LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Manchester United blew the Premier League title race wide open with a 2-0 win over lethargic leaders Chelsea, while Liverpool are back in third place after a 1-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion yesterday.

Antonio Conte’s Chelsea were rocked by Marcus Rashford’s early goal, and a deflected Ander Herrera strike soon after half-time at Old Trafford delivered a major blow to their title ambitions.

The Blues barely managed an attack of note and a second defeat in their last four league games leaves them clinging to a four-point lead over second- placed Tottenham, who had piled on the pressure with a 4-0 rout of Bournemouth on Saturday.

After appearing set to cruise to the title for most of the season, Chelsea now face a nerve-jangling final six matches as they try to hold off a strong challenge from their London rivals.

“They deserved to win because they showed more desire than us,” Conte said.

“In this case, the fault is the coach. I wasn’t able to do the right motivation.”

It was a sweet moment for United manager Jose Mourinho, who had suffered a 0-4 thrashing against Chelsea in October on his first return to the club since being sacked last season.

United were also knocked out of the FA Cup quarter-finals by Chelsea last month, and avenging those painful losses kept alive their bid to qualify for the Champions League via a top-four finish.

Mourinho’s men, unbeaten in their last 22 league games, are now fifth, four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City with a game in hand.

“Chelsea are the best counter-attacking team in the country and we controlled them very well,” Mourinho said.

Chelsea’s cause wasn’t helped by the absence of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was injured earlier in the week, and the pre-match withdrawal of left wing back Marcos Alonso due to a reported illness.

At the Hawthorns, Liverpool playmaker Roberto Firmino settled a scrappy game with a close-range header in first-half stoppage time.

Liverpool are unbeaten since losing at Leicester in late February and now lead City by two points, although Pep Guardiola’s team have a game in hand in the race for an automatic spot in the Champions League group stage.