Manchester United defeated Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor in the fourth week of the Premier League. The match treated spectators to a number of exciting moments. Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard created numerous chances, Romelu Lukaku scored two goals, Paul Pogba saw his penalty saved by Joe Hart and Marcus Rashford received a red card for a headbutt on Phil Bardsley.
Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard Pull the Strings
Playing Between the Lines
Manchester United players struggle the most when moving the ball too slowly and when playing sideways passes in front of 11 opposition players. Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard delivered strong performances against Burnley because they found pockets of space between Burnley’s defensive lines. Burnley’s defensive midfielders had to look over their shoulders throughout the 90 minutes, which created uncertainty. As a result, Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard had the time to take multiple touches on the ball. These movements led to Romelu Lukaku’s goals in the first half, and they allowed Manchester United to play with fluidity.
Hold-Up Play
Against Brighton and Tottenham, Romelu Lukaku failed to consistently bring his teammates into play by shielding the ball from opposition defenders. However, on those occasions, the passes to him were misplaced or weighted incorrectly. Against Burnley, Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard looked sharp as they provided their striker with quality passes.
In turn, Lukaku often curled the ball out to the wings, which stretched the Burnley defence. In fact, the Belgian’s only disappointment will be not scoring more goals. Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba produced exceptional through balls for Lukaku, particularly in the second half. Given these opportunities, Manchester United should have scored at least one more goal.
Positivity Before the International Break
In the first three matches of the season, Manchester United conceded seven goals. Against Burnley, Rashford received a red card in the 71st minute, and the match could have easily ended in a draw. Still, Manchester United’s defensive players found a way to keep a clean sheet.
This will give Antonio Valencia, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, and David de Gea a massive amount of confidence. Jose Mourinho, in particular, will appreciate the spirit that his team showcased in the last 20 minutes or so. Still, Manchester United cannot switch off after returning from the international break. The Red Devils will face trips to Watford in the Premier League and Young Boys in the Champions League.
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