'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwf/2gAIAQEAAAAAmof/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAECEAAAADf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAEDEAAAADf/xAAdEAACAgIDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEBSEAEhOh/9oACAEBAAE/AMDgFpy2JL1msEkqypC3RmIZgRyXHRer7qHZ31ffzn//xAAZEQABBQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADAAECBDH/2gAIAQIBAT8AFbLPXX//xAAXEQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQID/9oACAEDAQE/AI1pn//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Fresh off their FA Cup defeat against Middlesbrough, Manchester United made the trip to Premier League bottom-dwellers Burnley to restore some of their lost pride on Tuesday night.
Unfortunately, they once again failed to live up to the billing and were held to a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor. The disappointing result saw them drop out of the top four, surrendering their place to West Ham United. The Hammers bagged a hard-fought 1-0 win over Watford last night.
Manchester United started the game strongly, full of energy and commitment. The hosts were firmly on the backfoot and even conceded through a brilliant Raphael Varane header. Unfortunately for the visitors, the VAR intervened and the goal was ruled out for offside after Harry Maguire was found interfering play from an illegal position.
In the 18th minute, the Red Devils finally broke the deadlock, courtesy of a brilliant Paul Pogba strike. The Frenchman hit home from 10 yards after Luke Shaw found him in space. A few minutes later, United saw another goal ruled out, this time by the linesman, who had spotted a foul from Pogba.
Despite being outclassed in the first half, the Clarets did not let up and bounced back strongly in the second 45. They leveled the scoreline two minutes into the second half, thanks to a clinical Jay Rodriguez strike. The two sides exchanged blows for the remainder of the game, but neither could not find a winner.
On that note, here are five Manchester United players who looked particularly off-color in their disappointing 1-1 draw at Burnley on Tuesday night:
#5 Scott McTominay
Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay operated just ahead of the backline on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, he didn’t quite look at his best sitting so deep, especially in the second half.
He struggled with Burnley’s physicality and failed to keep up with Wout Weghorst more often than not.
McTominay also failed to add anything to United’s attack and his distribution was mediocre at best.
He also gave away possession 13 times and lost five duels before being substituted for Jesse Lingard in the 80th minute.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo
Ralf Rangnick picked Edinson Cavani to start ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in attack on Tuesday night. The Portuguese watched on from the bench for most of the night and was only brought on in the 68th minute in place of the Uruguayan.
Over the next 22 minutes, he had two very decent chances to put United ahead, but uncharacteristically wasted them.
First, he leapt the highest to meet Shaw’s 80th-minute corner but directed it over the bar. Ten minutes later, he got another opportunity to win the game for the visitors but saw his headed attempt go high and wide.
A disappointing night for the Portuguese superstar.
#3 Marcus Rashford
Manchester United's poster boy Marcus Rashford operated on the right-flank against Burnley on Tuesday night.
The Englishman was expected to use his energy and pace to help the Red Devils in their cause. Unfortunately, except for a couple of instances, he cut a frustrating figure up front.
Rashford tested Burnley keeper Nick Pope with a neat strike and would’ve had an assist to his name had Varane’s goal not been ruled out.
His overall movement was also menacing and gave Burnley defenders all sorts of trouble. Unfortunately, it all went downhill, quickly, in the second 45.
The 24-year-old continued sliding into little pockets of space but lacked the end product. His distribution was less than convincing in the final third and he rarely took the initiative to take the fight to the Burnley defenders.
Over the course of the match, he only registered 15 passes, lost 10 duels, and gave away possession a whopping 16 times.
Not a night to remember for the highly-rated forward.
#2 Edinson Cavani
Thanks to his work rate, Edinson Cavani got the nod to start ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in attack against Burnley. The Uruguay international did not fail on that front and chased the ball relentlessly until being taken off in the 68th minute.
Unfortunately, pressing alone is never enough for a striker blessed with an immaculate right foot.
At Turf Moor, all Cavani did was put pressure on Burnley defenders. He rarely got into threatening areas or made himself available for goalscoring.
To top it off, he fluffed a simple header in the first half, which could have easily given United the lead.
It was a frustrating outing for the former Paris Saint-Germain sharpshooter.
#1 Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire, the man with the armband, was arguably Manchester United’s worst performer on Tuesday night. He was irresponsible, erratic, and downright fragile at the back, doing his fellow defenders no favors.
His first notable act of the night was to block Jay Rodriguez from an offside position in the build-up of Varane’s goal. Had Maguire not intervened, Manchester United would have been firmly in the driver’s seat even before the 20-minute mark.
The game turned from bad to worse for the Red Devils skipper in the second half. In the 47th minute, Weghorst easily brushed aside Maguire’s weak challenge to send Rodriguez clean through on goal. The 32-year-old dinked the ball over David de Gea to equalize for the hosts.
Following his horrendous performance, we will not be surprised to see Maguire dropped to the bench for United’s clash against Southampton on Saturday.
