Woeful Man Utd drop out of top 4 race
MANCHESTER — Manchester United are now mathematically out of the running for a top-four finish in the Premier League as they lost 4-0 to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday evening.
The Red Devils, who were smarting from a dominant 3-0 win over Brentford on Monday, preferred the same eleven that put the Bees to the sword.
United didn’t have a comfortable start and trailed in no less than 15 minutes through a bottom-corner finish from Moises Caicedo for his first league goal after collecting a second ball outside the area.
Ralf Rangnick’s side provided no meaningful threats to the Seagulls, who could’ve doubled their lead from openings by Leandro Trossard and Danny Welbeck’s first-time volley off a freekick.
It remained an uphill struggle for the Red Devils just over the last ten minutes to halftime as pin-point passes in and around United’s defence brought chances which a certain Trossard scuffed.
The Red Devils' first sight to goal came seven minutes before halftime when Cristiano Ronaldo slammed a free-kick from a few yards out narrowly over the goal of Robert Sanchez.
As United brought on Fred and Edinson Cavani ahead of the second half, the Seagulls bagged a second goal when Marc Cucurella maintained composure and thumped Trossard’s square ball into the top corner
Brighton piled more woes on the Red Devils 12 minutes in the resumption as Pascal Gross cut inside from a switch of play and finished off a low pass from Trossard.
The Red Devils conceded more chances and allowed a fourth goal at the midway stage of the match after Trossard ran clear to help a chipped effort from Welbeck over the line amidst Diogo Dalot’s clearance.
United targeted a quick response through a powerful header by Cavani, but Sanchez repelled before a last-ditch tackle from Dalot pushed Alexis Mac Allister’s shot against the post and out of play.
Brighton were out looking for a fifth inside the latter minutes through Welbeck’s belter, while United attempted a consolation but 4-0 it finished in the end.
Chelsea surrendered a two-goal lead to walk away with a 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
Romelu Lukaku received a clear sight to goal following 14 minutes as he dropped wide to bring a low pass from Pulisic under control, but the Belgian’s final shot didn’t trouble Jose Sa.
Chelsea applied further opportunities after four minutes and had Pulisic draw a cutback from a snap ball outside the area and curled wide of the top corner.
With halftime nearby, the Blues seemed to have gone ahead from a corner-kick by Ruben Loftus-Cheek which Antonio Rudiger finished off following a flick-on but the offside flag were raised.
Chelsea made a buoyant return to the second half where they withdrew full-back Marcos Alonso just before the resumption and introduced Saul Niguez.
The Blues were ahead nine minutes in the second half after a foul by Romain Saiss on Lukaku gave the Blues a penalty. Lukaku then step-up and beat Sa from 12-yards out.
Wolves looked to hit back immediately, but Lukaku went and doubled his and his side’s lead inside minutes with a smart and composed finish into the bottom-corner from outside the area.
Wolves set-up a nervous closing ten minutes as Francisco Trincao drifted goal-wards and cut-in outside the area to pick out the top corner.
Chelsea were unable to hold on and allowed the visitors a point when Conor Coady came running in the area and headed in the equalizer with the last kick of the game.