-a-side between a group of dads playing for the first time since 2019. Maguire barely lifted a leg, Martínez gawped and Rogers dinked over Lammens for 1-0.

United had to dig in. Good luck with that. Lavia was running the midfield for Chelsea. United’s response to falling behind was to crumble. Martínez was on a booking when he elbowed Fofana at a corner. Peter Bankes reviewed the incident and showed the centre-back a second yellow before Palmer made it 2-0 from the spot.

Chelsea relaxed. Estêvão had a scorching strike ruled out. Baleba, still unable to complete 90 minutes, made way for Kobbie Mainoo and the home fans jeered when Mason Mount came on. Mount has toiled since leaving Chelsea for United in 2023. Old Trafford is the place where talent goes to die. Carrick will merely be the latest victim.