Lisandro Martinez was shown a red card in the second half against Leeds. (Image: Getty)
Ten-a-side Manchester United wasted a chance to maintain third place in the Premier League with a 2-1 loss to rivals Leeds United. United were booed at half-time after Noah Okafor’s brace, but the Red Devils were lucky not to be able to take a further lead against their Yorkshire opponents. Michael Carrick strangely did not select a substitute at half-time, with the injured Cobie Mainu out and Harry Maguire suspended.
United’s hopes of victory were then dashed when Lisandro Martinez was sent off in the 56th minute. After a VAR check, Martinez was found guilty of pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair and was shown a straight red card. Casemiro left the home side with hope of a draw with a 69th-minute header, but Leeds climbed further out of the relegation zone with a historic win at Old Trafford, their second since 1981. Carrick’s side ultimately paid the price for a poor first half as they fell behind and missed a chance to build a 10-point lead over sixth-placed Chelsea.
Express Sport rates and predicts United’s players following the disappointing defeat…
Evaluation of Manchester United’s players against Leeds
Senne Ramens – 6
He made a good save early on to deny Calvert-Lewin, but couldn’t do anything about the first goal. The second goal was also helpless. A poor pass to Yoro forced Martinez to bail out, almost allowing Aoi Tanaka to score, but Pascal Strujk made a good save just before half-time. The striker denied Calvert-Lewin a 3-1 lead when he should have scored an unstoppable header.
It was a really bad game, summed up by a wild 25-yard shot that went over and wide. To be honest, it was amazing he lasted 69 minutes.
Okafor’s goal was bullied in the air by Calvert-Lewin, and the Swiss forward’s second goal was deflected to him. Ramence was in trouble, but Tanaka was rejected by Martinez. He had trouble dealing with Calvert-Lewin’s physicality.
He returned from a calf injury but didn’t look 100 percent fit. He played a hospital pass to Casemiro just before Leeds’ second goal. His sensational defense prevented Tanaka from scoring 3-0, but he was sent off for pulling Calvert-Lewin’s hair. Truly brainless.
He moved forward toward Okafor’s goal, leaving space behind him. They gave Jayden Bogle too much joy in the first half. It wasn’t entirely bad, there was a great moment where he won a tackle and played a nice long ball. He was booked for a cynical foul when he made the right choice to stop a dangerous counter-attack. When we had the ball in a dangerous area towards the end, we took too long to cross.
Manuel Ugarte was a disaster for Manchester United (Image: Getty)
Bruno Fernandes records his 17th assist on Casemiro’s goal (Image: Getty)
Just before Leeds scored their second goal, he caught the ball in a dangerous position. United’s backline struggled to provide the protection they needed in the first half, but there were some great, ambitious passes and crosses throughout. He pulled his team back with a brilliant header, denying Calvert-Lewin’s equalizer with a header on the line.
Bogle’s run was too slow to stop the cross from which Leeds scored. He’s not good enough on the ball or off the ball. He has just one win in 10 games this season. After playing as a sub, he moved to center back and was doing well.
I made a reservation for diving. He hit a long-range shot that went over the bar. A poor pass to Bruno Fernandes spoiled a good attack, but some good saves from Karl Darlow at the end meant they had some success.
Where would United be without him? Ethan Ampadu complained 40 seconds before the second goal but was not fouled. He was booked for dissent, but then put in a fine cross for Casemiro to head home. This is his 17th assist in the Premier League this season.
After a good run, the goalkeeper was forced to make a good save. At 0-0, he played a great pass to Sesko, before a meek shot from the Slovenian. He was United’s most active attacking threat for the first 45 games, but faded before being replaced.
In the first half, they had one weak shot on target and were ineffective. Early in the second half, he denied James Justin a goal on the line after beating compatriot Xhaka Bijol. Brian Mbeumo’s cross late on should have equalized the score.
substitute
Brian Mbeumo (replaced Amado, 69) – 7
It really had an impact on me. A one-on-one shot on goal was stopped by a brilliant block from Bijol. Great cross to Sesco who should have scored and made it 2-2.
Diogo Dalot (Mazraoui, 69) – 6
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