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Manchester United bolstered their Premier League title aspirations by demolishing Leeds 6-2 within the first league assembly between the edges for 16 years on Sunday. Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes scored twice as United’s counter-attacking menace tore aside Marcelo Bielsa’s attacking strategy to maneuver the Red Devils as much as third, 5 factors behind leaders Liverpool with a sport in hand. “It could have been 12-4, it was that kind of game. It was fantastic from the first minute,” stated United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“We had a plan to get after them, go forward and Scott gets two goals in the first three minutes.”
The much-anticipated conflict as a historic rivalry was renewed lacked the keenness of a full Old Trafford within the stands, however greater than delivered on the sphere.
United have made a sequence of gradual begins this season, however put the end result virtually past doubt inside three minutes thanks to 2 objectives from McTominay.
The Scotland worldwide burst ahead from his deep function in midfield to smash house Fernandes’s cross from outdoors the realm after which slotted house Anthony Martial’s by ball.
Bielsa was among the many finalists for FIFA’s coach of the yr this week for guiding Leeds again to the highest flight.
However, the Argentine’s willpower to play in the identical wide-open model irrespective of the opposition backfired because the guests had been 4-Zero down inside 37 minutes.
“Whether it is 5-0, 0-5, or 0-0, you know it is going to be frantic and hectic because they have an attitude and style that makes you have to work and you have to earn it,” added Solskjaer.
“Just imagine if that had 75,000 people here. It would have gone down as one of the best Man Utd performances against Leeds.”
Fernandes pounced on a free ball inside the realm after one other quick counter-attack to make it 3-Zero earlier than one other Leeds’ Achilles’ heel, defending set-pieces, was uncovered when Victor Lindelof swept house Martial’s flick on from a nook.
Leeds had loads of probabilities themselves on the different finish as Patrick Bamford slashed vast when clear by on David De Gea when the rating was at 2-0.
“In a big game like this, a derby, where it means so much to the club and the fans, I’m almost glad the fans weren’t allowed in to watch that because it would have felt even worse sending them home after watching that,” stated Bamford.
“It could have been 6-6 if you’re an optimistic Leeds fan or it could have been 10-2. We couldn’t do ourselves justice.”
Leeds did get on the scoreboard 4 minutes earlier than half-time when captain Liam Cooper headed in off the within of the submit from a nook.
Daniel James got here inside minutes of turning into a Leeds participant within the January switch window of 2019 earlier than his transfer from Swansea collapsed and the Welsh worldwide moved to United six months later.
Solskjaer handed James a uncommon begin, realizing his velocity on the break would trigger issues, and he received his reward for a powerful show when he latched onto McTominay’s cross to drill low previous Illan Meslier for United’s fifth 24 minutes from time.
Moments later Leeds had been hit for six as Martial was upended contained in the penalty space and Fernandes rolled house United’s 10th penalty of the season.
The scoring didn’t cease there as Stuart Dallas fired a beautiful effort into the highest nook to the Leeds deficit.
Meslier made a sequence of late saves to disclaim United matching Liverpool’s seven-goal thrashing of Crystal Palace on Saturday, whereas Jack Harrison ought to have added one other for Leeds late on as a breathless encounter ended with 43 makes an attempt on objective.
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United had beforehand struggled to match their excellent away type within the league this season, however only a second win in seven video games at Old Trafford propels Solskjaer’s males again into title competition as Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City have dropped factors prior to now week.
Defeat leaves Leeds nonetheless in 14th, however with a seven-point cushion above the relegation zone.
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