Alexis Sanchez opened his Manchester United goalscoring account on his home debut as they beat Huddersfield 2-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.
After a first half lacking in chances, United went ahead 10 minutes after the break through Romelu Lukaku’s 97th Premier League goal, turning home Juan Mata’s fine cross
Sanchez then grabbed his first United goal in unconventional fashion, seeing a penalty he had originally won saved by Jonas Lossl, only to sweep the rebound into the net
The result means United claw back two points on leaders Manchester City following their earlier draw at Burnley, and are now 13 points behind in second. Huddersfield, without a win in eight, is down to 19th.
Paul Pogba was named on the bench after an under-par showing in the midweek defeat by Tottenham, and United struggled to break down a stubborn Huddersfield in the first half.
Jesse Lingard and Sanchez stung the hands of Lossl in the Huddersfield goal, but United felt they should have had a penalty when Terence Kongolo’s hefty aerial challenge on Scott McTominay went unpunished.
Jose Mourinho made four changes from Wednesday night’s defeat at Spurs; Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay and Juan Mata came in, replacing Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial. Huddersfield made three changes; Tommy Smith came in for Chris Lowe, Rajiv van la Parra replaced Aaron Mooy and Collin Quaner was in for Steve Mounie.
Sanchez was at the centre of much of United’s play in the second half, seeing an effort denied by a last-ditch Tommy Smith block inside the box before United got the opener their second-half intensity deserved.
After being played in behind Smith on the left flank, Mata’s first-time cross was swept past Lossl by Lukaku from 10 yards with his left foot.
Huddersfield is the 20th consecutive team to lose their first Premier League visit to Old Trafford since Derby County won there 3-2 in 1996/97.
This was the 15th clean sheet Manchester United have kept in the Premier League this season, more than any other side.
The Terriers failed to score for the 10th time in Premier League away games this season, more than any other side in the competition.
Alexis Sanchez has had a hand in nine goals in his last ten Premier League games against newly-promoted sides (8 goals, 1 assist).
The Spaniard pulled the strings in midfield for United, providing four key passes, two more than the entire Huddersfield side.
His cross for Lukaku’s opener was superb, after a first half where United failed to gain any width in the final third Nemanja Matic was a close second in the man-of-the-match running, but Mata’s class told at Old Trafford.
United now go to Newcastle on Super Sunday at 2.15pm in the Premier League, while Huddersfield is at Birmingham for their FA Cup fourth-round replay on Tuesday evening before hosting Bournemouth on Sunday.
