Manchester United news: Watch Adnan Januzaj gets away with embarrassing dive
Manchester United will be aiming to keep their 100 per cent record in the Premier League this season in tact when they host Newcastle on Saturday. He’s scored just one goal from nine shots on target in his last 11 league games.
The visitors weathered the early United storm, but it was hosts who were lucky to be level on 24 minutes after striker Mitrovic struck the bar with a thumping header from a Chancel Mbemba cross.
The influential Memphis then rounded the goalkeeper before having his cross cleared, and Juan Mata nearly opened the scoring after his shot was blocked.
While he might not have been back to his best against Newcastle United, he did have more than one shot on target for only the second time in his 21 Premier League appearances in 2015.
Another season and another set of scrutiny for Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney.
United dominated the opening 20 minutes, but failed to score on a frustrating afternoon for Louis van Gaal’s team.
Van Gaal is considering handing Bastian Schweinsteiger his first start, but fellow midfielder Marouane Fellaini is suspended.
The opponents this weekend are Newcastle United, managed by ex-England boss Steve McLaren who was once assistant manager at Manchester United. Their new signings are going to need time to gel but their goal should also have been disallowed because Coutinho was in an offside position when Benteke put the ball in the net for his first Liverpool goal. Javier Hernandez came on as a substitute but missed the best chance of the match, though Tim Krul can take credit for an outstanding low save.
Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson landed a hat-trick as Eddie Howe’s side picked up their first three points of the season.
Jermain Defoe secured Sunderland’s first point of the season by cancelling out Bafetimbi Gomis’ goal in a 1-1 draw with Swansea.
“I’ve had one bad game this season and everyone’s all over it”, he told The Guardian.
“I am satisfied with the performance and not with the result – and that is different”, Van Gaal said.
“I thought Coloccini and Taylor were excellent”. Seven points and three clean sheets represent a satisfactory start to the Premier League campaign, but their issues at the other end of the pitch are impossible to ignore.
Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko remains a doubt due to a groin injury but should recover in time to start. The Reds travel to Belgium for the second leg of the Champions League qualifier against Club Brugge on Wednesday and Smalling is confident United will qualify.
The German worldwide lasted 59 minutes at Old Trafford and can only benefit from his first start in the league as he looks to get up to speed following his move from Bayern Munich.