Man United are on a winning streak, thanks to Casemiro

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United continued their excellent run because the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Casemiro scored his first aim at Old Trafford to put United forward within the first half earlier than Luke Shaw completed off a transfer he began to make it 2-0 shortly after half-time. Marcus Rashford obtained a third late on to make it six straight wins for Man United in all aggressive matches.

With the end result, Man United transfer into third whereas Bournemouth sit at fifteenth on the Premier League desk.

JUMP TO: Player ratings | Best/worst performers | Highlights & notable moments | Post-game quotes | Key stats | Upcoming fixtures

Rapid response

1. Are Man United quietly placing collectively a title problem?

The consensus is that if supervisor Erik ten Hag can get United into the highest 4 and again into the Champions League then it will characterize a good return from his first season in cost. But possibly — simply possibly — he is considering greater.

Arsenal and Manchester City are the favourites to win the Premier League title — and rightly so — however United have now gained their final six video games in all competitions and are on a run of 1 loss of their final 16 video games.

Tuesday’s victory over Bournemouth put Ten Hag’s crew on 35 factors, stage with Newcastle in a tie for third place with a sport in hand.

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There are loads of the explanation why United will not win the league — they may do with a striker within the January switch window and the 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in early November is a latest reminder that they are nonetheless able to producing a horror efficiency.

But there are additionally some compelling the explanation why they could have the opportunity to problem the leaders within the second half of the season. In Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro, they’ve three of the perfect defensive gamers within the league. The squad is, for now, additionally comparatively wholesome, and Rashford is in kind after scoring in 4 video games in a row.

At the very least, Ten Hag has given United followers motive to suppose a title cost between now and May is feasible.

2. Casemiro is already Ten Hag’s most essential participant

Varane, Martinez and Christian Eriksen are having good seasons at Old Trafford — however there is no such thing as a yet one more essential to United than Casemiro. It took a whereas for the Brazilian to win a place within the crew after his summer season transfer from Real Madrid, however now he is the primary title on the crew sheet.

He took his aim towards Bournemouth with such ease that you could possibly be forgiven for considering it was a easy likelihood — but it surely confirmed the 30-year-old’s high quality that he was in a position to information Eriksen’s free kick into the web with the aspect of his foot.

Casemiro did the remainder of his job with quiet effectivity too — mopping up in entrance of the again 4, winning the ball again and passing it on to gamers in entrance of him.

Asked not too long ago why he thought Real Madrid had been keen to let Casemiro depart in the summertime, Ten Hag might solely smile and reply “I’m glad they did.”

In the 16 video games Casemiro has began this season, United have saved 10 clear sheets. There stays a debate about whether or not Ten Hag has sufficient objectives in his squad following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, however they are in secure fingers on the again.

3. Bournemouth’s O’Neil learns it is robust on the prime

Bournemouth gained their final two video games earlier than the World Cup break by an mixture rating of 7-1, and two weeks later Gary O’Neil signed an 18-month deal to develop into their everlasting supervisor. But because the restart, Bournemouth have performed 4, misplaced 4, conceded eight and scored none.

If he did not know already, O’Neil is discovering out simply how robust soccer administration will be. The former Portsmouth and West Ham midfielder solely wants to maintain Bournemouth up this season, however that is simpler stated than executed.

Defeat at Old Trafford leaves Bournemouth fifteenth within the desk, however solely two factors above the relegation locations as groups under like Nottingham Forest and Wolves are beginning to choose up factors.

O’Neil, a debut supervisor, can thank Frank Lampard — whose Everton crew misplaced 4-1 at dwelling to Brighton on Tuesday — for conserving the highlight off him for now. But if outcomes do not flip round quickly, then the cut-throat nature of the Premier League means it will not be lengthy earlier than he begins to come underneath strain.

Bournemouth’s dwelling sport towards Forest on Jan. 21 may very well be pivotal in deciding which league they are taking part in in subsequent season.

Player rankings

Man United: David De Gea 7, Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6, Luke Shaw 8, Victor Lindelof 7, Harry Maguire 7, Casemiro 8, Christian Eriksen 7, Donny van de Beek 6, Brun Fernandes 6, Marcus Rashford 6, Anthony Martial 6.

Subs: Scott McTominay 6, Fred 6, Diogo Dalot 6, Anthony Elanga 6., Lisandro Martinez 6.

Bournemouth: Mark Travers 6, Adam Smith 5, Chris Mepham 6, Lloyd Kelly 6, Marcos Senesi 5, Lewis Cook 6, Jefferson Lerma 5, Jaidon Anthony 6, Philip Billing 5, Ryan Christie 6, Dominic Solanke 5.

Subs: Jack Stacey 6, Siriki Dembele 6, Kieffer Moore 6, Joe Rothwell 6.

Best and worst performers

BEST: Casemiro, Manchester United

He was run shut by Shaw however the Brazilian was spectacular in midfield and took his aim superbly.

WORST: Dominic Solanke, AFC Bournemouth

Completely misplaced Casemiro for United’s first aim and did not affect the sport on the different finish.

Highlights and notable moments

In the twenty third minute, Casemiro scored his first aim at Old Trafford since becoming a member of Manchester United, his second general for the membership.

Midfielder Christian Eriksen despatched a lengthy free kick into the field, which Casemiro ran onto and coolly knocked in.

Casemiro baggage his first aim at Old Trafford for @ManUtd! 🇧🇷

🎥 @NBCSportsSoccer | #MUNBOU pic.twitter.com/l7JfhrAypL

— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) January 3, 2023

Shortly after the break, Man United doubled their lead.

Luke Shaw discovered the end on a well-worked crew aim with touches from Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho earlier than the aim.

They do not name him Luke Shawberto for nothing. 🤯

📺: @peacock #MyPLMorning | #MUNBOU pic.twitter.com/2zTueWNClL

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 3, 2023

Marcus Rashford added a third for Manchester United late, and it was a snug victory for the house aspect.

After the match: What the gamers and managers stated

Man United supervisor Erik ten Hag: “Today it was not our best game. We have to be honest, we didn’t play that smart as a team. We made great goals, but at times we were quite lucky, and some great saves from David [de Gea]. We could have been smarter as a team.”

Ten Hag: “We have to go from game-to-game. The next game is a cup one, but we want to win every game. That has to be the approach. We don’t want to look any further — focus on that, it will be a tough game.”

Man United full-back Luke Shaw: “The strides we are taking are going in the right direction that we want. There is still a lot to improve on but things are looking really good and positive. We feel like the belief and confidence is back, and you can feel it around the place, not just with the players and the staff but you can feel it in the stadium and around the fans. Hopefully they are enjoying it at the moment but I feel there is a lot more to come and hopefully we can keep putting smiles on people’s faces.”

Bournemouth supervisor Gary O’Neil: “It wasn’t a 3-0 game. I think we had maybe six or seven chances but obviously Manchester United had some as well. We need to be sure that we produce that every week.”

Key stats (supplied by ESPN Stats & Information)

• Casemiro scored his second aim with Manchester United after 22 video games. With Real Madrid, he didn’t rating his first aim in any competitors till his fiftieth sport.

• Marcus Rashford has scored in six straight video games performed at Old Trafford (one every since Oct. 27, 2022). He had simply 5 objectives in his earlier 24 video games performed at Old Trafford relationship to May 18, 2021.

Up subsequent

Manchester United: The Red Devils have a fast turnaround to Friday’s FA Cup motion after they host Everton on Jan. 6 (stream reside on ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET). Then they keep put and host Charlton Athletic on Jan. 10 within the Premier League.

AFC Bournemouth: The Cherries will shift focus to the FA Cup after they host Burnley on Saturday, Jan. 7 (stream reside on ESPN+ at 10 a.m. ET). Then they head to Brentford for Premier League motion on Saturday, Jan. 14.