Manchester United 4-1 Bournemouth: 5 Takeaways | Premier League 2018-19

Its three in three for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Its three in three for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

A third consecutive victory for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in his tenure as caretaker manager sees the Norwegian joining the ranks of predecessor Jose Mourinho and Sir Matt Busby as the only Manchester United managers to win their opening 3 matches.

Paul Pogba started the proceedings for the Red Devils with a goal in the 5th minute of the match after some impressive skills by Marcus Rashford to set up the Frenchman.

It was the Frenchman again who doubled the lead in the 33rd minute as he met and inch-perfect Ander Herrera cross. It was Rashford's turn to make it three as the Englishman brilliantly finished after Anthony Martial produced a delightful outside of the boot cross.

The Cherries got one back during first-half injury time after David Brooks produced a wonderful ball for Nathan Ake who had just De Gea to beat to make it 3-1 in what turned out to be the last attack of the first-half.

Manchester United was at it again as under fire striker Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to score a fourth of the match in the 72nd minute. The red card to Eric Bailly was the sole black mark in another impressive display by the Red Devils.

On that note let's take a look at some of the major takeaways from the match.


#1 Manchester United's set-piece woes continue

Manchester United have conceded 3 goals from set-piece situations in their last 3matches
Manchester United have conceded 3 goals from set-piece situations in their last 3matches

It has become a fixture for Manchester United to leak goals this season. The Red Devils have conceded 32 goals in the league so far. The return of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has helped Manchester United reproduce their attacking threat but the defensive frailties still continue.

The Red Devils have conceded 3 goals in Solskjaer's opening 3 matches and all the goals have been a result of a set piece. This time around it was a corner that caused Manchester United problems after a quick corner caught United off guard before David Brooks produced a delightful ball for Nathan Ake to head it in.

#2 David Brooks is the steal of the season so far

The Wales international was impressive whenever he got the ball
The Wales international was impressive whenever he got the ball

It is hard to believe that David Brooks is playing his debut season in the Premier League. The young 21-year old started his football journey in the Manchester City Academy before joining Sheffield United.

The young Welshman spent 3 seasons in the Championship with Sheffield United before joining the Cherries this season for just £11.5 million.

The Wales international has already produced 5 goals and 3 assists this season thus far and along with Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser, he is one of the star performers of the Bournemouth side.

The young midfielder was once again at it as he made produced a wonderful ball in the last minute of the injury time in the first half for Nathan Ake to score. Brooks' ability to pick a pass and his awareness in the penalty box was very evident in the goal as he latched upon a deflected ball of a quick corner to produce the assist.


#3 Bailly is a beast but needs to improve upon his decision making

Eric Bailly needs to be better with his decisions
Eric Bailly needs to be better with his decisions

When the Manchester United line-up was shown all eyes were drawn upon to centre-back pairing that saw Victor Lindelof pairing up with Eric Bailly for the first time under Solskjaer. The Ivorian was a rock at the back before being given the marching orders in the 79th minute.

The centre-back clattered the Bournemouth attackers whenever he got the chance evidently shown by how he cleared a ball to the stands taking out Joshua King in the process.

The Manchester United defender was very lucky not to be given a red card earlier in the match after his boots caught a Bournemouth player high on his shoulder while clearing the ball inside the penalty box.

The eventual would finally happen as the Ivorian yet again showed his rashness and poor decision-making skills as he lunged onto a two-footed challenge into an oncoming Ryan Fraser. The tackle duly produced a red card as he received the marching orders to reduce Manchester United to 10 men for the last quarter of the game.

#4 Rashford is back to his best

Marcus Rashford was at his brilliant best for Manchester United
Marcus Rashford was at his brilliant best for Manchester United

Marcus Rashford, after his brilliant debut season, had failed to bring about a consistency to his game under Jose Mourinho as the Englishman produced occasional sparks of brilliance.

Under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Rashford seems to have got back to his brilliant best. The attacker was a threat to the Bournemouth defence with surging runs and trickery through the match until he was substituted for Romelu Lukaku.

It was the 21-year old's brilliance that helped Manchester United take the lead in the 5th minute as he spun around Ake and before going past another Bournemouth defender to set up Paul Pogba for his first goal of the match.

The young attacker was at it again as he brilliantly slotted in a well placed Anthony Martial ball to triple the lead for the Red Devils in the 45th minute.


#5 Pogboom!

Pogboom!
Pogboom!

The Frenchman seems to relish under the newly found freedom under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The occasional spark of brilliance has turned into consistent performances for the French World Cup winner as he recorded his 4th goal in the league this season under the new manager after managing just 3 in 14 matches under Jose Mourinho.

The Frenchman was the star performer yet again, scoring his first goal after some brilliant footwork from Marcus Rashford. The second goal though was all about the cross from Ander Herrera.

The Spaniard picked out the Frenchman run and produced an inch-perfect ball for the midfielder as he beat an oncoming Begovic to head home into the near post.

The 25-year old was at it again, this time setting up a much-needed goal for the under-fire Romelu Lukaku. The Frenchman headed into the path of the Belgian as Romelu Lukaku scored his first goal in the Solskjaer era.

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Edited by Debjyoti Samanta