• MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 8 - Rushed out to save from Pukki in a very dangerous second minute Norwich attack and was needed three times in the first half. Could do little to stop Norwich’s opener bar curse the players in front of him. Excellent save from Rashica and his highly motivated Norwich side on 56. AP
    MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 8 - Rushed out to save from Pukki in a very dangerous second minute Norwich attack and was needed three times in the first half. Could do little to stop Norwich’s opener bar curse the players in front of him. Excellent save from Rashica and his highly motivated Norwich side on 56. AP
  • Diogo Dalot 6 - Stretched to try and direct a 17th minute cross towards goal. Wonderful third man run and cross to Lingard on 31. Beaten in the run up to Norwich’s goal. Key block from Rashica on 70. Beaten by balls and made recoveries but needs to improve. Getty
    Diogo Dalot 6 - Stretched to try and direct a 17th minute cross towards goal. Wonderful third man run and cross to Lingard on 31. Beaten in the run up to Norwich’s goal. Key block from Rashica on 70. Beaten by balls and made recoveries but needs to improve. Getty
  • Victor Lindelof 6 - Right position at right time to stop a 35th minute Norwich attack. But individual moments paled when compared with the collective mistakes and lack of strategy for his team. AFP
    Victor Lindelof 6 - Right position at right time to stop a 35th minute Norwich attack. But individual moments paled when compared with the collective mistakes and lack of strategy for his team. AFP
  • Harry Maguire 5 - Came out too far to leave a space behind him for Norwich’s opening goal. At 91 minutes in, his side needed to keep possession – he kicked it too high out of play so Norwich got it back. PA
    Harry Maguire 5 - Came out too far to leave a space behind him for Norwich’s opening goal. At 91 minutes in, his side needed to keep possession – he kicked it too high out of play so Norwich got it back. PA
  • Alex Telles 4 - Beaten by a ball to set up Pukki in the second minute. Crossed for Ronaldo head the second on 31. Not alert enough for Dowell’s goal and chasing the ball for Pukki’s second. Poor positioning. Getty
    Alex Telles 4 - Beaten by a ball to set up Pukki in the second minute. Crossed for Ronaldo head the second on 31. Not alert enough for Dowell’s goal and chasing the ball for Pukki’s second. Poor positioning. Getty
  • Paul Pogba 7 - Single holding midfielder in a deeper role than usual. Intercepted well, took the ball out of the air and nutmegged an opponent. Ear blooded by Maguire’s boot. PA
    Paul Pogba 7 - Single holding midfielder in a deeper role than usual. Intercepted well, took the ball out of the air and nutmegged an opponent. Ear blooded by Maguire’s boot. PA
  • Bruno Fernandes 5 - Busy as ever but gave the ball away too much. Won a high ball to stop a 44th minute Norwich attack. Still not the force he was, but then nor are his team. AFP
    Bruno Fernandes 5 - Busy as ever but gave the ball away too much. Won a high ball to stop a 44th minute Norwich attack. Still not the force he was, but then nor are his team. AFP
  • Jesse Lingard 7 - Rare start and positive combination with Sancho and saw a ninth minute shot deflected wide. Stumbled in front of goal as the ball came to him on 40. Stretched to snuff out another Norwich attack on 43. Smart backheel to Ronaldo on 46. Disappointed to come off, but his team needed more protection. Getty
    Jesse Lingard 7 - Rare start and positive combination with Sancho and saw a ninth minute shot deflected wide. Stumbled in front of goal as the ball came to him on 40. Stretched to snuff out another Norwich attack on 43. Smart backheel to Ronaldo on 46. Disappointed to come off, but his team needed more protection. Getty
  • Jadon Sancho 6 - Lively start on right of a front three, but he often switched to go left. Shot wide on 22. Linked well with Lingard. PA
    Jadon Sancho 6 - Lively start on right of a front three, but he often switched to go left. Shot wide on 22. Linked well with Lingard. PA
  • Anthony Elanga 7 - On left of front three and won the ball superbly to set up Ronaldo for the opener on 7. Lovely strike on 50 and some decent defending. Getty
    Anthony Elanga 7 - On left of front three and won the ball superbly to set up Ronaldo for the opener on 7. Lovely strike on 50 and some decent defending. Getty
  • Cristiano Ronaldo 9 - Side-footed a gift of a chance for the opening goal on seven minutes. Attacked the ball and headed in the second on 31. Attempted an overhead kick on 39. Sidefooted wide after 46 then scored his 50th hat-trick - a beautiful free-kick - of his career to win the game on 76. EPA
    Cristiano Ronaldo 9 - Side-footed a gift of a chance for the opening goal on seven minutes. Attacked the ball and headed in the second on 31. Attempted an overhead kick on 39. Sidefooted wide after 46 then scored his 50th hat-trick - a beautiful free-kick - of his career to win the game on 76. EPA
  • SUBS: Nemanja Matic 7 - On for Lingard to steady the side, which he did. Reuters
    SUBS: Nemanja Matic 7 - On for Lingard to steady the side, which he did. Reuters
  • Juan Mata 7 - On for Telles on 73. He should become a sneak thief when he stops playing. He gets into spaces that don't exist. Controlled the tempo, showed his experience. Getty
    Juan Mata 7 - On for Telles on 73. He should become a sneak thief when he stops playing. He gets into spaces that don't exist. Controlled the tempo, showed his experience. Getty
  • Marcus Rashford 5 - On for Pogba on 73. Lively but ineffective. Reuters
    Marcus Rashford 5 - On for Pogba on 73. Lively but ineffective. Reuters
  • NORWICH RATINGS: Tim Krul 5 – Three goals conceded but the goalkeeper had too much to deal with at Old Trafford, with Ralf Rangnick's side firing regular shots. Couldn't keep out Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick that completed his hat-trick. Getty
    NORWICH RATINGS: Tim Krul 5 – Three goals conceded but the goalkeeper had too much to deal with at Old Trafford, with Ralf Rangnick's side firing regular shots. Couldn't keep out Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick that completed his hat-trick. Getty
  • Dimitris Giannoulis 6 – The full-back was dangerous when getting forward and came agonisingly close to picking up an assist, his cross inches away from Teemu Pukki's diving attempt to head home. AFP
    Dimitris Giannoulis 6 – The full-back was dangerous when getting forward and came agonisingly close to picking up an assist, his cross inches away from Teemu Pukki's diving attempt to head home. AFP
  • Ben Gibson 4 – Struggled with the presence of Ronaldo in a display that the defender would rather put behind him as soon as possible. Not good enough with costly errors marking an all-round disappointing performance. AP
    Ben Gibson 4 – Struggled with the presence of Ronaldo in a display that the defender would rather put behind him as soon as possible. Not good enough with costly errors marking an all-round disappointing performance. AP
  • Grant Hanley 7 – A strong display often saw him stop United attacks. The Scotland international was Dean Smith's side's best player in defence, reading the play quickly to redirect dangerous balls in the box. Getty
    Grant Hanley 7 – A strong display often saw him stop United attacks. The Scotland international was Dean Smith's side's best player in defence, reading the play quickly to redirect dangerous balls in the box. Getty
  • Sam Byram 6 – Had a chance to score at the far post but couldn't keep his header down. Put in a good display against Jadon Sancho. AFP
    Sam Byram 6 – Had a chance to score at the far post but couldn't keep his header down. Put in a good display against Jadon Sancho. AFP
  • Kenny McLean 6 – A difficult task in midfielde saw him have to deal with United's late flurry, but he often kept his cool in the middle and maintained possession for the Canaries. AFP
    Kenny McLean 6 – A difficult task in midfielde saw him have to deal with United's late flurry, but he often kept his cool in the middle and maintained possession for the Canaries. AFP
  • Mathias Normann 5 – Struggled to make an impact in a difficult midfield battle against Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba. EPA
    Mathias Normann 5 – Struggled to make an impact in a difficult midfield battle against Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba. EPA
  • Milot Rashica 5 – Tried to play direct when on the ball but it didn't always come off. Ralf Rangnick's side looked to have recognised his threat and made a plan to ensure he wasn't as effective on the counter-attack. AFP
    Milot Rashica 5 – Tried to play direct when on the ball but it didn't always come off. Ralf Rangnick's side looked to have recognised his threat and made a plan to ensure he wasn't as effective on the counter-attack. AFP
  • Pierre Lees-Melou 5 – Asked questions of the defence with his deliveries but could have done better to take care of the ball at times. Looked to have picked up a slight knock. PA
    Pierre Lees-Melou 5 – Asked questions of the defence with his deliveries but could have done better to take care of the ball at times. Looked to have picked up a slight knock. PA
  • Kieran Dowell 8 – Played with freedom and his persistence was rewarded as he scored before applying the perfect touch on the pass for Teemu Pukki's equaliser. EPA
    Kieran Dowell 8 – Played with freedom and his persistence was rewarded as he scored before applying the perfect touch on the pass for Teemu Pukki's equaliser. EPA
  • Teemu Pukki 8 – A 10th goal of the season for the Finland international. Smart movement saw him slowly drift away from the Manchester United defence before he accelerated to finish at David De Gea's near post. Getty
    Teemu Pukki 8 – A 10th goal of the season for the Finland international. Smart movement saw him slowly drift away from the Manchester United defence before he accelerated to finish at David De Gea's near post. Getty
  • SUBS: Billy Gilmour (McLean 73) – Introduced to add energy into the Norwich midfield and was impressive on the ball, helping transition play into attacking areas. An incisive pass put Rashica through late but the forward couldn't create anything from it. Reuters
    SUBS: Billy Gilmour (McLean 73) – Introduced to add energy into the Norwich midfield and was impressive on the ball, helping transition play into attacking areas. An incisive pass put Rashica through late but the forward couldn't create anything from it. Reuters
  • Przemyslaw Placheta (Dowell 73) – Looked to support the attack with forward runs. Jon Rowe (Lees-Melou, 82) – On for the final minutes. Getty
    Przemyslaw Placheta (Dowell 73) – Looked to support the attack with forward runs. Jon Rowe (Lees-Melou, 82) – On for the final minutes. Getty

Sport

Football

Manchester United v Norwich ratings: Ronaldo 9, Pogba 7; Gibson 4, Dowell 8

Cristiano Ronaldo nets hat-trick in hard-fought win over lowly Norwich

Andy Mitten
Adam Brown

April 16, 2022

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick saved Manchester United as they made hard work of beating relegation-threatened Norwich on a day of protests against the Glazer family.

Green and gold flares filled the air along with chants against the owners before kick-off on Saturday, with thousands joining the protest organised by a recently-formed supporter group called The 1958.

Anti-Glazer songs continued throughout an Old Trafford encounter that looked set to end in a surprise draw after Kieran Dowell and Teemu Pukki goals cancelled out Ronaldo’s brace.

“You’re not fit to wear the shirt” bellowed some as fan discontent grew, only for star man Ronaldo to rifle home a stunning 25-yard free-kick and seal a hard-fought 3-2 win.

A first win in five weeks for Ralf Rangnick’s side was hardly a resounding response to last week’s loss at Everton, but surprise defeats for Tottenham and Arsenal injected new life into United’s top-four hopes.

Player ratings from the game can be seen in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

Updated: April 16, 2022, 4:52 PM
Premier LeagueManchester United