Manchester United beat Watford 2-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday, Feb. 11. Here are all the highlights from the match.
The 2-0 scoreline may as well have belonged to a different game. Manchester United were at their very best against Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday, racking up 22 shots, 11 of them on target, in a good old fashioned thrashing.
In the end, Jose Mourinho’s side managed only two goals, but it could easily have been four or five. Paul Pogba went close twice in the first half, Henrikh Mkhitaryan miscued when unmarked at the top of the box and Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw a point-blank header saved by Heurelho Gomes before the Red Devils opened the scoring in the 30th minute.
Mkhitaryan played Anthony Martial into space down the left, and the Frenchman’s cut back was easily converted by Juan Mata.
Watford seemed to regain a little composure to start the second half, but that went out of the window when Martial doubled United’s lead on the hour mark.
Martial has found himself out of Mourinho’s plans for the past few months, but he was excellent on his return to the starting XI. His goal — he was played through down the left by a lovely Ibrahimovic touch, cut inside, hesitated a half second and drilled a low shot in at the near post — showcased everything that made him such an exciting prospect last season.
Martial’s performance was one of many Mourinho will be pleased with. Mkhitaryan continues to excel, Mata was everywhere, Pogba seems to be finding his feet in a two-man midfield and Ibrahimovic was as regal as ever.
United’s march toward the top four continues. If they can maintain this form for the remainder of the season — and it should be noted that they’ll face few opponents as accommodating as Watford were today — they have a real opportunity to finish in the Champions League places.
Highlights
Manchester United jumped into fifth place with the win, two points ahead of Liverpool, who play Tottenham in Saturday’s late kickoff. Watford moved down to 12th after Stoke and Southampton both won.