It’s United’s defence which supposedly needs surgery in order for them to become title contenders. However, in their last three league games at Old Trafford, they’ve out-shot the opposition 74-19 yet in terms of goals it’s 2-2.
Overall, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is averaging 9.8 shots per goal, Wayne Rooney 16, Anthony Martial 10 and Marcus Rashford 5.0.
Goalless: Marcus Rashford.
Okay, so we didn’t learn it this weekend but Virgil van Dijk put in another colossal display for Southampton to neuter Liverpool. With Chelsea, United and maybe even the Reds themselves likely to be after a centre-back in January, Saints should be ready for a flurry of bids.
The Dutchman has it all: pace, strength, concentration and is a brilliant reader of the game.
Despite Yaya Toure’s brace against Crystal Palace, it’s difficult to see January passing without him pushing for a move as he doesn’t want to be a back-up. But in order to convince buying clubs to commit to what will surely be a sizeable salary, he needs games.
If Pep Guardiola uses him right, Toure will continue to produce his best and City can profit, in both senses.
It’s been a strange season for Leicester but now they should be worried. Sitting just two points above the bottom three they also now have the sixth-worst defence in the division having conceded 20, already only 16 less than last term.
Without stable foundations at the back, their vibrant, hi-octane attack simply can’t function and Claudio Ranieri’s system breaks down.
The Sunderland keeper has been mostly picking the ball out of the net, so bad have the Black Cats been at the back, it’s been almost impossible to properly judge the 22-year-old. Against Hull, though, he was magnificant with two fantastic saves.
With Sunderland now playing as a proper team, hopefully Pickford’s talent will continue to blossom.
