Are Man Utd genuine title contenders?
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Visiting manager Dick Advocaat boasts a decent record against fellow Dutchman and former Sparta Rotterdam team-mate Van Gaal, with just one defeat from their previous nine managerial meetings.
Yet they still headed into the break ahead after Depay finished a fine move for his first league goal since joining United from PSV Eindhoven in the close season. “I can accept sometimes to lose but we made it very easy for them second half“.
Asked if the Premier League do enough to try and ease the strain by rescheduling games he replied: “Often we have to play Sunday-Tuesday or Sunday-Wednesday”.
“Every ball he (Johnson) touched was wrong, from what I’d seen”, added Advocaat. “But I was very pleased with the third goal because it was a reflection of the game“.
Martial was particularly good as he set up Wayne Rooney and also Memphis Depay who failed to convert. The Englishman did not give Borini too much time or space throughout the first half.
Can Man City cope without Kompany?
“Yes, but I have to say also the opponents wasted a lot of time and the referee was not reacting to that so it was also their own punishment.” “Memphis made a fantastic goal but the biggest chance was his second chance and then he was not composed”. On this occasion, his strength and calming influence were his greatest attributes. His first good performance in the league for quite some time.
United’s level of control meant the Spaniard had little to do, but he saved smartly from Jeremain Lens in the first half and then repeated the trick when Patrick van Aanholt shot from inside the box in the second half.
The Red Devils defeated Sunderland 3-0 at Old Trafford just hours later to leapfrog their city-rivals into the top spot.
After a ideal start to the season with five consecutive league victories, City has now lost three of its last four games in all competitions, with injuries and a loss of form clearly playing their part.
Under-pressure Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers had Daniel Sturridge to thank for a much-needed 3-2 win over Aston Villa at Anfield. “I don’t care who is making the goals”.
“I said to the security guy: “You are now a security guy of a club that top of the league” and that makes a huge difference”. “His finishes were brilliant”. The French forward used his pace and power to get to the byline, fired the ball across goal, and Rooney managed to bundle the ball home, via his knee. The barren run of 748 minutes was over. The 16-year-old became one of the youngest players to appear in the Capital One Cup when he appeared as a late substitute against Norwich City and Swindon Town and QPR are both reportedly keen on taking him on loan.
Wayne Rooney ended his Premier League goal drought as Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 win over winless Sunderland at Old Trafford.
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Yet there is a different vibe around Europe now, and United more than most should be anxious by that. Only Sir Bobby Charlton (199) and Jack Rowley (182) have more. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are now dictating the style in which Champions League football is played and English clubs are struggling to adapt to the new demands on the European mainland.
