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Manchester United began their Premier League campaign with a performance as disjointed as their offseason.
Perhaps the 3-1 home loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday shouldn’t have been a surprise.
After all, United only ended a pandemic-prolonged 2019-20 season 33 days ago with a demoralizing loss to Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finals. Since then, high-profile midfielder Paul Pogba has contracted the coronavirus, captain Harry Maguire has been convicted of assault in Greece (a new trial was granted), and young star Mason Greenwood was fired by England, and forced to train alone, for violate the coronavirus. rules.
To top it all, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was without most of his team for more than a week due to international commitments.
Still, how to explain such an indifferent display to a Palace team battered by injuries?
“Today,” Solskjaer said, “was a performance that is not seen very often in this group.”
Pogba was seen repeatedly giving the ball away. Maguire and his partner, center midfielder Victor Lindelof, were constantly twisting and turning. Marcus Rashford was peripheral on the left wing. Greenwood only played the second half.
Meanwhile, Palace, battle-hardened after a more intense preseason and a day one win over Southampton last weekend, simply knocked out United at an empty Old Trafford.
“We knew Manchester United did not play last week and that we had the mental advantage,” Palace winger Andros Townsend said. “If anything, we could have won it for more.”
Townsend scored the opening goal in the seventh minute and former United winger Wilfried Zaha scored two goals in the final 16 minutes, the first being a repeat penalty after United goalkeeper David de Gea was judged to have invaded earlier save Jordan Ayew’s opening shot.
The only positive for United was a debut goal from offseason signing Donny van de Beek, who came off the bench and scored 2-1 in the 80s with a precise shot following a Palace error.
United should improve as the season progresses and perhaps more players will be hired to add depth to the team.
Solskjaer surely expects it.
On a day in which 21 goals were scored in four games, there were also victories for Everton, Leeds and Arsenal.
RODRIGUEZ IMPACT
Two games and James Rodriguez is already making a big impact at Everton.
The Colombian playmaker scored his first goal in English football and set up the last of three Dominic Calvert-Lewin goals as Everton edged 10-man West Bromwich Albion in a 5-2 win at Goodison Park.
Rodríguez also shone in Everton’s opener, a 1-0 win at Tottenham, and has quickly established himself under the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti, with whom he also played for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Aside from his goal and assist, Rodriguez was involved in the key moment of the game when Kieran Gibbs shoved him in the face shortly after scoring in action that earned West Brom’s left-back a direct red card in injury time of The first half.
West Brom coach Slaven Bilic was also sent off for protesting the decision when the teams withdrew at halftime.
LEEDS ENTERTAINING
With two scoring lines of 4-3 so far, Leeds looks set to be this season’s Premier League cheerleader. This time, Marcelo Bielsa’s team was on the right side of a seven-goal thriller.
In a wild match between two promoted clubs, Leeds beat Fulham in their first win since returning to the top flight after a 16-year absence.
Helder Costa scored twice, on either side of goals from Mateusz Klich from the penalty spot and Patrick Bamford to give Leeds a 4-1 lead. Bobby Reid and Aleksandar Mitrovic, with their second goal of the match, secured a nervous finish at Elland Road, but Leeds held on.
The two teams have conceded 14 goals to each other in their first two matches. Bielsa insists, however, that his team will continue to attack.
“What the games have shown,” said the great Argentine coach, “is that we have to keep doing what made us successful in the first place. That’s the best way to get a result, rather than putting men behind the ball. It would be a mistake to stop doing those things that make you successful. “
NKETIAH LATE SHOW
Eddie Nketiah came off the bench to score a game-winning goal in the 85th minute as Arsenal beat West Ham 2-1 for a second straight victory.
The England U-21 forward had only been on the field for eight minutes when he reached out to nail a low cross from Dani Ceballos.
Alexandre Lacazette’s first goal for Arsenal was disallowed by a well-crafted goal from the team finished off by Michail Antonio shortly before the break.
West Ham have lost both of their games so far.
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More AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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