Watford vs Manchester United: Player Ratings

Ashley Young celebrates with his teammates

David De Gea – 6

The Spaniard had nothing to do all evening, until he faced Deeney for a Watford penalty, and Doucoure smashed the ball past him for Watford’s second. Realistically, he could do little about either goal and was unfortunate not to get a clean sheet.

Victor Lindelof – 6

Lindelof defended well at times, but he still looks shaky in a United shirt. He looks reluctant to play out from the back at times and looks weak when battling with forwards. Luckily for him, he was not at fault for either goal.

Chris Smalling – 7

Smalling was the best United defender on the night, and put in a commanding performance in the centre of the back three.

Marcos Rojo – 5

Rojo was booked for a silly foul on the halfway line in the first half but looked relatively solid in United’s three-man defence. However, his reckless tackle to bring down Pereyra could have cost his team, and helped Watford get back in the game.

Antonio Valencia – 6

Valencia showed solidity defensively but he didn’t make the impact he usually does higher up the pitch.

Paul Pogba – 8

With Watford’s system being quite expansive, Pogba found lots of space in midfield and was ruthless in building the play on the counter-attack.

Nemanja Matic – 7

As he has done so frequently for United this season, Matic dictated the play comfortably from deep in midfield. However, an injury meant the Serbian had to be replaced by Herrera in the 55th minute.

Ashley Young – 9

Playing against the club where he started his professional career, Young drilled an excellent low volley past Gomes. And he then added to his tally at Vicarage Road with a fantastic free-kick into the top corner.

Ashley Young

Jesse Lingard – 9

Lingard, in his first Premier League start for United in over a month, made it count with an assist to set up Ashley Young for his low strike into the bottom corner. Then late on in the second half as Watford attempted to complete an improbable comeback, Lingard dribbled past three before putting it the wrong side of Gomes.

Anthony Martial – 9

Finding bundles of space in behind Watford’s defence, Martial guided the ball past Gomes to get his third goal in his last seven Premier League games. This was not his only contribution either, as he put in one of his best performances in a United shirt.

Anthony Martial scores

Romelu Lukaku – 7

After a quiet start, Lukaku made a great turn on the halfway line in the build up to Young’s opener, and his cushioned ball assisted Martial for United’s third of the evening. However, in front of goal he looked nervous, and took an age in a one on one with Gomes before his effort was blocked.

Substitutions

Ander Hererra – 6

Hererra got himself an assist for Lingard’s goal, and won some crucial fouls in midfield, mainly helping wind the game down for United.

Marcus Rashford – 6

Rashford found it hard after his introduction as United didn’t see too much of the ball on the counter. He did well to win the ball off Mariappa and set up Lukaku who looked like he would score, but he was denied an assist when Lukaku’s effort was blocked.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – N/A

Ibrahimovic was introduced with just two minutes to play, meaning it was hard for him to have any sort of impact.