United tumble into crisis mode after Brentford humiliation
Ten Hag’s nightmare start gets even worse with heavy defeat
MANCHESTER UNITED plumbed new depths after a 4-0 capitulation at Brentford sent Erik ten Hag’s side into full-blown crisis mode after just two games of the season.
Through a mixture of catastrophic defensive ineptitude and Brentford opportunism, the Red Devils found themselves four down at half-time.
Goalkeeper David De Gea gifted the first two to Josh Dasilva and Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee helped himself to a third and Bryan Mbeumo hit a slick fourth on a chastening afternoon for the visitors.
Ten Hag could maybe take some consolation from the fact that the last United manager to lose his first away game in charge was Sir Alex Ferguson, a 2-0 defeat at Oxford, and he went on to do pretty well. But even those dark days of the 1980s did not look as grim as things do for this current United side.
Their cross-city rivals fared far better yesterday in thier meeting with Bournemouth at the Etihad. Summer signing Erling Haaland was unable to mark his home debut with a goal but Manchester City cruised to victory regardless.
The striker set up Ilkay Gundogan for the opening goal during the first half before
Kevin De Bruyne added a second. The Belgian then teed up Phil Foden at the end of a sweeping counterattack to leave Guardiola’s side in complete control by half-time, and a late own goal from Jefferson Lerma, forced by Joao Cancelo, capped a comfortable win.
At the Emirates, Gabriel Jesus emphatically announced his arrival in London with a brace in Arsenal’s 4-2 victory over Leicester.
The Brazilian’s quality shone throughout the Gunners’ first home fixture of the season, which saw him fire the hosts ahead with a curled effort before heading in his second before the break.
William Saliba’s own goal to start the second half drew the sides closer, but Granit Xhaka immediately restored the hosts’ advantage. The visitors, who stayed in it thanks to fine saves from goalkeeper Danny Ward, pulled another back through James Maddison, but Gabriel Martinelli responded instantly to ensure his side’s perfect start to the season.
Elsewhere, Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa ensured his side a point by saving Aleksandar Mitrovic’s late penalty in a goalless draw against Fulham at Molineux.
Mitrovic, who scored twice last week in Fulham’s openingday draw against Liverpool, was handed the chance to snatch all three points for the Londoners in the 81st minute.
Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot following Rayan
Ait-Nouri’s ill-timed challenge on Bobby Cordova-Reid, but Sa dived to his right to keep out Mitrovic’s spot-kick.
Newcastle, meanwhile, had Nick Pope to thank as Eddie Howe’s side battled doggedly for a point away to Brighton.
The goalkeeper pulled off two fine saves on the south coast, to rack up a second clean sheet in as many games at the start of the new season.
The England internationalist rebuffed both Adam Lallana’s powerful header and a neat strike from Solly March, while Kieran Trippier cleared an effort from March off the line as the match finished goalless.
Kyle Walker-Peters struck a late equaliser as Southampton came back from two goals behind to secure their first point of the season in a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Leeds.
Rodrigo had struck twice at the start of the second half to put the visitors in a dominant position but Jesse Marsch’s side were unable to hold out for a second successive win. Instead it was Southampton – who bounced back from their 4-1 defeat to Tottenham on the opening day in impressive fashion – who fought their way back into the match.
Former Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo tapped home to halve the deficit in the 72nd minute before Walker-Peters curled in the equaliser in the 81st minute.
And in yesterday’s early kick-off, Steven Gerrard got the better of his old England team-mate Frank Lampard as Aston Villa defeated Everton 2-1 for their first victory of the new Premier League season.
Danny Ings found the net in the 31st minute and substitute Emiliano Buendia looked to have sealed the points when he claimed a deserved second four minutes from time.