Manchester United is at the top of the Premier League standings in the post-New Year period for the first time since January 2013. This became a fact after the Red Devils beat Burnley 1-0 as a guest in a postponed match of the first round. Paul Pogba, who had a very strong game, scored the goal with which United overtook Liverpool at the top. United has a three-point lead over the champion, which he will visit at the end of the week.
The game was filled with a lot of cases that had to be resolved after the intervention of VAR. In the end, however, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team deserved the victory and remains the only team in the Premier League that has not lost as a guest since the beginning of the season. Solskjaer made 10 changes compared to the match with Watford for the FA Cup. Only Eric Bailly kept his place in the center of defense. Edinson Cavani returned after the three-match suspention imposed on him by the FA. The Uruguayan led the attack, on the flanks were Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. Luke Shaw and Paul Pogba, who had minor injuries, recovered and also started.
United had more control of the ball from the start, but the first clear situation was at the guest’s side. In the 22nd minute Fernandes lost the ball in his half. Barnes brought out Wood, who looked for the far corner, but Bailly threw himself into a tackle, blocked the shot and the ball went out.
In the 28th minute we witnessed a very curious case. United organized a counterattack in which Cavani could have come to a clear position, but was fouled by Brady in front of the penalty area. VAR reviewed the situation to see if Brady was the last in defense and his actions deserve a red card. Probably this would be the decision, but then VAR returned to a previous situation, from which the counter attack of the Red Devils started in front of the visitors’ penalty area. There Luke Shaw entered sharply against Gudmundsson in a clash for the ball. The left back touched the ball, but then his tackle fell dangerously at the opponent’s feet, so in the end Friend ruled a foul in favor of Burnley and showed a yellow card to Shaw. This nulled the ensuing situation and saved Brady.
Until the break, United had a complete control. In the 45th minute Martial made a great shot from about 25 meters, after which the ball went into the top corner, but Pope reacted brilliantly and saved.
In the 52nd minute Pogba made a very good raid between three defenders, then found Fernandes. The latter continued to Martial, who crossed low to Cavani. However, the Uruguayan failed to find the ball well up close and it ended up in Pope’s hands. United dominated. In the 66th minute Cavani quickly managed to reach the ball in the penalty area after an unsuccessful attempt to clear by Lawton. The Uruguayan shoot with precision to the far corner, but just wide from the target. Three minutes later, the guests demanded a penalty after Pogba fell after a clash with Brownhill, but VAR did not see anything wrong. The pressure of the guests paid off in the 71st minute. Rashford got to the right and held the ball very cleverly, looking at how to proceed. The striker then crossed very softly towards Pogba on the edge of the penalty area. The Frenchman fired from the air, the ball bounced in Lawton and passed between Pope’s legs for 1-0.
In the final minutes Burnley tried to put pressure on United. Brownhill shot from the side, and then Vydra had two more chances. Two minutes before the end, VAR reviewed a situation for a possible handball by Maguire in the penalty area. There was one, but it was decided that there was no penalty. In added time, Tarkowski also failed to deliver a good close-up shot. At the very end, Martial missed, left alone against Pope.
Manchester United is at the top of the table with 36 points, three more than 2nd Liverpool. Next game both team will face each other at Anfield.
