LONDON, Dec 1: Manchester United’s hopes of retaining their Premiership title suffered a major setback Saturday after the champions were humiliated 3-0 by Chelsea in the early match at Old Trafford.

Dutchman Mario Melchiot headed Chelsea into an early lead before his compatriot Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s superb angled drive doubled the visitors’ advantage.

Icelandic international striker Eidur Gudjohnsen wrapped things up for Chelsea four minutes from time after latching onto Celestine Babayaro’s defence-splitting pass to make it three goals in his last two matches.

The Blues, who move up to fourth ahead of Newcastle on goal difference, kept up their impressive record at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ having lost just three times there in 27 visits.

United drop one place to seventh and now have the joint worst defensive record in the top flight, leaking 26 goals in 14 matches.

Man-of-the-match John Terry, who was outstanding in Chelsea’s defence alongside Frenchman William Gallas, was delighted to resurrect his side’s flagging title aspirations.

Hasselbaink played down Chelsea’s chances of bringing the title to Stamford Bridge for only the second time in their history.

Results of English league soccer matches played on Saturday:

Premier league

Aston Villa 0 Leicester City 2

Blackburn Rovers 0 Middlesbrough 1

Charlton Athletic 1 Newcastle United 1

Derby County 0 Liverpool 1

Ipswich Town 0 Arsenal 2

Manchester United 0 Chelsea 3

Sunderland 1 West Ham United 0

—AFP