London: Manchester United sent a timely message to leaders Manchester City as they won 4-2 at Watford but Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League challenge took a jolt after they slumped to a 1-2 defeat at Leicester City, in games played Tuesday.
Ashley Young was on target for the first time in 18 months as he scored twice for second-placed Man United who led 3-0 at the break before Watford produced a late fightback. The win took Man U to 32 points and they are within five points of leaders City.
In the other game, Leicester’s Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez turned the clock back two years as they both scored in a first half display reminiscent of when the Foxes won the title in 2015-16.
Harry Kane replied for Tottenham after the break but the visitors could not prevent a third defeat in five league games which left them in fifth place – 13 points off top spot.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City look unstoppable but neighbours United are emerging as their most likely challengers with a derby looming next month.
The Red Devils have been hamstrung by their poor away form, losing their last two on the road, but they found a cure for travel sickness at a freezing Vicarage Road where manager Jose Mourinho said they could have scored seven or eight goals.
As it was they were hanging on towards the end after Tory Deeney converted a 77th minute penalty and Abdoulaye Doucoure stabbed home to make it 3-2 with six minutes left before Jesse Lingard’s superb solo goal sealed the win.
“The second half should have been five or six nil, it was easier to score than the first,” Mourinho said. “We missed chances. Out of nothing, they got a penalty for 3-1 and then it was a different game. We should have been smoking cigars but then we’re in trouble. However, it’s important we have three wins in a row, nine points in three matches is good.”
Former Watford winger Young had put man U ahead after 19 minutes with a powerful near-post effort. He topped that with a superb free-kick that gave goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes under the Watford bar, no chance six minutes later.
Anthony Martial made it 3-0 in the 32nd but in the second half, it was Man U who were defending the most, till Lingard’s strike.
Reuters
