EPL – What We Learned – Watford 1 Manchester United 2

Manchester United have gone top of the Premier League table after sealing a 2-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road, with Memphis Depay and an own goal from Troy Deeney clinching the three points.

Louis van Gaal believes he now knows what Memphis Depay’s best position is.

“I’ve obviously got to work on that but it’s great to see Basti at the back post to stick one in at the end. He has to compete with higher level players and I want him to play all the matches and that is why I want to play him also in the Premier League but he chose for Borussia Dortmund”.

“I said after that result that we are on schedule and I still think I am right about that”.

Although Manchester United fans were hit with major bad news when their striker Anthony Martial was injured and it was looking like their season was already over especially with Rooney still lacking in form and no other striker capable of doing as much as Martial.

Van Gaal remains hopeful the duo could return when United host PSV in the European fixture on Wednesday.

“We created a lot of chances, and personally I should have scored a couple of clear-cut chances”, Lingard said.

But mindful that seeing United play against PSV could stoke some bad memories, Van Gaal has given Shaw a few days off from his rehabilitation which, the Dutchman admits, is proving to be a frustrating process for the England global. “As long as we win as many games as we can over Christmas, I think we’ll be fine”.

United still continued to dominate possession in the first half, but, Watford kept the Red Devils at bay, and with just the one goal between the two sides, the home side won’t have headed into the dressing room too discouraged. In the second half, we had some chances but it’s true that they did good pressing and we couldn’t play the ball and control the game. “We won the three points and that’s the most important thing”.

Asked about the performance of Memphis, Van Gaal replied, as quoted by Fourfourtwo: “The first half he was superb, like Jesse Lingard”.

“The first impression is they are not heavy injuries but we have to play Wednesday”.

“I don’t have any problems with players but sometimes they are out of the team because their competitor is in that moment in a better shape but that doesn’t mean that I have a quarrel with the player”.