A huge ask for Villa now, Chelsea will just keep the ball and make the opposition run after it.

You'd expect good game management from a Thomas Tuchel side.

Mateo Kovacic has scored only his second Premier League goal, with his other against Everton in December 2019.

It's almost three as Kai Havertz takes the ball down expertly but scuffing his shot wide.

Nearly a howler from Edouard Mendy at the start of the second half, coming for a corner, not getting to it and Axel Tuanzebe almost heads in.

Saul is off, you got your wish.

You can stop tweeting about him now.

Away we go for the second period.

A change for Chelsea at the start of the second half.

Uefa men's player of the year Jorginho is on for his 100th Blues game, replacing debutant Saul Niguez.

Image source, .

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Khan Karn: Aston Villa will be kicking themselves for not being ahead, all over Chelsea who are very lucky to be leading.

Azrael: Chelsea will be pleased to be one nil up but Villa have been the better side. Mendy has been Chelsea's best player.

Jared Maobe: With Saul's debut in the midfield, Chelsea are actually struggling to manage the mid with him losing ball cheaply and he seems lost.

Manchester United

More from Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo speaking to BBC Sport: "Everyone has to do his job. We have a fantastic team, a young team, with a fantastic coach but we have to build up confidence.

"The team needs to be mature if we want to win the league and the Champions League but we are in a good way and I am here to help the team."

Manchester United

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo speaking to BBC Sport: “I didn’t expect to score two goals. I expect one but not two. I have to appreciate the fans and what they did to me today. I feel so proud for that.

“The most important thing was to win and to win games. Manchester [United] needs to be where they deserve. It is to win, to build the team and build the club and the mentality.

“This is what we are looking for. Of course I am happy to score goals I am not going to deny that but the most important thing is the team and the team played good.

“It is unbelievable. When I started the game I was so nervous, I swear. It is normally because I did not expect that they would sing my name all game. I was very nervous but maybe I didn’t show but I was. The reception is incredible but I am here to win games and help the team.

“It was unbelievable moment. I was super-nervous and was thinking last night that I wanted to play good and show I was still capable of helping the team. This club is unbelievable and I am so proud. I am going to give everything to make them proud of me.

“Everyone knows the football in England is different than in any part of the world and to be honest it is the most special one. I arrived here at 18 and they treated my unbelievable and that is why I am back."

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter

There was more than a buzz and it feels as though Ronaldo's arrival could be a catalyst for Manchester United. There was a sense from the fans that they could challenge as they go top of the table tonight. Think back to last year, they lost six matches at home; there is no shortage of firepower in order to improve.

What a day it was for Ronaldo, who made the impact everyone expected. But did Fernandes score the pick of the goals?

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to BBC Sport: "I'm so happy for Cristiano Ronaldo. I'm so happy for the team and supporters. You sense the atmosphere around the club since he signed. It could easily have been an anti-climax because expectations were so high.

"It feels like one of the old days. It’s special. Cristiano Ronaldo is a special man and a special player for us in the history of the club.

"He senses big moments and scores goals. He’s clinical, he’s ruthless. He’s lifted the team and everyone around the cluib. Everyone is dreaming. They can dream and we’ll focus.

"We know we have the quality up front, we can score goals. I know we had to be patient, that was important today. When they scored at 1-1, it could go both ways. The players responded really well."

While the lads at Stamford Bridge take a breather, he is some more reaction from Manchester United's win over Newcastle, including an interview with Cristiano Ronaldo.

And there goes the whistle for the break.

Chelsea will be relieved to go in ahead.

Thomas Tuchel will be having a few stern words.

Callum Hudson-Odoi involved for the first time but his cross from the right is wayward and unable to reach Romelu Lukaku in the six yard box.

Meanwhile, Antonio Rudiger has a go from all of 40 yards out and it lands where you expect it, somewhere in Row Z.

Two minutes to half time.

It's a double whammy for Villa so far, behind and wondering how they have not scored at least three.

Villa just cannot find a way past Edouard Mendy.

The Chelsea goalkeeper makes another stop, this time from Jacob Ramsey's driving run forward.

The midfielder has been excellent so far.