Manchester United vs Burnley LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow all the news and action from Old Trafford
After something of a glum Christmas, characterised by Covid outbreaks and that dismal showing at St James’ Park, Ralf Rangnick can at least celebrate the new year with three points and a good win. Three goals in the opening 35 minutes sent Manchester United on their way to the biggest and best win of Rangnick’s interim spell so far, as relegation-threatened Burnley were swatted aside at Old Trafford.
An early breakthrough by the excellent Scott McTominay was followed by a Ben Mee own goal and customary Cristiano Ronaldo strike before the interval. Aaron Lennon pulled one back in reply but it proved to be a mere consolation. Victory allowed United to avoid the ignominy of ending a calendar year outside the top six for the first time since 1989. Small steps, granted, but they ones that need to be made.
While United are unbeaten in eight since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure, Burnley are on a more unwelcome streak and will enter 2022 still waiting for their second league win of the season. They have games in hand after four recent postponements and this was a spirited showing for their first outing in nearly three weeks but you expect that Sean Dyche would rather have points on the board.Follow all the reaction following Manchester United vs Burnley below:
2021 was the year football’s mask finally slipped
Have you taken a look at our 2021 season review yet? Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney looks back at the good, the bad and the so-ugly-we’d-rather-forget-it from the world of football over the last 12 months, with plenty of reminders about how the decision-making in the game only stems from one thing.
It isn’t all bad, of course, and amid fan uprisings and players taking a stand over social matters, there was plenty to admire in the game too.
2021 was the year football’s mask finally slipped
The European Super League breakaway, a state buying a Premier League club, racism in the stands and an anti-vaccine crisis were all part of a year the game would like to forget, writes Miguel Delaney
Ralf Rangnick had hoped to make more progress by now at Manchester United
Ralf Rangnick has admitted he has not made as much progress as he might have hoped in stamping his authority on Manchester United.
Despite being unbeaten in four games in all competitions since replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the Old Trafford helm on an interim basis, the highly-rated German coach has been frustrated in his efforts to implement his methods by the Covid-19 lay-off which saw his side not play for 16 days before Monday night’s 1-1 Premier League draw at struggling Newcastle.
The Red Devils misfired alarmingly on Tyneside as a lack of cohesion in attack and uncertainty at the back very nearly cost them, and they head into Thursday evening’s home clash with Burnley with something to prove.
Asked if he had achieved as much as he had wanted to in his initial weeks in charge, Rangnick said: “Of course not. Every coach, every ambitious coach – and there’s no difference between other coaches and myself in that area – wants to take faster steps and larger steps forward.”
Full report:
Ralf Rangnick has not made as much progress as he had hoped at Manchester United
The Red Devils entertain Burnley at Old Trafford on Thursday evening
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments