Manchester United 4 Newcastle United 1 – Premier League

Manchester United marked the returns of Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo by beating Newcastle United 4-1 at Old Trafford.

Pogba played 70 minutes and was named man of the match, while Ibrahimovic played the last fifteen minutes. Rojo was an unused substitute but both he and Ibrahimovic returned ahead of schedule, after recovering from similar long-term injuries.

Newcastle opened the scoring when DeAndre Yedlin’s cross was met by Dwight Gayle, who’s shot cannoned in off the post. Victor Lindelof slipped as the ball came across the box. Gayle’s goal was the first scored by an away team at Old Trafford in the Premier League this season.

United equalised when Anthony Martial headed in Paul Pogba’s superb cross. Pogba took on a defender at the edge of the box and chipped the ball into Martial, who directed his header well into the bottom corner.

The Reds then took the lead when Chris Smalling rose highest to meet Ashley Young’s cross at the back post. United went in front just before half time. Then, Paul Pogba got the goal his superb performance deserved early in the second half. Romelu Lukaku whipped a great ball across to Marcus Rashford who expertly nodded the ball to Pogba to tap in.

As Pogba left the pitch to a standing ovation after a great performance, Lukaku added a fourth. The Belgian striker got his goal from close range as Pogba was heading down the tunnel.

Manchester United now face a trip to Switzerland to take on F.C. Basel in the Champions League. Before returning to Premier League action next weekend at Old Trafford against Brighton.

Manchester United 4 Crystal Palace 0 – Premier League

Manchester United went top of the Premier League after beating rock bottom Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
Crystal Palace have now not scored in any of their seven Premier League games, losing them all. 

Juan Mata opened the scoring after just two minutes following good work from Marcus Rashford. Rashford went past two Palace defenders and pulled the ball back to Mata who placed his effort past Hennessey.

Marouane Fellaini doubled United’s lead before half time. The Belgian tapped in at the back post after a great cross from Ashley Young. Playing as a left back today, United have still not conceded a goal with Young in the team this season.

Fellaini scored again just after half time, as the midfielder headed in Rashford’s free kick from close range.

Romelu Lukaku then continued his run of scoring in every Premier League game so far this season. The Belgian striker converted Martial’s pullback after good work from Ander Herrera.

After the international break, United travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League.

Manchester United 3 FC Basel 0 – UEFA Champions League

Manchester United played their first Champions League match in almost two years on Tuesday night, when Swiss champions Basel visited Old Trafford.

The Reds were without the suspended Eric Bailly and Phil Jones for their first Group A match. Chris Smalling and new signing Victor Lindelof came into replace them.

Basel travelled to Old Trafford off the back of a disappointing Swiss Super League loss to bottom club Lausanne. Despite top scorer Ricky van Wolswinkel, formerly of Norwich City, scoring a penalty, the Dutchman could not prevent Basel’s second league defeat of the season.

Mararoune Fellaini, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford all scored as Manchester United beat Basel 3-0 at Old Trafford. In their first Champions League game in Group A, the Reds comfortably beat the Swiss champions, despite the injury to captain Paul Pogba.

Substitute Fellaini opened the scoring after 35 minutes. The Belgian headed in Ashley Young’s cross to give United the lead.

Romelu Lukaku added a second early in the second half, after good work from Juan Mata and Daley Blind. Blind took a short corner, which Mata laid off for the Dutchman to cross into the box. Lukaku headed in to give the Reds a comfortable lead.

Marcus Rashford then replaced Mata and added a third. On his Champions League debut, Rashford scuffed in Fellaini’s pull back to seal the win.

The Reds now face Everton at Old Trafford on Sunday in the Premier League. The next Champions League group game will see United travel to Russia to face CSKA Moscow.

Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0 – Premier League

Manchester United faced Leicester City at Old Trafford on Saturday as the Reds looked to make it three Premier League wins out of three before the international break.

Manchester United went into the game in great form, having won both of their opening two Premier League games of the season 4-0. Comfortable wins over West Ham United and Swansea City saw the Reds top of the table ahead of game week three in the Premier League.

Leicester City, after letting a lead slip at The Emirates on the opening night, have found some form over the past week. The Foxes beat Brighton at the King Power Stadium last weekend before enjoying a 4-1 away win at Sheffield United in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

In the week that Manchester United announced that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a new one-year deal at the club, it was another striker, in Romelu Lukaku that was key to Manchester United’s chances at Old Trafford. Lukaku scored twice on the opening weekend against West Ham and added another away at Swansea last week.

While Paul Pogba, having picked up the UEFA Europa League Player of the Season award in Monaco this week, was looking to maintain his great start the season. The French international midfielder scored against both West Ham and Swansea, like Lukaku, while he also set up Eric Bailly’s goal in South Wales.

Manchester United beat Leicester City 2-0 at Old Trafford to continue their perfect start to the Premier League season.

Manchester United missed several chances in the first half. Paul Pogba volleyed just past the post from Anthony Martial’s cross. While Juan Mata saw his effort disallowed for offside. Mata capitalised after Kasper Schmeichel spilled a shot. The Spaniard was also unlucky to see his curling shot well saved by Schmeichel.

Despite Romelu Lukaku seeing his penalty saved by Schmeichel in the Leicester goal, the Reds continued to press for the opening goal. The penalty was awarded when Danny Simpson handled a cross and referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot.

Finally, after 70 minutes substitute Marcus Rashford opened the scoring at Old Trafford. The 19-year-old latched onto Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s out-swinging corner to beat Schmeichel. Rashford had only been on the pitch for three minutes before he found the net in front of the East Stand.

12 minutes later, Marouane Fellaini added a second to seal the three points. The Belgian diverted in Jesse Lingard’s ball across to give the scoreline a more convincing look.

Right at the death, David de Gea preserved his clean sheet saving well at his near post from Leicester sub Andy King. Manchester United have still not conceded a goal in the Premier League, three games into the new season.

Most of United’s players will now head off to their national teams for the international break. The Reds face Stoke City away in their next Premier League game, in two weeks time.