Manchester United made it four Premier League wins in a row with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Sunday, February 18th. Rasmus Hojlund grabbed both United goals in the opening seven minutes, with Luton replying seven minutes later through Carlton Morris. Here are the Manchester United key takeaways from a battling win.
Manchester United Key Takeaways from Kenilworth Road Win Over Luton Town
Time for a quick post-match message from Rasmus! 🤳#MUFC || #LUTMUN pic.twitter.com/5aibuvmaDa
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 18, 2024
Manchester United Inefficient In Front Of Goal Despite Hojlund Double
Despite taking a seemingly commanding 2-0 lead after just seven minutes, the reality is that the Red Devils should have scored at least three more, with Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes all wasting gilt-edged chances to put the game beyond doubt.
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With 21 shots (of which nine were on target), and an xG of 3.04, Erik ten Hag’s side have Rasmus Hojlund to thank for his ruthlessness in the final third, the Dutch coach himself lamenting the “big chances” missed in the post-match press conference.
An All Too Common Lack Of Control
A common theme in Manchester United’s performances this season has been an inability to take control of matches, resulting in them surrendering leads. Indeed, in four of the last 11 matches in all competitions, the team has surrendered a lead, albeit going on to win three of them.
The reality is that the very best sides in the Premier League do not lose control of games like this, and today was another perfect example. The opening 10 minutes should have set the foundations for a routine win, but instead, a lack of composure and focus allowed Rob Edward’s Hatters a route back into the game that really shouldn’t have been possible.
The Red Devils seem to thrive on chaos, as shown in their frenetic but ultimately doomed Champions League campaign this season. Chaos might be fun for the neutral, but it does not allow you to compete for the big trophies.
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Experienced Players Struggling
This encounter saw Harry Maguire and Casemiro both struggle in the ferocious, intimate cauldron of Kenilworth road noise. Both looked exposed and leggy against Luton’s dynamic and willing midfield runners and both were hauled off at half-time on yellow cards, with the Brazilian particularly fortunate not to incur a second one before half-time. Ten Hag’s side seemed to gain composure in the second half.
Luke Shaw’s Injury Woes
For the second game in succession, the Manchester United and England left-back had to be replaced either before half-time or on half-time itself. Having missed 13 of the Red Devils’ 25 Premier League fixtures this season, Shaw is starting to become something of a liability due to his lack of availability, which is unfortunate as he makes a huge difference to the team in build-up and transition.
Conclusion
A hard-fought win to continue the momentum for the Red Devils but reoccurring issues could cost them going forward if not addressed.
Manchester United’s next match will be in the Premier League at home to Fulham on Saturday, February 24th, kick-off 3:00PM GMT.
