Manchester United has been thrashed 4-1 by Watford in the Premier League yesterday.
The game at Vicarage Road was absolute mayhem. United defenders were glued at their place, the midfielders had no clue what they were doing and the attackers lacked all the spark. It was a disaster to lose a game against a bottom-placed team but Watford deserves credit for playing the best football of the night.
From the moment the kick-off whistle blew, the home team was on top, and they were awarded a penalty early on. Kiko Femenia hammered the rebound into the roof of the net after David de Gea came down low to his left and saved it.
The goal was overturned by VAR after it was decided that Femenia had encroached into the box before the penalty was taken. The decision was made that the penalty would have to be retaken.
De Gea saved Ismaila Sarr’s spot-kick in almost the same sequence of events!
It was evident that this would be a hotly contested match, with both teams fired up by the opening minutes. In the first twenty minutes, McTominay, who had given away the penalty in the first place, received a yellow card.
Watford had a few promising attacks, but United struggled to get out of their own half, appearing to be stuck in retreat mode, so it was no surprise when Watford took the lead in the 28th minute. With his left foot, Joshua King latched on to Emmanuel Dennis’ cross and slotted it past David de Gea.
United attempted to react with Rashford half-volleying a Bruno Fernandes cross, but Foster made a good save to keep Watford in ahead.
Watford took advantage of their chances once more, with Sarr netting a right-footed strike to justify his failed penalty chances.
United looked lost before halftime, with de Gea’s penalty saves providing the only genuine highlight. Will they be able to respond in the second half, or will Solskjaer’s Reds suffer yet another humiliating defeat?
Manchester United have now conceded 86 shots in their last five Premier League games:
◉ 22 vs. Leicester
◉ 19 vs. Liverpool
◉ 9 vs. Tottenham
◉ 16 vs. Man City
◉ 20 vs. WatfordMan City have only faced 72 shots all season. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/VWcm649xNA
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 20, 2021
At halftime, Solskjaer made a bold move, replacing Rashford, who had the Reds’ only effort on target, with Martial, while McTominay was replaced by Van De Beek.
In the 50th minute, the Dutch misfit had an immediate impact, heading one home. Instead of heading it in himself, Ronaldo sent it across the goal to Donny, who couldn’t miss from such a close range! Was there a chance for a comeback?
From then on, United didn’t let up, with Fernandes shooting just wide of the post and Ronaldo’s shot being punched over the bar by Foster.
Watford strengthened in the second half as United rued their wasted opportunities. Manchester United’s woes were made worse by a second yellow card for Harry Maguire. The Reds were now down to ten players.
Ronaldo thought he’d equalized, but he was flagged for offside. His Portugal teammate had a shot moments later in acres of open, but he blasted it far over the bar.
Watford struck twice in stoppage time after Van de Beek’s lone goal was just looking like consolation. Pedro and Dennis hit nearly identical efforts in the 92nd and 96th minutes, with Foster claiming the assist on the second.
For Solskjaer and his team, who had had more than just a poor day at work, the final whistle couldn’t come fast enough!
How much longer can this continue?
For a few minutes early in the second half of this game, it looked like we were about to witness another of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s famous United comebacks.
United scored a goal in the second half after putting in a dismal first-half performance and behind 2-0 at the interval, and it seemed to inspire a comeback.
However, Harry Maguire’s red card ended their chances of a comeback, and two late Watford goals transformed a bad outcome into an even worse one.
Manchester United have now lost four of their last five games in the Premier League:
❌ 2-4 vs. Leicester
❌ 0-5 vs. Liverpool
✅ 3-0 vs. Tottenham
❌ 0-2 vs. Man City
❌ 1-4 vs. WatfordThey’ve conceded 4+ goals in three of them. 😳 pic.twitter.com/BfjuSFBkkp
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 20, 2021
It wouldn’t have changed anything if United had risen from the dead again. They haven’t maintained a clean sheet in 25 games, have already lost five Premier League games this season, and it appears as their woes will continue as long as Solskjaer is in charge.
However, given their inability to salvage anything from this game, it’s hard to see Solskjaer remaining in command when they go to play league leaders Chelsea next week.
Must Read– Paul Parker admits that Solskjaer needs more experience
They’re 12 points off the pace, but only eight points clear of the relegation zone. This could very well be the one that gets him fired.
Ranieri working his magic back:
The focus in the aftermath of this game will be on United’s troubles, but they faced a squad that could have given any team in the league a run for their money today.
Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster said before the game that there are only “one or two” clubs in the division that they actually fear, and while some may have laughed at the time, the Hornets put in a strong performance and deserved to win.
After today, someone should probably take over the penalty responsibility from Ismala Sarr, but he was generally superb, as did Josh King and Emmanuel Dennis alongside him.
Watford have won back-to-back home games against Manchester United for the first time in the club’s history.
Nigel 🤝 Claudio pic.twitter.com/yCmgGu1BoJ
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) November 20, 2021
In the middle, Tom Cleverley worked his socks off, and while there were a few nervy defensive moments, Foster was on ready to deal with the danger the majority of the time.
Claudio Ranieri keeping Watford in the Premier League wouldn’t be quite as miraculous as Leicester winning it, but it wouldn’t be far behind.
Donny proving his worth again:
Whatever you think of Solskjaer, you can’t argue he doesn’t give the fans what they want.
Van de Beek was brought on at halftime after United’s traveling fans screamed his name during the first half, and he quickly returned his manager’s faith. Not that Solskjaer has ever had much faith in Van de Beek, and his inclusion felt more like a concession to the crowd’s pressure than anything else.
It doesn’t exactly scream “strong leadership,” and while you might argue that Van de Beek has never really excelled for United, his opportunities have been so curiously limited that it’s hard to remember whether he’s a good player or not.
Also, Read– Fabrizio Romano provides Van de Beek transfer update
Van de Beek has undoubtedly done enough to win a start if Solskjaer is still in charge for the Villarreal Champions League encounter in midweek?
What’s next:
Manchester United now faces Villarreal in a crucial group stage Champions League encounter on Tuesday.
