United thump Leeds 6-2 at Old Trafford
McTominay and Fernandes notch two each in win
Table of Contents
In their first Premier League in 16 years, Manchester United crushed Leeds United 6-2 at Old Trafford.
The Peacocks’ first visit to United’s ground in over a decade was a forgettable one from start to finish.
Game Story
Man United got the ball rolling early and often in today’s contest.
Just two minutes in and the Reds already had their noses in front.
Bruno Fernandes did well to intercept a Leeds ball in the midfield slipping a pass to Scott McTominay on the edge of the box.
The Scotsman drilled a brilliant shot into the bottom right corner past Illan Meslier.
It was McTominay’s first Premier League goal this season.
A minute later McTominay had a second.
A deep throw-in came to Anthony Martial who dropped a brilliant no-look ball to McTominay in the box.
The Reds midfielder finished brilliantly past Meslier in the right corner to make it two-nil.
In the 20th minute, United got a third.
Daniel James did well to dispossess Rodrigo as it came to Fred who picked out Martial in the box.
The Frenchman’s shot was blocked initially by Luke Ayling but Fernandes was there for the rebound.
The Portuguese international fired home his team-leading eighth goal of the season.
Leeds came close to scoring five minutes later.
Patrick Bamford beat out Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the air but his header glanced just over the crossbar.
United got a fourth in the 37th minute.
Leeds got caught off guard by a Man United free-kick.
Victor Lindelof got past his marker poking home a Martial header for his first of the season.
Four minutes before half-time Leeds pulled one back.
A nice powerful low header by Liam Cooper beat David de Gea.
Two minutes into the second half and United should’ve had a fifth.
Some sloppy play by Stuart Dallas in his own half as Fernandes stripped him of the ball playing Martial clean in on goal.
The Frenchman though scuffed his shot wide of the post.
United scored again on 66 minutes.
Another great counter by the Reds as McTominay’s ball found Daniel James.
James took it in on goal firing it through Meslier’s legs for United’s fifth.
Fernandes scored from a familiar spot in the 70th minute, the penalty spot.
Marcus Rashford twisted and turned inside the box before finding Martial.
The striker was clipped down as the referee pointed to the spot.
Fernandes with his traditional, hop, skip and jump run-up fired the penalty low inside the right post for United’s sixth.
The Peacocks pulled another one back three minutes later.
A poor clearance from de Gea was intercepted by Leeds in midfield.
The ball eventually came to Stuart Dallas in the final third.
Dallas from just outside the box fired a brilliant right-footed effort into the top right corner past de Gea.
Returning the Favour
On the 90-year anniversary of the Peacocks 5-0 thumping of Man United, it was the Reds who fired back today.
The 6-2 scoreline is the largest victory for the Reds against Leeds in the Premier League.
The Reds also tied for most goals ever scored against Leeds in a top-flight fixture.
Back in 1959 in the then first division, United crushed the Whites 6-0 at Old Trafford.
Man of the Match
Scott McTominay’s performance was one fans watching at home will remember for a long time.
The Scotsman’s two goals inside of 160 seconds set the tone for the rest of the match.
McTominay’s the first player in Premier League history to score twice in the first three minutes of a game.
McTominay was solid, clinical, and at times unselfish setting up a goal as well.
The Drought continues
Leeds United’s woes at Old Trafford in league play continued on Sunday.
Man United’s not lost to Leeds in 16 straight home games.
They’ve got nine wins and just four defeats at Old Trafford against Leeds in the Premier League.
Records
In a match that featured eight goals, several records were set.
It’s the first time Leeds has ever conceded four times in the first half of a Premier League match.
Marcelo Bielsa’s rarely seen so many goals scored on a team he’s managed.
Today’s match was the most goals a Bielsa managed side has conceded since 1992.
At that time he managed Newells Old Boys to a 0-6 loss to San Lorenzo.
Man United notched four first-half goals for the first time in the Premier League since a September 2016 match with Leicester City.
Improper setup
Leeds United will need to work on defending set-pieces.
Including penalty kicks, the Peacocks have conceded 14 goals this season off set-pieces, more than any Premier League side.
Managers Words
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his team’s start helped set the tone for the entire match.
“That was fantastic. From the first minute, we had a plan to get after them, go forward when we got the ball and of course Scott gets two goals in the first three minutes which is a great start to the game.
“We found a way of getting them going. Just imagine if that had 75,000 people here. It would have gone down in history as one of the better Man Utd performances against Leeds here at home,” says Solskjaer.
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa says the first-half came down to Man United being more clinical in front of goal.
“In the first half we had similar opportunities to the ones that they had, and we weren’t able to score them. Our attacks came from combination play and their attacks came from the fact we were losing the ball in attacking positions and they would transition from defence to attack.
“We will correct what was bad and try to keep the good things. But we will not abandon the way we play, “says Bielsa.
Moving up the Table
With the win, Man United moves into third place with 26 points from 13 matches.
Solskjaer’s side is now unbeaten in its last seven EPL fixtures.
The loss drops Leeds into 14th place with 17 points.
Next Up
Manchester United now prepares for a quarterfinal tie at the Carabao Cup on Wednesday against Everton.
Game time from Goodison Park is at 8 pm.
On Boxing Day, they travel to Leicester City for a 12:30 pm match. (JSL).
