Ever since Manchester United’s thrashing of Chelsea in their opening Premier League game of the season, the Red Devils have been inflicted with a case of beating the best, and losing to the rest. Monumental triumphs over the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City have been rather overshadowed by disappointing defeats to the likes of Crystal Palace and Newcastle.
Just this month after their victories over Spurs and City, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s boys were held by Everton before losing away at Watford. The busy Christmas period further threw up potential obstacles and banana skins in their wake, with games against Newcastle (a side that they had lost 1-0 at St James’ Park), and at Turf Moor against Burnley. Adverse results against the pair would simply have undone all their work in getting wins against the rest of the big six.
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But in the space of two days, the Red Devils showed some real mettle. First, they came from behind to beat Newcastle at home 4-1, whilst Saturday afternoon’s triumph against Burnley was as impressive as any of their wins this season. Sean Dyche’s side have always been a notoriously tricky test, particularly at home, and United navigated it like seasoned professionals.
According to Whoscored, the Clarets are at the top of the table when it comes to aerial duels won per game this season in the Premier League (25.2), whilst they also rank second in terms of long balls played per match too. United knew what they were going to be facing, and rather than wilt under the pressure, they rose to the occasion.
As per Sofascore, they dominated possession as would be expected with 62%, but it is what they did with the ball that showed they were firing on all cylinders. They had 14 total shots on goal, of which six of them had to be blocked by a desperate Burnley defence. And perhaps even more impressively, they handled the physical threat with aplomb.
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Dyche’s men made 17 fouls, and yet United kept getting back up – no-one perhaps better typified that than Daniel James. The Red Devils won 20 aerial duels over the course of the 90 minutes, made 20 clearances (more than Burnley), and won more duels than their counterparts too (55).
United had already proven they can beat the best sides in England. But with their victory at Turf Moor, the Red Devils showed they have truly turned the corner. And that could be great news for their assault on the top-four this season.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s potential swoop for this Premier League star could be down to this man’s possible departure.
