Superstar of the future ends United’s poor run
TEENAGE debutant Adnan Januzaj scored twice as Manchester United came from behind to win 2-1 at Sunderland on Saturday and revive their Premier League title defence.
The champions have made their worst start to a season since 1989 and were set on course for a third consecutive defeat when Craig Gardner scored an early goal for bottom club Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
But, on his first league start for the club, 18-year-old Belgian Januzaj scored two goals in the space of six minutes early in the second half to snatch victory and send United up to ninth place in the table.
Manager David Moyes likened Januzaj to his teammate Wayne Rooney, who was blooded by Moyes as a 16-year-old at Everton.
“I remember giving Wayne his debut . . . and Adnan’s certainly in that quality. He’s a top, top player, he really is,” Moyes said.
“I’ll not be getting too excited because I won, just like when I was losing, I wasn’t getting too low either.
“I know the quality and the players I’ve got in the dressing room.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s in-form strike duo of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge both found the net in a 3-1 win at home to Crystal Palace.
Suarez was making his first Anfield appearance since completing a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic last season and with new-born son Benjamin in attendance, he broke the deadlock in the 14th minute.
The goal showcased the Uruguayan’s flair for improvisation, as he hooked the ball into the net from a prone position after slipping as he shaped to shoot.
Top scorer Sturridge added a second three minutes later, turning Damien Delaney inside out before lashing home his fifth league goal of the season.
Captain Steven Gerrard made it 3-0 with a 38th-minute penalty, taking his tally of Premier League goals to 99, before substitute Dwight Gayle replied for the visitors with a header.
Liverpool manager Rodgers hailed Suarez and Sturridge, saying: “They were exceptional today. Their combination play was outstanding and they are right up there with the best in this league.”
Earlier, Manchester City bounced back from defeats by Aston Villa and Bayern Munich to end Everton’s unbeaten start to the season with a 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium.
Everton took a 16th-minute lead through on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, but Alvaro Negredo equalised immediately from Yaya Toure’s fine reverse pass. City lost captain Vincent Kompany to injury, but Sergio Aguero put the hosts ahead just before the interval.
A foul by Seamus Coleman on Pablo Zabaleta gave Aguero a chance to extend City’s lead from the penalty spot in the 69th minute.
“Equalising immediately was important, but more important was the character of the team, playing against Everton – the only unbeaten team in the league,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini said.
“After a defeat [by Bayern] on Wednesday, it was important for me to see how the players reacted.”
Loic Remy scored twice in the space of eight first-half minutes as Newcastle United claimed a first win in three games with a 2-1 victory at Cardiff City.
Fulham climbed out of the relegation zone after a neat 83rd-minute strike from Darren Bent secured a 1-0 win at home to Stoke City.
Aston Villa were held to a 0-0 draw at Hull City. – Sapa-AFP