Man United on course for comfortable win
Despite a series of early scared at the community stadium in Brentford, Manchester United look on course to run out comfortable winners after a much-improved second half.
David De Gea came to their rescue several times in the first 45 minutes, keeping the Red Devils in a game that they should probably have been well behind in.
HT: Brentford (1.39) 0-0 (0.20) Man Utd
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) January 19, 2022
However, Ralf Rangnick’s side were much better in the second half, and put a tired-looking Brentford to the sword thanks to goals from academy graduates Anthony Elanga, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford, making the result a comfortable one in the end.
However, there was one bizarre talking point that stood out, in the form of a substitution.
Ronaldo subbed
The incident came as Ronaldo was substituted in the second half, following a largely anonymous performance against the Bees.
Making his first start since a knee injury, the Portuguese striker was taken off after 71 minutes, with central defender Harry Maguire coming on in his stead.
And safe to say, he was not happy.
Ronaldo furious at being subbed.
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) January 19, 2022
Even minutes later, he was still absolutely fuming on the substitutes bench as his side pushed for another goal.
“Why did he take me off?”
Cristiano Ronaldo was not happy at being withdrawn in the 70th minute with Man Utd 2-0 up against Brentford… pic.twitter.com/gx0uur4GZf
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 19, 2022
And some Manchester United fans chose to take the positives, suggesting it meant that he still cared about the club.
Ronaldo fuming about being taken off still. Sort of get it. Works his arse off for no service then with 20 to go when the game is going to be stretched and he’ll get a chance he gets taken off
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) January 19, 2022
However, Rangnick’s call paid off, as he seemed to tell Ronaldo moments after Rashford netted the third.
Things are starting to look up for Man Utd 🔴
Marcus Rashford ends his goal drought to make it 3-0, and Ralf Rangnick appears to have patched things up with Ronaldo after subbing him! pic.twitter.com/Q4D0pWtev6
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 19, 2022
Was Ronaldo right to be annoyed?
Read more:
“Putting the club on his back” Manchester United fans single out one man for praise in first half against Brentford
Why Edinson Cavani and Jadon Sancho are out of the Manchester United squad for Brentford clash
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City | 22 | 41 | 56 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 21 | 37 | 45 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 23 | 28 | 44 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 22 | 11 | 37 |
| 5 | Arsenal FC | 20 | 8 | 35 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 | 3 | 33 |
| 7 | Manchester United | 20 | 3 | 32 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 20 | 2 | 31 |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 21 | 0 | 29 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 18 | -2 | 25 |
| 11 | Crystal Palace | 21 | -1 | 24 |
| 12 | Southampton FC | 21 | -8 | 24 |
| 13 | Aston Villa | 20 | -5 | 23 |
| 14 | Brentford FC | 21 | -9 | 23 |
| 15 | Leeds United | 20 | -15 | 22 |
| 16 | Everton FC | 19 | -10 | 19 |
| 17 | Watford FC | 19 | -14 | 14 |
| 18 | Norwich City | 21 | -35 | 13 |
| 19 | Newcastle United | 20 | -23 | 12 |
| 20 | Burnley FC | 17 | -11 | 11 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 16 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 9 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 8 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 8 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 8 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 8 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 8 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 8 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 7 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 7 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 7 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City | 7 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 7 |
| Silva, Bernardo | Manchester City | 7 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 6 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 6 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 6 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City | 6 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salisu, Mohammed | Southampton FC | 0 | 7 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 6 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 6 |
| Alonso, Marcos | Chelsea FC | 0 | 6 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 6 |
| Laporte, Aymeric | Manchester City | 1 | 5 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 6 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 6 |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 6 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 0 | 4 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 1 | 4 |
| Silva, Bernardo | Manchester City | 0 | 5 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 4 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 0 | 5 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 1 | 4 |
| Jimenez, Raul | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 4 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 0 | 5 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 5 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 0 | 5 |
| Canos, Sergi | Brentford FC | 0 | 5 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 8 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 7 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 7 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 6 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 5 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 5 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 4 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 4 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 4 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 4 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City | 4 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 4 |
| Redmond, Nathan | Southampton FC | 4 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 3 |