Manchester United ended a turbulent week with a 1-1 draw at Leeds on Sunday, a result that does little to ease the pressure on manager Michael Carrick. The visitors travelled to Elland Road, the home of their bitter rivals, looking for a spark after winning only two of their nine games in all competitions this season.
The mood at the club had already soured in midweek. Defender Lisandro Martinez criticised the United hierarchy after a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. The Argentine centre-back said Carrick, in his first full season in charge at Old Trafford, had been left with an under-strength squad following an underwhelming summer transfer window.
Martinez row and team selection at Elland Road
Carrick said on Friday that the club had “moved on” from the incident, and Martinez was named in the starting lineup. He was replaced at half-time, with Noussair Mazraoui brought into the action.
Both sides were fully committed to a feisty opening, but there were few chances in front of goal. United goalkeeper Senne Lammens clawed away a Nico Elvedi header in the 26th minute that was heading for the top corner, pushing it away after it bounced up off the turf.
Bryan Mbeumo, operating as United’s target man, headed wide a minute later from a fine cross by Youri Tielemans. He broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, guiding a low ball from Tielemans into the bottom corner. It was his fourth Premier League goal of the season.
Calvert-Lewin equaliser leaves United searching for a winner
Leeds came out strongly after the break and levelled in the 51st minute. Dominic Calvert-Lewin controlled the ball on his chest and finished at full stretch after Tarik Muharemovic got his head to a corner.
The home side then dominated possession, largely restricting Carrick’s team to counter-attacks. The United boss sent on Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha in search of a winner, but neither side could find the breakthrough.
The draw leaves 20-time English champions Manchester United 13th in the table, with just one win from their last seven games. Leeds are seventh.
Brighton stun Palace and Arsenal drop behind City
Elsewhere on Sunday, Brighton moved above Arsenal into second place, at least temporarily, after thrashing Crystal Palace 5-0. Diego Gomez’s sensational effort from the halfway line was one of the highlights.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side were three goals up inside 10 minutes, helped by an own goal from Palace defender Jaydee Canvot, Gomez’s strike and a goal from Yasin Ayari. Charalampos Kostoulas and substitute Jack Hinshelwood added further goals in the second half.
Arsenal, six points behind Manchester City, play at Nottingham Forest in the late-afternoon kickoff. They need a win to close the gap on City, who have won all seven of their league games this season. Enzo Maresca’s side have maintained that run despite off-field distractions, after the club was charged with multiple breaches of Premier League financial rules.
Bournemouth also won on Sunday, beating 10-man Sunderland 2-0 with goals from Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson. It was their first league win of the season.
