The Times - UK (2022-02-21)

HENRY

WINTER

Chief Football Writer

Elland Road

As the venom dripped with the

raindrops from the eaves of this

famous old stadium, Harry Maguire

just smiled. This was a test of

character and he passed, even scored.

Maguire has been doubted, even had

his right to play for Manchester

United, and to lead them, questioned,

but from the moment he saluted the

travelling supporters before kick-off

to the moment he headed his team in

front, then steadying them amid a

second-half storm, Maguire reminded

everyone of his importance.

This was Maguire’s sort of game, a

throwback to Seventies collisions in

treacherous conditions, with the

heavens opened and Elland Road

baying. When Maguire started the

scoring, and slid on his knees across

the sodden surface, a few objects

hurtled through the air towards him.

Maguire smiled again.

This was an important day for

Maguire’s team, not simply because

they deservedly defeated a historic

rival, and not only because Ralf

Rangnick turned the game back their

way with his substitutions, but

because this performance showed

everyone that Maguire and his

players care. Their attitude gets

frequently called to account, and they

have undeniably underachieved this

season, but nobody could question

their mettle here yesterday.

Maguire was outstanding,

defending and leading, Victor

Lindelof stood firm alongside him,

Jadon Sancho excelled haring forward

and Paul Pogba displayed his control

in a swirling wind and on a tricky

pitch. The only downside was the

indiscipline of Scott McTominay, who

would not have made half-time under

a better referee than Paul Tierney.

McTominay was finally booked for his

fifth foul and then got away with his

sixth. There is leniency and then

there is overindulgence: Tierney let

McTominay get away with too much.

If that frustrated Leeds United,

their defence should worry them

more. They have now conceded 50

goals in the Premier League this

season (only Norwich City, with 53,

have been more porous). Leeds

players kept making mistakes for the

four goals. Diego Llorente reacted too

weakly to Maguire for the first, then

Luke Ayling failed to track Bruno

Fernandes, Junior Firpo gave the ball

away and Fred eventually profited

before Pascal Struijk lost possession,

leading to Anthony Elanga’s finish.

Leeds played some glorious,

adrenaline-filled football, especially

when Marcelo Bielsa got the balance

and cutting edge right with the arrival

of Joe Gelhardt and Raphinha at the

break, but they are too open, and

their head coach was right to admit

that he was “worried” about their

defending. Kalvin Phillips’s shielding

qualities are much missed. Leeds’

frailties place an even greater burden

on an attack shorn of Patrick

Bamford. Bielsa has to trust Gelhardt

more in Bamford’s absence.

Leeds fans sang of their pride in

the team at the final whistle, although

a few idiot fans embarrassed

themselves and the club, and the

throwing of objects will inevitably be

investigated. Elland Road had waited

a long time for this resumption of old

hostilities between fans, the wait

extended by Leeds’ exile from the

elite division and the need to play

games behind closed doors during the

Covid pandemic. Manchester United

supporters were returning for the first

time since 2011, and a League Cup

win, and their first visit in the Premier

League since 2003, when Cristiano

Ronaldo played in a narrow victory.

Ronaldo and friends were greeted to

LEEDS HIT BACK WITH THE TWO GOALS IN 58 SECONDS

Rodrigo’s cross dips in over David de Gea in the swirling wind and rain before Raphinha

turns home the Leeds second only 58 seconds later from a Daniel James cross, after

Adam Forshaw had dispossessed Bruno Fernandes, leaving the Portuguese crumpled

on the sodden turf. After the VAR review, the goal was allowed to stand, and United,

having been seemingly coasting at 2-0 ahead, suddenly had a battle on their hands.

RODRIGO 53MINS

RAPHINHA 54MINS

WEEKEND

AT A

GLANCE

GOALS

U 11 from last week

(one more game)

30

CARDS

43

U 14 from

last week

0

same as

last week

2 2GG Monday February 21 2022 | the times

Sancho’s growing role

Jadon Sancho contributed two

assists for Manchester United

yesterday and has been

involved in four goals in his past

five games in all competitions

(two goals, two assists), twice

as many as in his first 23

appearances for the team.

Leeds ship four again

Yesterday was the fourth time

Leeds United have conceded

four or more goals in a league

game this season, the joint most

of any club alongside Newcastle

United and Norwich City.

Wolves’ hot shots

Wolverhampton Wanderers

scored two goals from outside

the box in a single Premier

League game for the first time,

in what was their 290th match

in the competition. Six of their

23 league goals this season

have come from outside the

box (26 per cent), a higher

share than any other side.

Historic Kulusevski

By putting his side ahead

against Manchester City

Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan

Kulusevski became the fourth

Swedish player to score on his

first Premier League start, after

Martin Pringle for Charlton v

Newcastle in January 1999,

Johan Elmander for Bolton v

Stoke in August 2008 and

Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Man Utd

v Bournemouth in August 2016.

Spurs’ double delight

Tottenham Hotspur’s win at the

Etihad made them only the

fourth side to complete a

Premier League double over a

side managed by Manchester

City’s Pep Guardiola, following

in the footsteps of Chelsea

(2016-17), Manchester United

(2019-20) and Wolverhampton

Wanderers (2019-20).

55% 45%

POSSESSION

69

SHOTS ON TARGET

13 19

FOULS

24

Maguire 34

Fernandes 45+5

Fred 70, Elanga 88

Rodrigo 53

Raphinha 54

Maguire and

United pass

character test

RATINGS

Leeds United (4-1-4-1): I Meslier 7 — L Ayling 7,

D Llorente 5 (J Gelhardt 45min, 5), R Koch 6 (J Firpo

31, 6), P Struijk 5 — A Forshaw 7 — S Dallas 8, Rodrigo

7, M Klich 5, J Harrison 5 (Raphinha 45, 7) — D James

6. Booked Struijk, Ayling, Forshaw, Raphinha, Firpo.
   Man United (4-2-3-1): D de Gea 6 — A Wan-Bissaka 6,
   V Lindelof 7, H Maguire 8, L Shaw 6 — P Pogba 7
   (Fred 66, 7), S McTominay 7 — J Lingard 5 (A Elanga
   66, 7), B Fernandes 8, J Sancho 9 — C Ronaldo 6
   (R Varane 84). Booked Ronaldo, McTominay, Shaw.
   Referee P Tierney.

Leeds

United

Manchester

United

PWDL F APts

Man City 26 20 3 3 63 17 63

Liverpool 25 17 6 2 64 20 57

Chelsea 25 14 8 3 49 18 50

Man Utd 26 13 7 644 34 46

West Ham 26 12 6 845 34 42

Arsenal 23 13 3 7 36 26 42

Wolves 24 12 4 8 23 18 40

Tottenham 23 12 3 8 31 31 39

Brighton 25 7 12 6 25 28 33

Southampton 25 7 11 7 32 37 32

Leicester 23 7 6 10 37 43 27

Aston Villa 24 8 3 13 31 37 27

Crystal Palace 25 5 11 9 32 36 26

Brentford 26 6 614 27 42 24

Leeds 24 5 8 11 29 50 23

Everton 23 6 4 1328 40 22

Newcastle 24 4 10 10 26 45 22

Watford 24 5 3 16 24 43 18

Burnley 22 2 11 920 29 17

Norwich 25 4 5 16 15 53 17

HOW THEY STAND

7

Seven of Harry Maguire’s 11 Premier

League goals have been from

headers, including all four of those

for Manchester United in the

competition. Seven of his 11 goals

have come away from home.