This was a fixture 16 years in the making. As far as football rivalries go, few get bigger than Manchester United taking on Leeds United. The last time they faced each other was in 2004, where they drew 1-1.
There were only two things certain. It would be a goal-fest and a high tempo match.
Safe to say the match did not disappoint. Ole’s Manchester United tore through Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds in an action-packed 6-2 win. Here are the talking points from the match.
An Electrifying Reunion!
The combined Expected Goals total between Man Utd and Leeds was 5.8, the highest of any Premier League game this season.
As Ole said in the post-match interview, the score could have been 12-4. Both the teams worked their socks off. It was a hard-fought battle and Manchester United emerged as victors. Leeds United conceded four first-half goals in a Premier League match for the first time, in what was their 482nd game in the competition.
Scott McTominay Puts On A Magnificent Show for United!
Manchester United had a flying start thanks to Scott Mctominay. He became the first player in Premier League history to score twice within the opening three minutes of a game. He had an influential performance in the entire game.
His game by numbers:
- 86% pass accuracy
- 7 ball recoveries
- 5 clearances
- 3 chances created
- 3 shots
- 2 fouls won
- 2 goals
- 1 assist
Brilliant Bruno And Magic Martial!
There is no stopping our Portuguese playmaker. Once again he was at the heart of our play. Scoring twice.
Bruno has now been directly involved in 29 goals from his 27 Premier League games (17 goals, 12 assists). As a midfielder, he tops the charts for scoring the most non-penalty goals (5) in the premier league this season.
Martial is finding his rhythm again. Even though he did not score from a couple of great chances he had, the overall game was solid. He made a lovely pass to set up McTominay for United’s second and expertly assisted Lindelof from a Luke Shaw corner. He won the penalty which Bruno slotted home for United’s sixth.
United move to Third in the Premier League Table!
Well, scoring 6 goals helps the goal difference. United have now overtaken Everton and is placed third in the premier league table. They are 5 points behind the league leaders, Liverpool, with a game in hand. After the Carabao Cup fixture against Everton on Wednesday, they take on Leicester City on boxing day. They will try to cement their unlikely title challenge now.
A Well Deserved Home Win for United and Ole!
Ole has been under a lot of pressure recently with tabloids claiming he was two games away from a sack. United too had been struggling to find form at home. This was exactly the boost United needed. United has always been a team that performs better post-Christmas. That’s what Ole would be preparing the boys for, to build on this momentum in the second half of the season.
A Special Mention
There was a special guest in the stands watching this action unfold. Someone who is a part of football’s and this fixture’s history. Sir Alex Ferguson looked on as United went on to comfortably win against Leeds.
