Pogba scores stunning winner
Paul Pogba scored an outstanding long-range strike as Manchester United came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 and go top of the Premier League.
☝️ @ManUtd regain top spot#FULMUN pic.twitter.com/nZon0FpWem
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 20, 2021
First half
Fulham took the lead after five minutes when Ademola Lookman beat the offside trap and finished past David de Gea after a lofted pass by Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.
Bruno Fernandes then hit the post with a shot from outside the shot, before Edinson Cavani pulled United level in the 21st minute with a poacher’s finish after Alphonse Areola parried the ball into his path.
Second half
Midway through the second half, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side found the winner after a piece of brilliance from Pogba. The Frenchman controlled the ball, turned past Harrison Reed and fired an unstoppable shot with his weaker foot from distance.
It was his second winning goal in just over a week after his volley against Burnley gave United a 1-0 win last Tuesday.
The Red Devils then should have had a third when Cavani got on the end of Fernandes’ cross but Areola got across to claw the header away.
Fulham pushed for an equaliser in the final 20 minutes with Ruben Loftus-Cheek denied by a save from de Gea. The Chelsea loanee also blazed over from close range, while a header from Aleksandar Mitrovic in stoppage time deflected off Eric Bailly and just went wide.
Stats
The win puts United back at the top of the table with 40 points from 19 games. Manchester City are two points behind with a game in hand.
For the seventh time this season, Man United came from behind to win a Premier League away game. It means they have gained 21 points from losing positions.
United are unbeaten in 17 away games (W13, D4). Their last loss away from home was against Liverpool last January.
Fulham remain 18th and four points behind Burnley, who have a game in hand.
No side has conceded more goals in the opening five minutes of Premier League games this season than Man United (4).
Controversy as City beat Villa
Bernardo Silva scored a controversial goal as Manchester City beat Aston Villa 2-0 at the Etihad.
celebrates after he scores his team’s first goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Aston Villa. (Photo by MARTIN RICKETT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The match
In a thoroughly entertaining match with chances aplenty, Man City finally broke Aston Villa’s resistance in the 79th minute. They had 24 shots before they opened the scoring.
The controversy comes as Rodri came from an offside position to challenge Tyrone Mings, and took the ball off him to set up Bernardo Silva to score with an excellent strike. Manager Dean Smith was sent off for his protests.
It was Aston Villa’s first match in the Premier League for 19 days after a coronavirus outbreak at the club.
Ilkay Gundogan wrapped up the points with a penalty in the 90th minute after Matty Cash handled.
Stats
Man City briefly went top of the league for the first time this season, but were overtaken by their neighbours.
Man City have kept 10 clean sheets in their 18 #PL matches this season 🚫#MCIAVL pic.twitter.com/kYOW4bFhkY
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 21, 2021
It was their fifth consecutive clean sheet in the Premier League. and their eighth in the last 10 games, conceding just two.
Aston Villa are 11th with 26 points, but they have a few games in hand on most teams above them.
Featured image: Paul Pogba of Manchester United celebrates with team mates (L-R) Bruno Fernandes, Fred and Edinson Cavani after scoring during the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage. (Photo by Peter Cziborra – Pool/Getty Images)
