Manchester United Player Ratings vs Burnley: Pereira, Lukaku poor as Red Devils drop first points under Solskjaer

Manchester United’s winning run under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came to a halt on Tuesday, even as they came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Burnley.

Manchester United, on an eight-match winning run under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, should have taken the lead early in the game but in-form man Marcus Rashford spurned a great opportunity. United tried to find a way through for the rest of the first period, but a spirited Burnley defence held firm.

After a goalless first half, the visitors took a surprise lead capitalizing on a mistake by Andreas Pereira, with Ashley Barnes thumping home a powerful strike in the 51st minute. The home team pressed forward in pursuit of an equaliser, but were left staring at a defeat after Chris Wood headed home in the 81st minute to make it 0-2.

But, a late fightback ensued, as Paul Pogba dispatched a cool penalty in the 87th minute, after substitute Jesse Lingard was fouled in the box, before Victor Lindelof scored his first ever Manchester United goal in injury time to reinstate parity and spare the Red Devils from a defeat.

The result brought an end to the winning run under Solskjaer, but United still remain unbeaten under the Norwegian. However, with Arsenal winning their game against Cardiff City, the Red Devils are now two points behind the fifth-placed Gunners and fourth-placed Chelsea, who will be playing Bournemouth on Wednesday.

Here’s how the Manchester United stars fared on the night against Sean Dyche’s Clarets.

David de Gea: 5/10

A rush of blood moment soon after the half-time break almost gifted Barnes with a chance to score, but de Gea got lucky and recovered. Made a decent stop to keep out Dwight McNeil’s powerful effort. No chance with either of Burnley’s goals, however.

Ashley Young: 6.5/10

The veteran Englishman got plenty of space down the right flank, with Burnley looking to stay compact in defence. He made the most of the opportunity, getting forward regularly and whipping in a number of crosses, some dangerous, some not so much. Meek challenge on Wood, in the lead up to Burnley’s second, but delivered the ball for the late goal.

Victor Lindelof: 7/10

The Swedish centre-half had another solid game at the back, standing up against the physical threat posed by Wood and Barnes for most of the match. Guilty of leaving the New Zealand international free for the Clarets’ second, Lindelof made amends as he thumped home the late equalizer to salvage a point.

Phil Jones: 6/10

Back into the starting XI after the cup tie against Arsenal, the Englishman did well to deny Barnes an opportunity early in the first half and looked up for the physical battle on the night. But, Jones did put Pereira under pressure with his pass in the lead-up to Burnley’s opener.

Luke Shaw: 6/10

Afforded plenty of space on the left flank to run into, Shaw started off brightly, combining very well with Rashford and Pogba in the left channel and delivering a couple of threatening crosses in the first period. Couldn’t make much of an impact after the break, however, as United pressed for a way back into the game. Sound defensively.

Andreas Pereira: 3/10

Making his first Premier League start since the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in matchweek 2, the Brazilian looked off pace and was constantly bullied off the ball by the physically superior Burnley players. Caught in possession in a dangerous area, leading to Burnley’s first goal. Hooked off soon after. Pereira failed to vindicate his selection.

Nemanja Matic: 5/10

The Serb did not look all that comfortable in his patrolling duties without regular partner Ander Herrera by his side. Should have gotten tighter to Ashley Westwood to deny him the space to find Wood in the box for Burnley’s second. Tried to keep things ticking and drove the ball forward on a couple of occasions, but failed to make the desired impact.

Paul Pogba: 6.5/10

The Manchester United record signing tried everything to break open a determined Burnley defence, but didn’t see much success. Forced a straightforward save from Heaton in the first period and saw a header loop over the bar. Kept going on in search of a way back and made no mistake from the penalty spot, before forcing another save from the Burnley keeper soon after.

Not Pogba’s best performance in recent memory, but he has now scored 11 goals for the season – the best tally of his professional career.

Juan Mata: 4/10

Starting on the right side of the attack ahead of Jesse Lingard, the Spaniard spent most of the first half on the fringes. Improved after the break when he started playing more centrally and fashioned a couple of promising opportunities as United looked for a way back. Still, lacked the cutting edge to make a difference and slowed things down.

Romelu Lukaku: 4/10

Handed a start as the centre-forward after his impressive display against Arsenal, the Belgian international did very little to justify his selection. Created a chance for Rashford early in the game and that was his most notable contribution on the night.

Managed just 18 touches during his 67-minute stay on the pitch, less than his replacement Alexis Sanchez, who had 23 touches in the 23 minutes he was on the field, highlighting Lukaku’s ineffectiveness.

Marcus Rashford: 4/10

Manchester United’s in-form man heading into the game, Rashford started out on the left in the absence of Anthony Martial, but failed to make much of an impact. Spurned a great chance to score in the first half and was guilty of another miss after the break. Did draw a save from the keeper with an effort from outside the box, but just not good enough on the night.

Substitutes

Jesse Lingard: 6.5/10

Replaced the woeful Pereira a little after the hour mark and livened things up immediately in the final third. Won the penalty that started the comeback for Manchester United. Should have been in the starting XI.

Alexis Sanchez: 6.5/10

Thrown on for Lukaku in the 67th minute. Looked sharp and forced a brilliant save from Tom Heaton late on, with Lindelof tucking home the rebound for the equalizer.