MANCHESTER, March 12: Manchester United survived Casemiro’s early red card and an impressive display by rock-bottom Southampton as a pulsating Old Trafford encounter ended goalless.
Erik ten Hag stressed the need for his side to be at their best as the Red Devils returned to Premier League duty for the first time since last weekend’s historic 7-0 shellacking at rivals Liverpool.
United showed impressive character to bounce back and beat Real Betis on Thursday and again produced a display of strength to draw 0-0 with Southampton after Casemiro’s second sending-off of the season. The Brazil international looked gutted when referee Anthony Taylor brandished a straight red in the 34th minute after the VAR advised him to review the challenge on Carlos Alcaraz on the pitchside monitor. Saints’ performance belied their wretched season to date and Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared off the line shortly after the break, with James Ward-Prowse seeing a free-kick graze the bar.
David De Gea and Gavin Bazunu produced outstanding saves across this scoreless encounter, including the latter tipping a Bruno Fernandes shot onto the post before Kyle Walker-Peters hit the woodwork at the other end. Southampton had further chances that they failed to take while Rashford saw penalty appeals rejected and Alejandro Garnacho writhed in pain after a Walker-Peters challenge on him in the box as the match wound down.
Toffees win
Dwight McNeil’s goal after just 35 seconds was enough to give Everton another 1-0 win at Goodison Park on Saturday as Sean Dyche’s team climbed two points clear of the English Premier League relegation zone by ending Brentford’s long unbeaten run.
McNeil proved effective at both ends of the pitch as the winger’s third goal of the season was accompanied by a second-half goalline clearance.
Everton recorded a third victory by a single goal in four home games.McNeil’s strike was Everton’s earliest winning goal in the ground’s 131-year history.
Leeds hold Brighton
Jack Harrison rescued a point for Leeds in a 2-2 home draw against Brighton and it was not enough to lift his side out of the English Premier League relegation zone on Saturday.
Harrison curled home a 78th-minute equalizer having earlier scored an own goal to give Brighton a 2-1 lead, as Leeds twice hit back against the in-form visitor.
Alexis Mac Allister’s header was canceled out by Patrick Bamford’s equalizer before the break and Harrison made amends for turning the ball into his own net in the second half with a well-taken finish.
Leeds dropped into the bottom three before kickoff after Bournemouth’s surprise home win against Liverpool, and stayed in 19th place despite the point.
Brighton’s opener came after Pascal Gross picked out Kaoru Mitoma at the far post and his header back across the face of goal was headed home by Mac Allister.Bamford then collected a pass on the edge of the area and crashed home an equalizer via a deflection off Adam Webster and the crossbar.
Spurs cruise
Richarlison responded to some pre-match criticism from his own manager by helping Tottenham secure a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Brazil striker played a key role in the second of Harry Kane’s two first-half goals and Tottenham’s third by Son Heung-min after the break.
In his news conference on Friday, Tottenham manager Antonio Conte described Richarlison as “selfish” for complaining about his lack of playing time and said the striker was correct to assess his season so far as “not good.”
Still, Conte handed Richarlison a start against Forest and was repaid with an all-action display that nearly included an early goal, only for the strike to be ruled out for offside.
The win consolidated fourth place for Tottenham in the race for Champions League qualification and came a few hours after Liverpool its big rival for the top four lost surprisingly at Bournemouth 1-0 in the lunchtime kickoff. Kane headed home the opener in the 19th and converted a 35th-minute penalty after Richarlison was fouled.
Richarlison crossed for Son to control and finish sweetly in the 62nd before Joe Worrall scored a consolation in the 81st for Forest, whose substitute Andre Ayew had a penalty saved by Fraser Forster in stoppage time.
Blues beat Foxes
Chelsea’s recent revival under Graham Potter continued at Leicester with a 3-1 win in the English Premier League on Saturday, making it three straight wins in all competitions for the London club.
Kai Havertz’s fine finish restored the visitors’ lead just before halftime after Patson Daka equalized, and Mateo Kovacic’s volley added the third for Chelsea in the second half.
Chelsea forward Joao Felix hit the post and had a goal ruled out by VAR while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall missed a sitter for the hosts before Leicester’s Wout Faes was sent off late on.
After reaching the Champions League quarterfinals by knocking out Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, Chelsea’s latest win eases the pressure even further on Potter.
It was just the second time Chelsea scored three times in a league game, and there was a fluidity and clinical edge which has been lacking this season.
Haaland scores again
Manchester City kept up the pressure on Arsenal after Erling Haaland converted a second-half penalty to secure a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday in the English Premier League.
Haaland spurned a great chance in the first half but calmly converted from the spot in the 78th minute after Michael Olise clumsily clattered into Ilkay Gundogan in the area. (AP)
