Home
After drawing 2-2 last Wednesday at Old Trafford, Manchester United and Leeds did it all again at Elland Road on Sunday with the Red Devils coming away victorious, 2-0, thanks to late goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Man United's quality in the final third ultimately proved the difference with Rashford scoring his 12th league goal of the campaign off Luke Shaw's lovely delivery, whereas Leeds again struggled to generate clear chances regardless of who's shuffled into the front four.
While the Red Devils reignited their title challenge after Arsenal's draw with Brentford, Leeds could enter the relegation zone on Monday if Everton beats Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.
3 things we learned from Leeds vs. Man United Pt. II
#1. Adams and McKennie are the ultimate terminators... but can they create?
After a robust, take-no-prisoners approach at Old Trafford, Adams and McKennie repeated the process by flying into tackles from the opening minute at Elland Road. First, Adams sent Jadon Sancho airborne with a clean stick.
Tyler Adams has the second most tackles in the Premier League and what a tackle this is on Jadon Sancho.
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 12, 2023
Minutes later, McKennie (making his home debut) went thundering in on Tyrell Malacia.
Leeds United instructions for Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie? Get stuck in.
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 12, 2023
However, what preceded McKennie's reducer was a terrible pass from the American for Crysencio Summerville that broke down a Leeds attack.
Given Man United's attacking threat, Adams and McKennie have spent the last two matches sharing defensive responsibility in midfield. Normally Adams would play more of the No. 6 while McKennie would take on a greater license to get forward as the No. 8, but the opponent hasn't allowed us to see much of that side to McKennie's game over his first two starts.
Still, McKennie hasn't looked very sharp in possession. He was dispossessed three times today and got booked for the second straight match. Leeds are desperate for some help further forward, so McKennie needs to do more in crucial moments while also offering a threat on set-pieces given his aerial ability.
The ultimate test of Adams and McKennie's ability to establish an attacking rhythm in midfield starts now: next Saturday they travel to lowly Everton and then they host last-place Southampton on Feb. 25.
View this post on Instagram
#2. It's not Wout Weghorst's fault that Man United signed Wout Weghorst.
Weghorst is a poor man's Chris Wood. Last season, Newcastle used their Saudi Public Investment Fund to take Wood from Burnley — it's not that Newcastle really wanted Wood, they just wanted to ensure that Burnley got relegated instead of them.
It worked.
Burnley spent their funds on Weghorst and he was terrible — scoring just twice in 20 appearances while playing with none of the imposing physicality that you'd expect from a man standing 6 feet 6 inches.
The only conceivable reason he's playing for Man United now is the Dutch connection with manager Erik ten Hag, but Weghorst again looked pretty worthless on Sunday in his fifth PL start in a row (zero goals).
They constantly criticize him on NBCSN but that seems unfair because Weghorst is exactly who we thought he was. Thankfully for Ten Hag, Rashford is all you need.
Who else but Marcus Rashford?
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 12, 2023
#3. Brenden Aaronson might get another chance.
Aaronson's ineffectiveness in the final third saw Jack Harrison take his place in the starting lineup, but Harrison was dispossessed SEVEN times today while completing just eight of 16 passes. The bad news for Aaronson is that he replaced Harrison in the 73rd minute and didn't do much better, but there's a chance of seeing all three Americans in the starting XI against Everton next weekend.
Who'll be the manager then? Former Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder was in the crowd today, but Steven Gerrard has also expressed his interest.
