Manchester United concluded a tense week with a 1-1 draw against Leeds at Leeds' stadium on Sunday. This result did little to ease the situation for manager Michael Carrick. The Red Devils traveled to face their bitter rivals in search of positive moments after only two wins in nine games across all competitions this season.
The feeling of a growing crisis in the club intensified mid-week following an outburst by defender Lisandro Martínez, who confronted the United management after a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. The central defender from Argentina stated that Carrick, in his first full season as head coach at Old Trafford, received a team with an insufficient squad after a disappointing summer transfer window.
United's coach insisted on Friday that the club had 'moved past' this incident, and Martínez was included in the starting lineup at Elland Road. Both teams started the match in Leeds very actively, but there were few scoring opportunities.
The first shot on target came in the 26th minute when United goalkeeper Sean Lammens saved a shot by Nico Elvedi aimed at the top corner after a deflection off the grass. Bryan Mbeumo, playing as United's target man, inaccurately directed the ball sideways a minute after a fine cross from Yuri Tileman, and then softly shot at the Leeds goalkeeper James Trafford.
However, he finally opened the scoring in the 35th minute when Tileman again delivered a low cross from the right, which Mbeumo directed into the bottom corner for his fourth goal in the Premier League this season. Martínez was substituted during halftime, with Moroccan Noussair Mazraoui coming on.
Brighton's Triumph
Leeds started strongly after the break and equalized in the 51st minute when Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed the ball after Tariq Muharemovic directed it into the ball from a corner. The home side held a clear advantage, mainly restricting Carrick's team to counterattacks. United's coach made attacking substitutions in search of a winner, bringing on Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha, but neither team could break through.
The 20-time English champion United remained in 13th place in the table with one win in seven matches, while Leeds occupies seventh place.
On another part of Sunday, Brighton temporarily overtook Arsenal, rising to second place, after defeating Crystal Palace 5-0. Among the highlights of the match was Diego Gomez's sensational half-volley strike. Fabian Hürzeler's team took the lead after three goals within 10 minutes, scored after a goal by Palace defender Jaydi Kangwot, a brilliant strike by Gomez, and a goal by Yasin Ayari. Further goals from Charalambos Kostulas and substitute Jack Hinshelwood in the second half worsened Palace's problems. The 'Gunners', trailing Manchester City by six points, play Nottingham Forest in a late match. Arsenal needs a win to reduce the gap to City, who has won all seven of their league matches this season. Enzo Maresca's team demonstrated an impressive run despite off-field issues, after the club was accused of numerous Premier League financial rule violations. Bournemouth beat Sunderland with 10 men 2-0 thanks to goals from Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson, securing their first win of the season in the league.