Manchester United must become more clinical in front of goal and put teams to the sword, manager Erik ten Hag said after his side squandered a host of chances in Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League, 2023-2024 win at Luton Town.
United, who are sixth, have won their last four league games but three of those wins have been by one-goal margins.
Two early goals from striker Rasmus Hojlund put United in the driver’s seat on Sunday but after Carlton Morris halved the deficit in the 14th minute at Kenilworth Road Ten Gag’s side were unable to restore their two-goal cushion.
The Dutchman told reporters United had been “fragile” at times after falling to kill the game off.
“We missed some really massive chances and we should have scored and we know that,” he added.
“On the other hand, Luton Town have lost games this season, but only two times by more than two, so it is not easy here,” he added.
Hojlund extended his scoring streak to six straight league games when he seized on a defensive howler to net the opener after just 37 seconds – United’s quickest away goal in Premier League history. He added the second with a slice of luck as a shot deflected off his chest and into the net to quieten the home crowd at the smallest stadium in the Premier League.
Monza stun Milan 4-2:
Monza earned a hard-fought 4-2 home win against AC Milan in Serie A on Sunday as Stefano Pioli’s side missed a chance to leapfrog second-placed Juventus in the standings.
Monza’s Matteo Pessina and Dany Mota put the club ahead in the first half before substitutes Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic pulled Milan level in the second. Warren Bondo and Lorenszo Colombo secured the hosts all three points with goal apiece in the dying minutes.
Premier League Results:
Luton Town-1 (Morris 14) vs Manchester United-2 (Hojlund 1, 7);
Sheffield United-0 vs Brighton-5 (Buonanotte 20, Welbeck 24, Robinson 75-og, Adingra 78, 85).
La Liga Results:
Rayo Vallecano-1 (De Tomas 27-pen) vs Real Madrid-1 (Joselu 3);
Granada-1 (Uzuni 75) vs Almeira-1 (Pubil 9);
Real Mallorca-1 (Sanchez 4) vs Real Sociedad-2 (Kubo 38, Merino 90+3);
Real Betis-0 vs Alaves-0.
Serie A Results:
Empoli-1 (Niang 56-pen) vs Fiorentina-1 (Beltran 30);
Udinese-1 (Zemura 14) vs Cagliari-1 (Gaetano 44);
Frosinone-0 vs Roma-3 (Huijsen 38, Azmoun 71, Paredes 81-pen);
Monza-4 (Pessina 45-pen, Mota 45+6, Bondo 90, Colombo 90+5) vs AC Milan-2 (Giroud 64, Pulisic 88).