REDS HAVE MOMENTUM
United have now won six Premier League matches in a row at an unquestionably important time in the season. Furthermore, the Reds are unbeaten in 13 matches across all competitions and that is the club’s longest run without a defeat since Sir Alex Ferguson's eventual title-winners managed 18 games before losing one in March 2013 - to Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid. Before you are worn out by stats, let us also inform you that this is Mourinho's best winning run in all competitions since that same month when he secured seven straight victories.
MOURINHO’S SUPER SUBS
The three changes made at West Ham represented a masterclass in game management from Mourinho, or at least in this writer’s eyes. The boss decisively introduced Juan Mata for Matteo Darmian at half-time, pushing Marcos Rojo out wide to left-back and pulling Michael Carrick into centre-back in the process, as the Reds pushed for an opening goal. Marcus Rashford was then introduced to attack the tiring 10-man Hammers from a wide position, which led to the Academy graduate assisting his fellow substitute Mata to break the deadlock. Finally, Chris Smalling was sent on to add steel to the defence, with the boss pre-empting the eventual (and ultimately ineffective) introduction of Andy Carroll.
MILESTONE FOR DE GEA
David De Gea tallied his 250th United appearance on Monday and the ever-impressive goalkeeper marked it with a game-changing save to deny Michael Antonio, when the England international shot at the Spaniard when put clean through on goal after 60 minutes. Crucial, the Hammers forward's profligacy was punished just three minutes later when Mata opened the scoring from Rashford’s pass. Our number one’s contribution was recognised afterwards, as he finished second in the Man of the Match vote.
HERRERA BLED FOR THE CAUSE
Passion is one of many words you can use to describe Ander Herrera and the former Athletic Club man showed plenty of that particular attribute in this 2-0 win, not only through his intense midfield play but his willingness to fight for the cause. Observant viewers will have noticed him bleeding heavily from above his right eye in the first half, but he played on (presumably through the pain) and finished the match as one our most influential performers. The 27-year-old later confirmed with a photo posted on Instagram that he had received three stitches to his wound. What a guy.
IBRA OVERTAKES 2015/16 TOP SCORER
Zlatan Ibrahimovic may not have been at his talismanic best, which is understandable considering the 35-year-old veteran played a full game against Middlesbrough only 48 hours earlier, but the Swede still produced a moment of class to score his 18th goal of the season. That means he has now exceeded the 17 strikes notched by last campaign’s top scorer, Anthony Martial, which emphasises just how much more potent the Reds are this time around. Who knows what number Ibra will finish on...
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