Manchester United 1-2 Sheffield United: Player ratings as Red Devils fail to go top of the league | Premier League 2020-21

Manchester United suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United at Old Trafford to fail to return to the top of the 2020-21 Premier League table.

The defeat marked Manchester United's first in their last ten league games. The result was a surprise, as it came against a Sheffield side who scored only ten goals and garnered five points in the first half of the season.

The Red Devils controlled possession for large spells of the opening period without really threatened the Sheffield defence. Instead, Manchester United gave away possession too many times, allowing the visitors to break on the counter.

It was Sheffield who broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute of the game; they did so from a poorly-defended corner-kick.

Manchester United took forty minutes to conjure their equaliser courtesy Harry Maguire. However, only ten minutes later, shambolic defending saw Sheffield reclaim the lead which they didn't relinquish.

The result - Sheffield's first league win at Old Trafford in almost five decades - had no ramifications in the league table.

Manchester United remain second, a point behind league leaders Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Sheffield, on the other hand, are firmly rooted at the bottom of the league table despite taking the three points.

On that note, let us have a look at the player ratings of both teams.

Manchester United Player Ratings

David De Gea - 4/10

The Manchester United goalkeeper found himself caught in no-man's-land for the first goal of the game; he came out of his line to deal with a cross from a corner but completely fumbled it.

David de Gea might have saved the second goal had it not been deflected into his net by a Manchester United defender. The custodian made only one save all game.

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Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 5.5/10

The Manchester United full-back had the most touches in the first half, as Manchester United looked to build-up play from the flanks.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was lively going forward, creating three chances, but didn't offer much else in attack.

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Axel Tuanzebe - 3/10

It was a horror show from the Manchester United academy graduate Axel Tuanzebe, as he was directly at fault for both goals conceded.

He conceded the corner kick that led to Sheffield's first goal, while the second came when he deflected Oliver Burles' tame shot into his own net.

A surprise name in the Manchester United starting XI, the 23-year-old did absolutely nothing to prove his worth to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Tuanzebe was also booked at the end of the first half after hacking down Billy Sharp at the edge of the box before he was hooked off in the 83rd minute.

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Harry Maguire - 6/10

The Manchester United captain Harry Maguire put in a decent shift all around the park, pinging long balls down the flanks.

He got the equaliser for Manchester United but failed to clear the ball in the buildup to Sheffield United's second goal.

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Alex Telles - 5.5/10

Alex Telles was the quietest player in the Manchester United backline in the first half. He grew into the game as the game wore on, getting the assist for Manchester United's equaliser, after a well-taken corner kick.

However, he offered little defensively before he was replaced by Luke Shaw in the closing moments of the game.

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Nemanja Matic - 5/10

Nemanja Matic had the second-most tackles for Manchester United, keeping play ticking in his usual fashion. However, he offered nothing in attack, though.

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Paul Pogba - 5.5/10

The in-form Paul Pogba dazzled in the middle of the park for Manchester United. The Frenchman completed the joint-most take on while playing some deft passes around the pitch. He worked tirelessly and was unlucky to be on the losing side.

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Bruno Fernandes - 5.5/10

Bruno Fernandes created the most chances on the pitch for Manchester United. He gifted Mason Greenwood a glorious chance to level the scores, with a brilliant through ball. However, the opportunity went wastefully begging.

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Marcus Rashford - 5/10

The Manchester United forward took on opposition defenders. Marcus Rashford completed all five take-ons he attempted and was particularly lively in the first half but faded as the match wore on.

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Mason Greenwood - 4.5/10

Mason Greenwood squandered Manchester Unites's best chance of the game when he was played through on goal to level the scores at 1-1. He was eventually replaced by Edinson Cavani in the 66th minute.

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Anthony Martial - 3/10

The Manchester United forward continued his abysmal form this season with a lacklustre performance in and around the opposition box. Anthony Martial created absolutely nothing and had just one shot all game.

Player ratings of Manchester United Substitutes

Edinson Cavani - 4/10

The veteran striker Edinson Cavani came on for the final 25 minutes of the game. But he had almost no impact, as Sheffield United did a very good job defensively to see out the win.

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Luke Shaw - 5/10

Luke Shaw played only eight minutes but was extremely electric down the left, sending in six crosses and completing three of them. He also created one chance but had nothing to do defensively all game.

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Donny van de Beek - 4/10

The Dutchman Donny van de Beek came in late but had little to do.

Sheffield United Player Ratings

Manchester United v Sheffield United - Premier League

Aaron Ramsdale - 6/10

Aaron Ramsdale made three comfortable saves, but Manchester United did not trouble him much. He came out early to deal with crosses into the box excellently but could do nothing about the goal conceded.

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Ethan Ampadu - 6.5/10

Ethan Ampadu has been one of the few standout players for Sheffield United this campaign. The Chelsea loanee was quick to snuff out danger, putting his body on the line to block goal-bound shots.

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Phil Jagielka - 6.5/10

The 38-year-old Phil Jagielka coordinated the backline superbly, especially in the closing minutes of the game, to see out the win when Manchester United mounted pressure.

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Chris Basham - 7/10

Chris Basham was the best of the back three for Sheffield United. The Englishman out-muscled Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford and completed four tackles and made three interceptions.

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George Baldock - 6/10

The right wing-back George Baldock was tormented by Marcus Rashford in the first half. But he did his job well enough to ensure a win for his side at the home of Manchester United.

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Kean Bryan - 6.5/10

The Manchester City academy graduate Kean Bryan bagged his first Premier League goal of his career with a glancing header into the far corner after rising highest in the box to give his side the lead. He was removed early in the second half though.

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John Fleck - 7/10

An absolute collosus of a midfielder, the Scotland international John Fleck got his second assist in as many league games with a well-taken corner kick. He was irrepressible in the heart of the Sheffield defence, driving his side forward on the break.

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Oliver Norwood - 6/10

It was a characteristically quiet display from midfielder Oliver Norwood. He did what needed to be done defensively to snatch all three points for Sheffield United.

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John Lundstram - 6/10

John Lundstram was shaky in the first half and got the first booking of the game in the 40th minute. But he grew in confidence and got the assist for the winning goal with a simple pass into the box.

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Billy Sharp - 6/10

Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp was largely uninvolved for most parts of the game, as he struggled to keep up with the pace of his team's counter-attacks.

He was replaced at the 70th minute by Oliver Burke after completing only five passes during his time on the pitch.

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David McGoldrick - 6/10

David McGoldrick held up play for his team high up the pitch. He also laid the ball off for onrushing teammates on the counter before he was taken off after 80 minutes.

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Rating of Sheffield United Substitutes

Manchester United v Sheffield United - Premier League

Jayden Bogle - 5/10

Jayden Bogle came on early in the second half but didn't get into the groove of the game, completing no take-on, tackle, duel or cross.

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Oliver Burke - 6/10

Oliver Burke scored the winning goal against Manchester United just four minutes after his introduction into the game. He did so with a tame but well-taken shot from inside the box.

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Rhian Brewster - 5/10

Rhian Brewster was brought in for the final ten minutes of the game, as Chris Wilder looked to see out his side's win, but the player couldn't trouble Manchester United.