Manchester United vs Watford LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the latest updates as the hosts look to keep up momentum in the top-four race
It may still be the case that Manchester United have only lost once since the 4-1 defeat at Vicarage Road which led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking and Ralf Rangnick’s interim appointment but draws like these are slowly eroding hopes of playing in next season’s Champions League.
Solskjaer’s conquerors Watford, under new management themselves, will celebrate this goalless draw at Old Trafford, even if the point does little to help Roy Hodgson’s side in their battle against the drop. It was yet another afternoon when United had their chances but did not take them.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s form is especially concerning. The Portuguese looked every inch the 37-year-old centre-forward that he is and may be contemplating whether he can stomach a season outside of European football’s elite competition. If he decides not, that may be the best thing for all parties concerned.
United remain fourth, two points clear of fifth-place Arsenal, but have played three games more. And worryingly, this visit of a Watford side sat second-bottom could be viewed as the last in a run of favourable fixtures dating all the way back to early December.
After next week’s derby at the Etihad, top-four rivals Tottenham pay a visit with the return leg against Atletico Madrid following three days later. Even if the subsequent trip to Anfield is postponed due to the FA Cup quarter-finals, as seems likely, Rangnick is entering a defining period. Follow reaction from Manchester United vs Watford below and coverage of Everton vs Man City:
Man Utd 0 - 0 Watford
27 mins: Chance! Elanga wins the ball in midfield and plays a nice one-two with Pogba before threading a pass into the box for Ronaldo. Craig Cathcart misses the ball for his attempted clearance and Ronaldo takes over. Foster comes flying off his line and collides with the striker who stays on his feet to recover the ball. He chips it over to the far post where Bruno Fernandes meets it in the air and nods is header wide!
Man Utd 0 - 0 Watford
24 mins: Manchester United have taken their foot off the gas and slowed their play right down. They’re passing it around confidently enough but Watford have an organised defensive shape making it difficult for United to get into the penalty area.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Watford
21 mins: Close! Bruno Fernandes makes a great run into the box through the middle of the centre-backs as Paul Pogba receives the ball on the inside left. He chips it into the area and picks out Fernandes who opens his foot to catch the ball on the volley but he side-foots it wide of the left hand post.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Watford
18 mins: More fine play from Man Utd as they work the ball down the left side. It comes to Fred who backheels it into the path of Bruno Fernandes. He brings the ball into the box from the wing and looks to pick out Cristiano Ronaldo only for Ben foster to dive in front of the pass and smother it for the visitors.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Watford
15 mins: Disallowed goal! It was almost a perfect move from United. Bruno Fernandes slots the ball out to Anthony Elanga on the right wing. He cuts inside and passes the ball out to Alex Telles on the left wing. Cristiano Ronaldo makes a darting run into the box as the pass comes in from the left. He leaves his marker and guides it home with his first touch but the offside flag goes up and VAR confirms that Ronaldo set off too soon.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Watford
13 mins: Manchester United are dominating the ball at the moment. Anthony Elanga drives into the final third and slips it into the box for Bruno Fernandes who prods an effort at goal but it gets charged down by Ben Foster in goal! Great save from the Watford keeper.
RED CARD! Josh Dasilva is off
Brentford 0 - 0 Newcastle
11 mins: Josh Dasilva tries to shield the ball with a step over but lands on Matt Targett’s shin. VAR are called in to look at the incident and they tell the referee to take at look at it. He does and decides that it was serious foul play from Dasilva and Brentford are down to 10-men!
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1 - 0 Burnley (Schlupp, 9’)⚽️
9 mins: Crystal Palace have taken an early lead against Burnley. Michael Olise twists and turns his way down to right side and slips the ball out to Nathaniel Clyne on the wing. He whips a cross into the middle and picks out Jeffrey Schlupp who taps home from close range.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Watford
8 mins: Raphael Varane gives the ball away with a poor pass into the midfield but is rescued by his centre-half partner as Emmanuel Dennis is threaded into the right side of the box. Victor Lindelof sprints across and squeezes in front of the striker to come awy with the ball and knock it clear for the home side.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Watford
6 mins: Off the post! You can’t any closer without scoring. Man Utd float the ball over to Wan-Bissaka on the right and he drives down the wing before flicking the ball perfectly into the box for Cristiano Ronaldo. He stops the ball dead and shoots on the turn but hits the inside of the far post and the ball bounces back out of the goal and gets cleared away by Watford.
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