Man United things learned: Victor Lindelof proves worth against Watford

Here, we look at what we learned from the encounter.

DON’T WRITE LINDEL-OFF

Victor Lindelof has endured a tough introduction to life at United so much so that rumours of Jose Mourinho looking for a new defender in the transfer market have already surfaced.

Away to Watford on Tuesday night though, he had his best game yet in a United shirt and showed why he came so highly-rated from Benfica.

The centre-back made some crucial interventions throughout the game and hardly put a foot wrong. His passing out from the back was also the best it’s been since his arrival.

With Phil Jones and Eric Bailly injured, Lindelof’s performance couldn’t have been more timely. With the busy run of fixtures ahead, Mourinho will need to call on the Swede.

ASHLEY TO KEEP YOUNG SHAW BENCHED

Everyone involved with or supports United would’ve enjoyed Young’s brace, particularly the quality of them. That can’t be said of Luke Shaw though.

The 32-year-old continues to be preferred over the young left-back who can’t buy a start in United’s first team.

A loan move to Newcastle United for Shaw is being touted and the way things are going, that may be the best thing for the former Southampton defender at this point.

He could still get the odd appearance over the busy December fixture schedule but on current form, there’s no way Mourinho is dropping Young if he can help it.

CARELESS UNITED

Maybe it was Nemanja Matic’s absence or just plain complacency but United’s second half performance was unacceptable. Jesse Lingard’s superb solo goal did bail them out but it could’ve gone horribly wrong.

They wasted far too many chances in front of goal with Romelu Lukaku proving to be the main culprit. Marcos Rojo’s needless penalty invited pressure from the hosts and United sat too deep from then on.

It goes to prove that there are no easy games in the Premier League and if you take your foot off the gas, you can so easily be punished, even at 3-0 up.