Alvaro Morata gave Manchester United a taste of what could have been by heading Antonio Conte's Chelsea to a much-needed victory on Sunday.

Morata ended a six-match scoreless streak with a decisive header as Jose Mourinho endured another frustrating Stamford Bridge return.

It looked like the Spain international would instead be wearing red until Mourinho completed a £75million summer move for Romelu Lukaku , whose goalless streak stretched to a seventh match.

The Blues' £67m arrival from Real Madrid capitalised on lacklustre United defending to superbly head home Cesar Azpilicueta's cross in the 55th minute.

But who has proved a better signing so far? Our reporters have their say:

Alvaro Morata powers in the winning goal (
Image:
PA)

Andy Dunn

Considering Everton did not, as a rule, create a welter of chances against the Big Six, Romelu Lukaku’s reputation as a flat-track bully is a touch harsh.

And, in Manchester United colours, his failure to score against Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea surely has more to do with Jose Mourinho’s tactical approach than his own inadequacies.

Yet, counting this campaign, over the last four seasons Lukaku has faced the elite half a dozen on 51 Premier League occasions … and scored on a mere six of those.

There remains a suspicion he does not have the guile to crack the tougher nuts.

Alvaro Morata has plenty of guile, that much was evident not just in his goal against United but in his overall performance.

Morata has the same number of Premier League goals as Lukaku this season but is still in the early stages of adaptation.

It is a close call and Lukaku’s ruthlessness against most teams will serve United very well. A failure to punish lesser teams cost them dear last season.

But Morata’s overall game just seems a little more accomplished and if and when he fully settles, he will be invaluable to Chelsea’s cause.

Morata celebrates his strike (
Image:
AFP)

David McDonnell

It's difficult to make a definitive judgment so early in the season for both, who are still finding their respective ways at new clubs.

Lukaku scored 11 in his first 10 games for United, but is now in the midst of a seven-game goal drought, although he hasn't been helped by a lack of service, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Juan Mata providing nothing for him, while the continued absence of Paul Pogba, with whom Lukaku had forged an effective understanding on the field, to complement their off-field relationship, has not helped either.

Morata looks to be a better fit at Chelsea, and has produced on a more consistent basis, and showed United what they could have had if they had signed him, instead of Lukaku, with his sublime headed winner in Sunday's 1-0 win.

Lukaku's challenge, after such a free-scoring start to his United career, was to prove he was more than just a flat-track bully who scores against the lesser sides but can't do the same against bigger opposition.

After failing to make an impact in games at Liverpool and now Chelsea, and faring marginally better at home against Tottenham, where he provided the assist for Anthony Martial's winner, Lukaku is under renewed pressure to prove he is not deserving of that tag.

At the moment, given Lukaku's barren run, you would have to say Morata has the edge.

Morata made the difference at Stamford Bridge (
Image:
REUTERS)

Mike Walters

One header doesn't make a £70 million striker a bargain - and nor does a sticky patch make a £75m forward a flop.

We will not know until the season is over whether Alvaro Morata has been a better signing for Chelsea than Romelu Lukaku's impact at Manchester United.

Let's count the goals, and the trophies, in May - neither has looked a waste of money so far.

For what it's worth, this observer feels that Lukaku was a known quantity after banging in 25 goals for Everton last season, so Jose Mourinho had a pretty good idea of what he was signing - an oven-ready, prolific Premier League striker.

And Morata can be well satisfied with his eight goals for starters at Chelsea: You can never be sure how quickly a big-money signing from abroad is going to bed down in English football, but he has settled nicely like a freshly-pulled pint of draught bitter.

What does seem certain already is that both Lukaku and Morata will trail home behind champions Manchester City in the title race.

Romelu Lukaku celebrates (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

Neil Moxley

As of right here and now Lukaku has been the better signing - but it could be a different story by the end of the campaign.

Why?

Manchester United struggled to break teams down last season and Lukaku has the ability to do it against those lesser lights. However, can he do it on the biggest stage?

That’s the question. He failed to net against Liverpool and Chelsea and didn’t even threaten. But I think it is worth pointing out on both occasions the service was pitiful.

Morata is not Diego Costa. He hasn’t got the physical strength. But he is quicker and he has shown that he can finish. Yesterday’s header was exquisite.

It is to be remembered too that Morata has only played one dozen matches in the Premier League. It takes time for anyone to find their feet.

To my mind, Lukaku has been more valuable as we stand here and now. But we will all be able to form a better judgement at the end of the season.

Lukaku had started the season in blistering form (
Image:
Manchester United)

Adrian Kajumba

Honours are just about even between the two so far. Both had flurries of goals, scored seven each in the league and hit the net in the Champions League. Both have had little droughts too.

Alvaro Morata ended his with the winner against Manchester United and Romelu Lukaku, who has three more goals in total than the Spaniard, will no doubt end his too when the service improves and Paul Pogba returns.

Both have also added different qualities to their respective teams compared to the men they have replaced as their club's main striker last season but will take time to become the same influential figures.

Overall there has been little between them and the impact they have had since their summer moves.

James Nursey

Lukaku. Morata may have stole the show yesterday with a brilliant match-winning header but Jose Mourinho clearly won the battle over both strikers in the summer.

Both Mourinho and Conte fancied Romelu Lukaku but Jose nipped in to steal the Belgian's signature. Lukaku is going through a dip in form right now but he has 11 goals to his name already for United - compared to Morata's eight - and is a better all-round striker in my view who needs no adjustment to the Premier League.

He cost more at £75million compared to Morata's £67m but he is also nearly a year younger.

Lukaku hit the ground running at Old Trafford (
Image:
AFP)

Freddie Harding

Romelu Lukaku. Yes, Morata scored the winner in the big game of the weekend and yes Lukaku is having somewhat of a dry spell by his standards.

However, if you look at the amount of games Manchester United drew last season that they've been winning by three or four this season, you can see the impact the Belgian striker has had.

People often talk about his speed and power, but he is a far better footballer than he gets credit for - he gets assists as well as goals.

Unfortunately, Mourinho's recent tactics have completely isolated him in the big games, and he has been made to look ineffective. If the boss takes a few more risks against the top six, Lukaku will get chances to score big goals, and he will take them because converting chances is what he does.

Any striker needs a team to play to their strengths, and for me, he has more strings to his bow than Morata does.

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