Manchester United avenged revenge to Leicester City for the way they embarrassed them 5-3 in the corresponding fixture last September. Goals from Van Persie, Falcao and a Morgan own goal finished the match as a contest even before the match went into the second half. Let us look at the five talking points from the game:
Blind filled Carrick’s Boots well
Manchester United fans were dealt a huge blow when the ever reliable Michael Carrick was announced injured by Van Gaal a day before the match started. Hence, Daley Blind, Van Gaals favourite boy, who has started every single match this season when he has been available, was asked to fill Carrick’s place. The Dutchman did really in the middle of the park as he hardly put a foot wrong. He kept the ball ticking from the back and also did a good job on the defensive front by regularly breaking the opponents play and winning the ball from the middle of the park. He played a crucial role in the first and third goal the team scored.
4-4-2 the one for the Reds
It was the first time United won back to back league matches in 2015 and no wonder both happened when they played a flat back four. Against Queens Park Rangers, United started with a back three. But, after the way the team played in the first half, Van Gaal switched to 4-4-2 in the second half and the Reds went on to win the match comfortably 2-0. So, it was little surprise when United started their next league match in the same formation and yet again it was rewarded as United run ragged Leicester to a comfortable 3-1 victory.
Rooney the next Scholes?
Sir Alex Ferguson always believed that Rooney in the end will finish his career as a midfielder and down the years made comparisons between Scholes. Since then, the striker has been deployed in the middle of the park regularly. Even more so this season as Van Gaal started him in middle more often than up front. Though he struggled in the beginning to adapt to this role, Rooney now looks like a natural midfielder. His distribution from the back is really good and he always keeps the ball ticking. He is also helping his defenders really well with his enigmatic work rate.
Monkey ‘Off’ the back for the strikers
Van Persie and Falcao, the two front-men who started against the Foxes on Saturday were recently under intense media scrutiny for their performances. So when the team sheet was announced, it was surprising to see both of them included in the starting eleven. The decision to start them paid reward for Van Gaal as both scored on the day. Van Persie opened the scoring with a great strike with his wrong foot. Then he played a crucial role in the second goal as it was Van Persie’s pass which let Di Maria run free on Leicester’s defence, from which Falcao bagged a typical poachers goal. This was Falcao’s fourth goal in his last seven premier league start.
Thank God Jones is no longer taking the corners
In the last few weeks, it was not only the way United played surprised the fans, but also the fact that Phil Jones was taking most of United’s corners. It was surprising to see a good header of the ball went to take those corners rather than staying in the penalty box to head them. Moreover, his deliveries from the corner flag were neither good. So, it was a relief to see Wayne Rooney take the corners like the old days. Also his deliveries in the box were really good, as it was from Rooney’s corner United got their third goal of the match.