• MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 6. Made first save of the evening – with his feet - from Billy Sharp after 16 minutes. Sharp later nudged him, but the Spaniard was still weak on the corner which led to Bryan’s opening goal. Was crowded out by Blades at every corner; a brutal, effective tactic. EPA
    MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 6. Made first save of the evening – with his feet - from Billy Sharp after 16 minutes. Sharp later nudged him, but the Spaniard was still weak on the corner which led to Bryan’s opening goal. Was crowded out by Blades at every corner; a brutal, effective tactic. EPA
  • Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6. Liveliest defender in attack and his 51st minute shot was deflected, but it were the defenders on the other team who were praised, not Manchester United’s. EPA
    Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6. Liveliest defender in attack and his 51st minute shot was deflected, but it were the defenders on the other team who were praised, not Manchester United’s. EPA
  • Harry Maguire - 6. Foul given against him for a challenge on Ramsdale when Maguire’s eyes were on the ball to negate Martial’s strike. Scored his first goal at Old Trafford with a powerful, accurate header, to equalise after 64. Poor before second goal, too. EPA
    Harry Maguire - 6. Foul given against him for a challenge on Ramsdale when Maguire’s eyes were on the ball to negate Martial’s strike. Scored his first goal at Old Trafford with a powerful, accurate header, to equalise after 64. Poor before second goal, too. EPA
  • Axel Tuanzebe - 5. Started after Eric Bailly picked up a knock in training. Caught up in Bryan’s header before goal and booked for a poor challenge on Fleck just before half time. PA
    Axel Tuanzebe - 5. Started after Eric Bailly picked up a knock in training. Caught up in Bryan’s header before goal and booked for a poor challenge on Fleck just before half time. PA
  • Alex Telles - 6. Chance to shine but gave ball away after seven minutes. Fine ball over the defence for Fernandes, but not the attacking threat Shaw is. Quality outswinging corner set up Maguire’s equaliser and he had a 76th minute shot deflected onto the bar. Slow reaction before Blades’ winner. AP
    Alex Telles - 6. Chance to shine but gave ball away after seven minutes. Fine ball over the defence for Fernandes, but not the attacking threat Shaw is. Quality outswinging corner set up Maguire’s equaliser and he had a 76th minute shot deflected onto the bar. Slow reaction before Blades’ winner. AP
  • Nemanja Matic - 5. Too ponderous in first half. Dropped back into central defence and stopped Burke with a last man tackle late on. Slow getting towards ball before Blades’ winner. AFP
    Nemanja Matic - 5. Too ponderous in first half. Dropped back into central defence and stopped Burke with a last man tackle late on. Slow getting towards ball before Blades’ winner. AFP
  • Paul Pogba - 5. Poor performance and way below the levels of recent weeks. Didn’t create enough chances, despite all United’s possession. Defeat was a big disappointment after Sunday’s win against Liverpool. PA
    Paul Pogba - 5. Poor performance and way below the levels of recent weeks. Didn’t create enough chances, despite all United’s possession. Defeat was a big disappointment after Sunday’s win against Liverpool. PA
  • Marcus Rashford - 5. Shot wide after 11, but made too little impact. Free-kick on the hour went straight at Ramsdale. Didn’t see Cavani’s run across the near post on 84. EPA
    Marcus Rashford - 5. Shot wide after 11, but made too little impact. Free-kick on the hour went straight at Ramsdale. Didn’t see Cavani’s run across the near post on 84. EPA
  • Bruno Fernandes - 6. Struggled to unpick the Blades but flicked a Telles ball into a danger area after 41. Often played amid the Blades’ five man defence without much joy. Incredible run back to dispossess Ampadu. Reuters
    Bruno Fernandes - 6. Struggled to unpick the Blades but flicked a Telles ball into a danger area after 41. Often played amid the Blades’ five man defence without much joy. Incredible run back to dispossess Ampadu. Reuters
  • Mason Greenwood - 7. Super runs and fast feet as he was United’s best attacker in the first half. Shot wide after 48 when set up by Fernandes. Encouraging. AP
    Mason Greenwood - 7. Super runs and fast feet as he was United’s best attacker in the first half. Shot wide after 48 when set up by Fernandes. Encouraging. AP
  • Anthony Martial - 4. Scored a hat-trick the last time the Blades visited, but had only managed two in 15 league games this season. First half tap in disallowed and he couldn’t get a header on target after being set up by Bruno on 42. Shifted left when Cavani arrived. Lamentable when getting back after losing ball before the Blades’ second. Reuters
    Anthony Martial - 4. Scored a hat-trick the last time the Blades visited, but had only managed two in 15 league games this season. First half tap in disallowed and he couldn’t get a header on target after being set up by Bruno on 42. Shifted left when Cavani arrived. Lamentable when getting back after losing ball before the Blades’ second. Reuters
  • SUBSTITUTES: Edinson Cavani (on for Greenwood 65') - N/A. Heavy touch knocked ball out of play on 79. AFP
    SUBSTITUTES: Edinson Cavani (on for Greenwood 65') - N/A. Heavy touch knocked ball out of play on 79. AFP
  • Donny van de Beek (On for Tuanzebe 81') - N/A. Came on when Manchester United pushed to get back into the game. Luke Shaw (On for Telles 81') - N/A. EPA
    Donny van de Beek (On for Tuanzebe 81') - N/A. Came on when Manchester United pushed to get back into the game. Luke Shaw (On for Telles 81') - N/A. EPA
  • SHEFFIELD UNITED RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 7. Shaky moment with the disallowed goal aside, the Englishman held on to the majority of shots that came his way. AP
    SHEFFIELD UNITED RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 7. Shaky moment with the disallowed goal aside, the Englishman held on to the majority of shots that came his way. AP
  • Chris Basham - 7. So often produced impeccable tackles with his most important being a nice interception in the 71st minute to help prevent Man United from going 2-1 up. PA
    Chris Basham - 7. So often produced impeccable tackles with his most important being a nice interception in the 71st minute to help prevent Man United from going 2-1 up. PA
  • Ethan Ampadu - 8. Rarely put a foot wrong from his timing in challenges to how he’s able to read the game and put pressure on opposition strikers. AP
    Ethan Ampadu - 8. Rarely put a foot wrong from his timing in challenges to how he’s able to read the game and put pressure on opposition strikers. AP
  • Phil Jagielka - 6. The 38-year-old has clearly slowed down in his veteran years and lost track of Maguire for the equaliser, but he did make a few vital blocks in the dying moments of the game. PA
    Phil Jagielka - 6. The 38-year-old has clearly slowed down in his veteran years and lost track of Maguire for the equaliser, but he did make a few vital blocks in the dying moments of the game. PA
  • George Baldock - 8. In addition to playing a key role in the winner, Baldock fought for every loose ball and was one of the most committed players on the pitch. AP
    George Baldock - 8. In addition to playing a key role in the winner, Baldock fought for every loose ball and was one of the most committed players on the pitch. AP
  • Kean Bryan - 8. His speed and box-to-box style was only topped by his flawless header to give the visitors the lead in the 23rd minute. EPA
    Kean Bryan - 8. His speed and box-to-box style was only topped by his flawless header to give the visitors the lead in the 23rd minute. EPA
  • John Lundstram - 7. Lundstram sat deep and couldn’t get to grips with the pace of the game in the first half, but in the second, he was one of the driving forces behind Wilder’s men physically intimidating Ole’s side. Getty
    John Lundstram - 7. Lundstram sat deep and couldn’t get to grips with the pace of the game in the first half, but in the second, he was one of the driving forces behind Wilder’s men physically intimidating Ole’s side. Getty
  • Oliver Norwood - 8. Showcased good energy, great vision and the sort of grit this team desperately needs in the midst of a relegation battle. AP
    Oliver Norwood - 8. Showcased good energy, great vision and the sort of grit this team desperately needs in the midst of a relegation battle. AP
  • John Fleck - 9. From carrying Sheffield United into the Red Devils’ half to producing a gorgeous assist for Bryan’s opener, Fleck looked to be back to his best on Wednesday night. PA
    John Fleck - 9. From carrying Sheffield United into the Red Devils’ half to producing a gorgeous assist for Bryan’s opener, Fleck looked to be back to his best on Wednesday night. PA
  • David McGoldrick - 5. With limited movement, an inability to hold up the ball and poor finishing, the veteran forward struggled at Old Trafford. Getty
    David McGoldrick - 5. With limited movement, an inability to hold up the ball and poor finishing, the veteran forward struggled at Old Trafford. Getty
  • Billy Sharp - 6. After testing de Gea in the 17th minute before almost fouling him in the lead-up to the Blades’ opener, Sharp rarely offered much in the final third. AFP
    Billy Sharp - 6. After testing de Gea in the 17th minute before almost fouling him in the lead-up to the Blades’ opener, Sharp rarely offered much in the final third. AFP
  • SUBSTITUTES: Jayden Bogle - 6. Was beaten for pace on a few occasions but caused some problems when pushing the ball into the corner. AP
    SUBSTITUTES: Jayden Bogle - 6. Was beaten for pace on a few occasions but caused some problems when pushing the ball into the corner. AP
  • Oliver Burke - 7. Made the perfect impact with a strong strike that found its way into the back of the net to win the game for the Blades. Rhian Brewster - N/A. Showed a lot of energy but wasn’t really given much time to shine on the ball.
    Oliver Burke - 7. Made the perfect impact with a strong strike that found its way into the back of the net to win the game for the Blades. Rhian Brewster - N/A. Showed a lot of energy but wasn’t really given much time to shine on the ball.

Football

Mason Greenwood 7, Anthony Martial 4; John Fleck 9, Oliver Norwood 8: Manchester United v Sheffield United ratings

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side suffer shock 2-1 defeat at home

Andy Mitten
Harry Kettle
Barcelona and Manchester

January 28, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Manchester United's 13-game unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end with a shock 2-1 home defeat to rock-bottom Sheffield United.

United knew they had to respond after Manchester City leapfrogged them with a 5-0 thrashing of West Brom but they were well short of their best.

Kean Bryan gave the visitors a shock first-half lead that former Blades defender Harry Maguire cancelled out, only for Oliver Burke's heavily deflected strike to seal a first away win against Manchester United since 1973.

Players ratings from the match can be seen in the gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

Manchester United