5 talking points as Rasmus Hojlund double helps Man Utd survive Luton scare
Manchester United 's winning run continued at Kenilworth Road on Sunday, with early goals setting Erik ten Hag 's side on their way against Luton Town, but it was closer than they might have hoped in the end.
Rasmus Hojlund took less than a minute to open the scoring after capitalising on an error from Amari'i Bell, and it was two within 10 minutes when the Dane got his second. Carlton Morris pulled one back inside the first quarter of an hour, though, bravely turning Tahith Chong's deflected effort beyond Andre Onana.
Luton gained confidence from their first goal, with Morris and Cauley Woodrow both spurning chances to equalise. The game remained open in the second half, with United threatening on the break and Luton throwing men forward, but the visitors got their win as the hosts' final chance saw Ross Barkley's header clip the top of the crossbar.
For a few minutes, Ten Hag's team looked as though they might be on course for an easy win. Hojlund took just seven minutes to bag a brace, with the second coming when he deflected an Alejandro Garnacho shot beyond Luton keeper Thomas Kaminski, but they all count.
Luton grew in confidence after pulling a goal back, though, and laid seige to United's goal. This opened them up to the counter, of course, but they gave as good as they got, with a desperate block from Albert Sambi Lokonga denying Bruno Fernandes what looked like a certain goal and Kaminski making a number of important interventions.
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It was an action-packed game, and one where everything was at stake right until the death. Here are Mirror Football 's talking points from a game which had fans on the edge of their seats.
1. Hojlund brimming with confidence
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There was a touch of good fortune about Rasmus Hojlund's second goal (Manchester United via Getty Images)It's bizarre to think of Rasmus Hojlund as a man who took four months to score his first Premier League goal, such is the confidence with which he has played since the turn of the year. That's now six straight games in which the former Atalanta man has scored, and the first time he's netted twice in a league outing for the Red Devils.
The opener might have owed a lot to some sloppy Luton defending, but the Hojlund of the autumn might not have been as certain to put the chance away. In this instance, though, he never once looked like missing as he bore down on Kaminski's goal.
It was a shame some of the Dane's team-mates couldn't show the same kind of composure. Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho both found themselves through on goal in the second half, but weren't able to do what Hojlund did and give their team a bit more breathing space.
2. Luton shaken by Adebayo loss
Elijah Adebayo was injured in the warm-up (Michael Zemanek/REX/Shutterstock)An injury in the warm-up is never easy for a team to adjust to, but that's even more true when the party is a player as influential as Elijah Adebayo. The striker is Luton's top scorer this term, and stand-in Cauley Woodrow had less than 90 minutes of league football under his belt this season.
There was an element of panic in the hosts' defending for the opening goal, and truth told it took them a bit of time to settle. As well as being a goal threat, Adebayo provides a focal point up top which might have otherwise helped steady Rob Edwards' side.
Once they got in the game, Luton stayed in it, even though they relied on Kaminski to keep them in touch once or twice. If only they hadn't lost their focus right at the start.
3. Casemiro's lucky escape
Casemiro picked up one yellow card and narrowly avoided a second (Getty Images)Casemiro was sent off three times in 2023, twice in the league and once in Europe, and many feel he was fortunate to avoid another red at Luton. The Brazilian was already in the book when he lunged in on Ross Barkley, but referee David Coote kept his cards in his pocket, and Casemiro was withdrawn before he could earn another yellow.
As good as the former Real Madrid man was in his first season, he hasn't been at the races this term. He was supposed to provide solidity and experience in front of the defence, but that hasn't been forthcoming - at least not since his red card against Galatasaray and subsequent injury.
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United's early Champions League exit came after several instances of becoming far too easy to play through, with that home meeting with Galatasaray the most worrying example, but not the only one. The openness may have been more out of necessity against Luton, though, with United feeling thy needed to edge a high-scoring game rather than defending in a cagier affair.
4. Shaw gamble fails
Luke Shaw was put to the test by Chiedozie Ogbene (Nigel Keene/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)Hindsight is 20:20, of course, but the use of Luke Shaw in this game always looked potentially problematic. The England defender only lasted 45 minutes last time out against Aston Villa, and was withdrawn even earlier this time around.
If Shaw's fitness was an issue, starting him against Chiedozie Ogbene felt ambitious. The Irish winger had plenty of space down the right, with Shaw simply unable to keep pace with him at times.
United will now face a nervous wait to see how long Shaw is missing. Tyrell Malacia's continued recovery from injury could help ease the blow, but it's still something they could have done without.
5. Southgate treated to two England auditions
Kobbie Mainoo and Ross Barkley both hold England hopes (PA)Kobbie Mainoo's form for Manchester United has prompted calls for a senior England call-up, but the teenager wasn't the only man on the Kenilworth Road pitch to stake a claim. Ross Barkley hasn't represented his country this decade, but his form in Luton colours has seen him almost back to his best.
Barkley looked lost at times during underwhelming loans at Aston Villa and Nice, but looks at home at Luton. He led counter after counter for the hosts, often showing up multiple Champions League winner Casemiro.
Mainoo, meanwhile, won plaudits again after another composed display. With question marks over Kalvin Phillips and Jordan Henderson at international level, might England boss Gareth Southgate be tempted to roll the dice?
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