Manchester United – 2 vs Everton – 0

It was a really cracking game that we had against Everton at Old Trafford. It was really fantastic game. It all started when Scott McTominay provided a fantastic goal before the break after the we had missed a number of chances. One of them was a shot from Antony hitting the post, and the rebound to Wan-Bissaka totally missed the goal. You don’t get such open-goal chances like these and I was pretty livid. However, McTominay’s goal settled me down a bit. Everton pushed and kept pushing for an equaliser and had some decent chances. However to be honest, they did not bother De Gea much at all. However, Anthony Martial came off the bench and scored the second goal, making it his first Premier League goal since December. I must say that before the firts and second goal, Pickford pulled off some amazing saves. he was brilliant throughout the game. Manchester United kept pummeling Everton every chance they got. There was concern though when Marcus Rashford was forced off with what appeared to be a potential groin injury. Let us hope that he recovers from that because he is an integral cog in the team.

Manchester United – 2 vs Manchester City – 1

This was a derby with a difference as my wife and I were present, live at Old Trafford, to witness the 2 – 1 win over Manchester City. We made our way to Old Trafford but it was cold and raining. So we went to this place named Hotel Football to while the time away before the game started. It was a great place with many fans there singing and chanting, releasing some of the pent-up energy that a derby can bring. Then, when it was coming close to 1230 hrs UK time, we made our way into the stadium. We had to walk up five flights of stairs and we got our seats. We had a very good vantage point where we were seated. We watched the team warming up and we felt the excitement. But all too soon, the game started.

As I said earlier, it was one of the most dramatic Manchester derbies I have seen. I was pretty vexed in the first half because Manchester United had  failed to capitalise on a number of first-half chances. There was one where Rashford cleared a goalkeeper and it was an open goal but he failed to score. I noticed that Haaland was being marked very closely by Varane and Shaw but the midfield of Caemiro and Eriksen were nullifying the feeding of the ball by De Bruyne. That is how the first half ended…in a draw.

The second half started with a bit more urgency from the City side. I do not know what pep talk Guardiola had given his team but they were starting to look menacing. Then Foden was subbed by Grealish and that made the difference for City. Grealish headed City into the lead from a Kevin De Bruyne cross on 60 minutes. The whole stadium fell silent for a second after that goal while the City players celebrated. Grealish was the hero for the few minutes when they were in the lead. We were braying out for a goal and it looked like our team heard us. Then it came. Bruno Fernandes scored on the 78th  minute and put us back in the game and sparked anger within the City ranks. Why the anger? It was because it was deemed to be a controversial equaliser. With Rashford clearly offside when the ball was played down the middle, the United forward charged through but left the ball for Fernandes to score from 20 yards and the offside flag was raised. But the referee overruled his assistant because Rashford, while appearing to interfere with play next to his teammate, did not actually touch the ball.

We were elated. Lots of fist pumping and many shouting: “Attack! Attack! Attack!” And the team did just that. Four minutes later, Rashford scored the winner from close range, making the score 2 – 1.

Next week we face Arsenal. Let us go forward! Glory Glory!

Manchester United – 4 vs Newcastle – 1

This was a match that I had been anticipating since last week. It was special for a a very good reason. The reason? CR7. Yep. Unmless you have been living under a rock, you know that Cristiano Ronaldo has “come home” to Manchester United and this was his first match after his return. And what a return it was. He announced his return to the Premier League with a brace on his Manchester United debut, helping his side win 4 – 1 against Newcastle United Old Trafford.  This is how the game went.

After Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed Ronaldo a first start for Manchester United in 12 years, he opened the scoring right at the stroke of half-time. He restored his team’s lead with a left-footed strike, right through the legs of Newcastle’s goalkeeper, after Javier Manquillo had equalised for Newcastle in the second half. Bruno Fernandes added a third goal from 25 yards in the 80th minute (what a strike!) and Jesse Lingard finished off the party with a right-footed shot from inside of the box in injury time. Cannot complain about the score. But with all that firepower, we should have been up much earlier. But I am happy. The squad looked comfortable…and we had a comfortable score. GGMU!

Manchester United – 1 vs Liverpool – 1

There is always very fierce rivalry when these two teams meet and yesterday was no exception. We opened the scoring with a lovely goal from Marcus Rashford in the first half. Liverpool had two VAR decisions not in their favour that left Klopp ab-so-lute-ly incensed. But the thing that really got me incensed was when Lallana scored the equaliser in the dying minutes of the second-half. Bloody hell…I was as mad as anything. Couldn’t we hold on for another ten minutes at least? But in all fairness, our lads gave their all. They stopped Liverpool from equalling 18 unbeaten runs that was set by Manchester City. Looks like Liverpool are not as invincible as they appear to be. It was a hard-fought battle. Till the next one. GGMU!

Manchester United – 2 vs Arsenal – 1

We face Arsenal at Manchester United in half-an-hour’s time. It will be a historical one because it will be Arsene Wenger’s last appearance as an Arsenal manager at Old Trafford. I sincerely hope that Manchester United give him a Guard of Honour send-off. It will be fitting for a man who has managed Arsenal for 22 years.

In any case, other than wishing Mr Wenger all the best, I sincerely hope that we win too!

———– EDITOR’S NOTE ———-

It looked like both ex-players of the respective clubs (Mkhiratyan and Sanchez) were on a mission. The first goal was by Paul Pogba after Alexis Sanchez’s header hit the post and rebounded to Pogba who slammed it home. Manchester Finished the half at 1 – 0. When the second half started, Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored the equaliser and then both teams were level at 1 – 1. Then Mourinho made a tactical change and Fellaini came on. It was a change that worked because he headed the ball in in the 90th minute! And that is how it stands…Manchester United — 2 and Arsenal — 1. It is a pity Arsene Wenger could not go out on a high note but hey, that is football for you!

Manchester United – 2 vs Liverpool -1

It is going to be an epic showdown tonight…in about an hour’s time. Today we take on Liverpool at Old Trafford. It is the return leg. Let us give them hell!

———- EDITOR’S Update ———-

What a game it was! Marcus Rashford started with a fantastic goal in the 14th minute. I remember screaming like crazy when he scored that fantastic goal. De Gea punts the ball from goal, it lands near Lukaku and he feeds Rashford, who humiliated Trent Alexander Arnold and shot it past Karius. But it did not end there. Te minutes later, Marcus Rashford scored another one…an almost carbon copy of the first goal! I was in hysterics already and all of a sudden (I was watching this in a pub) the Liverpool fans were very quiet. Then we nearly had a third after a failed acrobatic kick from Juan Mata (The Special Juan) missed. But I will give him props for trying.. And that is how the first half ended…2 – 0

The second half was a bit bad because Bailly scored an own-goal. So the score was 2 – 1. In the second half, Liverpool were really pressing United but United did not let them get very far. And the three attackers namely Mane, Firmino and Salah? All of them were neutralised. Salah was neautralised by Ashley Young…totally shut down. Everywhere Salah went, Ashley Young went. And that was how the score ended… 2 – 1. Glory Glory Manchester United!

Manchester United – 1 vs Manchester City – 2

In about half-an-hour’s time, the Manchester Derby is going to commence, at Old Trafford. It is going to be Manchester United vs Manchester City, Jose vs Pep. Let us see how it pans out.

———- EDITOR’S NOTE ———-

Well we lost by two goals. The first goal was scored by David Silva shortly before half-time before Marcus Rashford pulled one back. Then in the second-half, Otamendi scored for City. And the assists for these two goals? Our very own Romelu Lukaku. Rio Ferdinand was right when he said:

Not a good day for Rom….involved in 2 goals conceded n misses a chance he should score….the way Utd played 2day makes it hard for any Striker up there. Needs runners closer to him to see any joy.. #MCFC suffocated #mufc today.. put into a sleeper hold from minute 1!!

— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) December 10, 2017

Manchester United – 4 Newcastle – 1

We met Newcastle at Old Trafford today. Our defence was not the best because we let in a goal early. I really felt pissed as I saw that Lindelof slipped at the crucial moment. However, we made up for that by a lovely header from Martial, after a brilliant assist from Paul Pogba, who still looked sharp despite having been sidelined for injuries. But it did not stop there. Just before the half-time whistle, Ashley Young fed a beautiful pass to Chris Smalling and he headed that pass in, making the score 2 – 1!

After the first half, I was telling my wife…let us have some more to make up on that goal difference. And then it happened. Juan Mata, who must have read my mind, kicked the ball to Rashford, who deftly headed it into the path of a charging Paul Pogba, who scored, making it 3 – 1! I was almost losing it by then and my wife was too! So we decided to wait and see what happened…and we were not disappointed. Romelu Lukaku caught the Newcastle defence sleeping and sent the ball to the back of the net. 4 – 1! I was ecstatic! All through the game, I had this old phrase I recall from the 1999 final: “Can Manchester United Score? They always score!” And score we did. GGMU!!!

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur

We take on Spurs today at Old Trafford. Apparently, it is in the news that Harry Kane will not be starting for Spurs as he picked up an injury earlier in the week. While some may be cheering the good news, I am not. I would rather Harry Kane play against us because it will bring out the mettle in our defence. Still they have players like Llorente, Son and Eriksen, who will give us a good run for our money, to say nothing about Dele Alli. The game starts at 1930 Singapore time. Let us see how it goes.

Manchester United – 2 Chelsea – 0

I can honestly that this was one of the best games United had against Chelsea. It was an excellent, all-round performance from Manchester United which gave us a comfortable win over the Chelsea. And, I might add,  we move back into fifth, while Chelsea stay four points ahead of Spurs at the top of the table. All I can say is, Senhor Mourinho had devised a tactical masterclass. First goal was attributed to Marcus Rashford. Marcus Rashford gave David Luiz and Gary Cahill the run of their lives, using his speed to their disadvantage. But if you thought Rashford was good, look at Ander Herrera. He was assigned an old-fashioned man-marking role on Eden Hazard. Several times, when he was not doing that, Jose kept calling out to him, reminding him of his duty to shadow Hazard. And shadow he did. Herrera stuck to Hazard  but he also weighed in with the second goal as well as setting up the first for Rashford. Truly deserving of Man Of The Match for me. Glory Glory Manchester United!!