One could say that United were the better side and were unlucky not to get the three points. After all Leicester twice came back from behind, once thanks to a slip in the box by the Skipper and the second time through a deflected own goal by Tuanzabe, after Eric Bailly, recalled in the Premier League for the first time since October 4th, and Harry Maguire, still Solskjaer’s record signing, watched the ball and not the man with five minutes on the clock.
United made their own contribution to the lost points, missing good opportunities principally the two good chances by Marcus Rashford when face to face with the Foxes’ keeper. Marcus eventually scored his 50th Premier League goal. At age 23 years and 56 days, he is the third-youngest Manchester United player to reach 50 Premier League goals after Wayne Rooney (22 years 157 days) and Cristiano Ronaldo (22 years 341 days). Bruno Fernandes, who provided the ‘assist’ and scored the second, has now been directly involved in over half of Manchester United’s Premier League goals since his debut (31/60), scoring 18 and assisting a further 13.
My Man of the Match is Bruno Fernandes. After teeing up Rashford with an irresistible cross in the early exchanges from which the United forward should have scored, he stretched out to prod into the path of Rashford for United’s opener. He spurned a free header to make it 2-1 and carelessly conceded possession in the build up to Leicester’s equalizer. However he made amends with a composed finish as United retook the lead.
A consolation is that the Reds maintained their record of having lost just two games on Boxing Day in the Premier League, once against Middleborough in 2002 (1-3) and versus Stoke in 2015 (0-2). With United still in third place, four points off leaders Liverpool, the Red Devils must surely be taken seriously as Liverpool’s main Premier League title rivals. United next face Wolves at Home in the Premier League on Tuesday evening.
Article contributed by Contributor Kenneth. Comments are appreciated on our Facebook page.