Manchester United and Chelsea lost further ground on the teams at the top of the table after a goalless draw at Old Trafford on Monday.

Sportsmail’s Jamie Carragher offers his expert analysis on both teams, who have just two wins between them in 12 Premier League games.

Manchester United played with a higher tempo than we have been used to seeing this season

THIS LOOKED LIKE A GIGGS TEAM 

If I hadn’t read a paper or watched television in the last 48 hours, I’d have thought it was Ryan Giggs’s first game in charge.

I’m not saying he was responsible for tactics but this was not a typical Louis van Gaal performance from Manchester United. This looked like the team of old with the way they attacked and pressed.

It was almost as though the team had been managed by Ryan Giggs (right) rather than Louis van Gaal

IVANOVIC NEEDS TO SWAP 

Branislav Ivanovic’s form has been a problem since day one against Swansea. I felt for him in his battle with Anthony Martial and the only option is to move him to central defence. Ivanovic has been excellent for Chelsea but if he keeps playing out wide, he will continue to get exposed. A switch inside would afford him more protection.

Branislav Ivanovic was given a torrid time by United forward Anthony Martial during the game

WILL CHELSEA MAKE TOP EIGHT? 

When things were going badly at the start of the season, I still expected Chelsea to finish in the top four. Now I am thinking they will struggle to get into the top eight. They have only won one Premier League game a month and I could not believe how poor they were in the first half. I can’t see how it will suddenly change.

It is hard to see how Chelsea will turn their season around – they will struggle to make the top eight at this rate

THE PRESSURE WAS OFF ROONEY 

Wayne Rooney looked sharper but I was surprised by the lack of intensity from Chelsea’s defenders. I didn’t see them getting close to Rooney to pressure him and he was able to take passes and switch the play. Norwich’s winning goal at Old Trafford this month came when Sebastien Bassong fired into him but there was no real aggression from Chelsea.

Wayne Rooney (right) looked sharper on Monday but the Chelsea defenders gave him too much time

CHELSEA THERE FOR THE TAKING

It would have been a travesty had Chelsea snatched a winning goal but, as well as Manchester United played, I’d say they will still be disappointed not to have collected three points. 

Chelsea for 45 minutes actually looked like a team fighting relegation. They were there for the taking and it was so easy for United to play through them. 

Chelsea were there for the taking at Old Trafford and Manchester United will be disappointed they didn’t win