Manchester United ended a turbulent week with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Sunday, doing little to ease the pressure on beleaguered manager Michael Carrick.
United travelled to the home of their fierce rivals seeking a much-needed boost after managing just two wins in nine matches across all competitions this season.
The growing sense of crisis at Old Trafford intensified midweek when defender Lisandro Martinez criticised the club’s hierarchy following a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
The Argentina international claimed Carrick had been left with an under-strength squad following an underwhelming summer transfer window.
However, the United manager insisted on Friday that the club had “moved on” from the controversy, and Martinez was named in the starting line-up for the trip to Elland Road.
Both sides made an aggressive start in a fiercely contested encounter, although clear-cut chances were scarce in the opening stages.
United goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced the first significant save in the 26th minute, clawing away a Nico Elvedi header that was heading towards the top corner after bouncing off the turf.
A minute later, Bryan Mbeumo, deployed as United’s central striker, headed wide from a fine Youri Tielemans cross before firing a tame effort straight at Leeds goalkeeper James Trafford.
Mbeumo made amends in the 35th minute, however, finishing into the bottom corner after Tielemans delivered another low cross from the right to give United the lead.
Martinez was withdrawn at half-time, with Noussair Mazraoui coming on in his place.
Leeds responded strongly after the break and drew level in the 51st minute. Following a corner, Tarik Muharemovic directed the ball towards goal with his head, allowing Dominic Calvert-Lewin to control it on his chest before stretching to finish.
The hosts grew in confidence after the equaliser, taking control of the game and largely restricting United to counter-attacks.
Carrick introduced Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha in an attempt to find a winner, but neither side could break the deadlock.
The draw left 20-time English champions United 13th in the Premier League table, with just one victory in their last seven games, while Leeds occupied seventh place.
Brighton thrash Palace with halfway-line stunner
Elsewhere, Brighton climbed above Arsenal into second place, at least temporarily, after crushing Crystal Palace 5-0 in a dominant display highlighted by a stunning halfway-line goal from Diego Gomez.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side raced into a three-goal lead inside the opening 10 minutes through a Jaydee Canvot own goal, Gomez’s spectacular long-range strike and a finish from Yasin Ayari.
Second-half goals from Charalampos Kostoulas and substitute Jack Hinshelwood completed the rout and compounded Palace’s misery.
Arsenal, who trailed Manchester City by six points, were scheduled to face Nottingham Forest in a later kick-off and needed a victory to close the gap on the league leaders.
City had won all seven of their league matches this season, maintaining their perfect start despite off-field distractions following the club’s charge over multiple alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth secured a 2-0 victory over 10-man Sunderland, with Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson scoring to give the Cherries their first league win of the season.
AFP
