United join club for most penalties won
PAUL Scholes believes United’s recent form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will make their rivals worry for next season.
The Reds extended their unbeaten streak to 17 games with a comfortable win against Aston Villa on Thursday. That saw them move within one point of fourth-placed Leicester with four games remaining. Solskjaer’s side can guarantee a place in the top four by winning all of their remaining fixtures. The Reds also remain in the hunt for both the Europa League and FA Cup this season.
With Paul Pogba fit again and Bruno Fernandes continuing to impress, United sit top of the form table for the last 10 league games, winning seven and drawing three, scoring 23 and conceding just four.
Scholes believes their recent form is a cause for concern for their Premier League rivals. “Is it time for a couple of teams to start worry about this team?” he said. “I have a hunch they might be already.” Former United defender Gary Neville also revealed his excitement over the progress of the front line amid comparisons with Liverpool stars Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. Neville said: “The three that United have got are not at the level of Liverpool’s front three yet, you wouldn’t expect them to be, but they have the talent and ability.”
UNITED have equalled the Premier League’s all-time record for penalties won in a season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side continued their impressive run of form with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park, kicked off with a Bruno Fernandes spot kick.
Fernandes was felled by Ezri Konsa after spinning just inside the box, and Jonathan Moss pointed to the spotkick after a VAR review.
United have now been awarded the joint highest number of penalties over a 38-game season in Premier League history - 13 - along with Leicester in the 2015/16 campaign and Crystal Palace in the 2004/05 season.
However, the Premier League has confirmed that VAR made an error in awarding the Reds the penalty against Villa.
VAR did look at the decision from on-field referee Jon Moss but did not overturn the call.
“It was the wrong decision. It should have been overturned by VAR but wasn’t and should actually have been a foul on Konsa,” said the Premier League.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, however, believed Moss made the right call.
The United boss said: “He’s done a Zidane turn and the boy has stuck his leg out and Bruno has landed on him.
“If I try to jump away from someone and I land on someone as they try to tackle me, it’s a penalty so for me it’s a pen.”