Free-scoring Man United looks like team to beat
LONDON » Free-scoring, tight at the back, and confidence oozing through the side, Manchester United already might be the team to beat in the English Premier League.
United hasn’t challenged for the title since winning its record-extending 20th championship in 2013, Alex Ferguson’s last year in charge. But backto-back 4-0 wins has sent a powerful early season message to its rivals.
Swansea was on the end of United’s power and newfound clinical edge on Saturday. Eric Bailly scored in the first half then Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial all netted in a devastating four-minute passage from the 80th.
“There was happiness in our play,” United manager Jose Mourinho said. “There was no need to close the door. Just let the horses run freely, and they were magnificent.”
Liverpool squeezed past Crystal Palace 1-0, Arsenal lost at Stoke 1-0, and there were comfortable first wins of the season for Leicester and Watford.
United’s performance stood out, though, six days after its 4-0 win over West Ham at Old Trafford.
As United’s attackers poured forward in the final 10 minutes, scoring at will and in stylish fashion too, memories flooded back to the entertaining teams that Ferguson molded. United was profligate last season, the lowest scorer by far in the top seven with 54, but that seems to be a thing of the past in Mourinho’s second year in charge.
“36 more games like this please,” United midfielder Juan Mata tweeted.
It is the first time in 110 years that United has scored at least four goals in each of its opening two games of a season. Tougher tests await Mourinho’s side, however.
Here’s a look at other results on a day when players in the Premier League wore black armbands as a mark of respect following the attacks in Spain this week. third bid rejected by Liverpool for the Brazil playmaker. He has requested a transfer but Liverpool says he is not for sale.
Liverpool made five changes ahead of the second leg of its Champions League playoff against Hoffenheim on Wednesday, with record signing Mo Salah starting on the bench.