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Rob DawsonCorrespondent
MANCHESTER, England – Sir Alex Ferguson used to say that the key to the title race was staying in touch with the leaders until Christmas and then winning it in the second half of the season. For the first time since Ferguson retired in 2013, Manchester United have made the first half. A frantic 6-2 win over Leeds United at Old Trafford on Sunday means that on Christmas Day this year, United will be third in the table, five points behind leaders Liverpool with one game down.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer isn’t the type to get carried away, but for the first time in a long time, United have at least made sure to be part of the conversation. What’s next is the hard part, and the trip to Leicester City on Boxing Day and the visit to Wolverhampton Wanderers three days later will reveal whether they are real.
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“We’ve been a third of the season in, we’re not even halfway there,” said Solskjaer, who celebrated two years in charge on Saturday. “League position isn’t even something we’re looking at. Our fans needed that one; they should have been here. Our players are going home tonight and getting a good night’s sleep. I think they’ve worked hard enough and deserve maybe a lie- in .
“That was fantastic from minute one. We had a plan to go after them. We found a way to get them going. Imagine if there were 75,000 people here, that would have been considered one of Man United’s best performances against Leeds at home.”
At the very least, Solskjaer can point to tangible progress.
On Christmas Day last year, United had just lost at Watford to drop to eighth in the table, 24 points behind Liverpool. Their best finish in the league after Ferguson was second under José Mourinho in 2017-18, but on Christmas Day of that season they were already 13 points behind eventual champion Manchester City. Titles are neither won nor lost in the first half of the season and United have given themselves a chance.
Following matches against Leicester and Wolves between Christmas and New Years, Solskjaer’s team travels to Anfield to face Liverpool on January 17, which could, by then, be arguably United’s biggest league game since Ferguson left. more than seven years ago.
There are significant challenges to overcome before then, but there is much for which Solskjaer should be grateful this holiday season. United tops the form table having taken 19 points from the last 21 available. Against Leeds, they addressed two major issues: not starting matches quickly and a worrying run of results at home by scoring twice in the first three minutes and scoring six in a league game for the first time since the 8-2 win over Arsenal in 2011..
Solskjaer admitted in preparation for the first league meeting with Leeds since 2004 that Marcelo Bielsa’s arrogant style could be adapted to his team’s strengths, and after the way United took a 4-0 lead 10 minutes earlier of the break, it was difficult to argue. It was a day when almost everything went well.
Scott McTominay, chosen in midfield ahead of Paul Pogba and Donny van de Beek, became the first player to score a Premier League double in the first three minutes. Bruno Fernandes and Victor Lindelof made it 4-0 in the 37th minute before Liam Cooper recovered one for the visitors. Daniel James, a surprise pick to make his first start since October, scored his first league goal since August 2019 shortly after halftime and Fernandes scored his second from the penalty spot after Anthony Martial was knocked down. Stuart Dallas ‘put Leeds’ second in 73 minutes and they would have had more had it not been for a string of good saves by David De Gea.
That the match ended with eight goals, 43 shots and 24 corners was a fair summary of a chaotic 90 minutes. Perhaps Solskjaer had shown his players Louis van Gaal’s comment that “all they did was defend with 10 men” in the Manchester derby. After scoring six against Leeds for the second time in their history, United have added 28 league goals this season, surpassed only by Liverpool and nine more than at the same stage last season.
Aside from questionable defense, Solskjaer’s only concern at full time was the injuries that forced McTominay and Luke Shaw.
“You have to earn the right to win it, and it should have been 12-4,” Solskjaer said. “You know it’s going to be frantic, frantic against them, because no matter what the result is, they have a certain style. We show that we are getting a fitter or stronger team. I’m seeing more and more of a Manchester United team.” I really enjoyed the two years and I really enjoyed today. We want a fit team to get to the finish and they have shown it lately. There are details to work on and we will continue to improve. “
Prove it against Leicester, and even Solskjaer will find it difficult to downplay United’s title chances.
