By The Sport Review staff

The Armenia international made a brilliant start to the Premier League season following an impressive return of five assists in his first three top-flight games.

Mkhitaryan has struggled since Paul Pogba’s injury setback but Jose Mourinho has persisted with the attacking midfielder in his starting line-up despite using the £30m signing sparingly last term.

The 29-year-old hasn’t scored a goal or made an assist since his strike in a 4-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League in Russia on 29 September.

Mkhitaryan struggled to have an impact on the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon as reigning PFA player of the year N’Golo Kante marshalled the Manchester United playmaker closely.

The Armenian midfielder touched the ball a mere 29 times in his 62 minutes on the pitch before Mourinho opted to withdraw the former Borussia Dortmund man to bring on Anthony Martial.

Former Liverpool defender Carragher criticised Mkhitaryan’s subdued performance at the defending Premier League champions.

“I thought Manchester United may as well have played with 10 men, with Mkhitaryan in that midfield,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

“There was so much space for Chelsea.”

Manchester United are eight points behind leaders Manchester City following their second Premier League defeat of the 2017-18 season.