“I thought they outplayed them,” he said Sky Sports' Gary Neville from midfield battle against Liverpool at Anfield. “I thought United controlled the midfield, which I haven't seen many Manchester United midfields do here.” Manuel Ugarte was key to that.
The Uruguayan has had a relatively poor start to his career at Old Trafford since joining from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee that could rise north of £50m – and not least because United are currently enduring their worst season in the Premier League era.
Erik ten Haag had to ease his fitness concerns and even took time to show his best form under Ruben Amorim, a coach who knows him well from his time at Sporting. But he was excellent at Anfield, a combative presence throughout.
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United
Data through Genius IQ shows that Ugarte made 12 sprinting presses against Liverpool, defined as pressing in which a player exceeds 25 kilometers per hour. Crystal Palace's Jefferson Lerma, with 13, was the only player to surpass that tally at the weekend.
There was an intensity to Ugarte's work that United lacked.
Casemiro and Christian Eriksen were on the attack in the opening half hour against Newcastle, but Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo rose to the challenge of dealing with Liverpool's much-vaunted midfield trio. As Amorim later said, it was a matter of mentality.
Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte made the most tackles in the Liverpool draw
This pair made four matches each, more than anyone else in the field. There were also some clever fouls by Ugarte, breaking up attacks without yellow cards. This looked more like the player the fans thought he would sign in the summer.
Manuel Ugarte's layup in Manchester United's 2-2 draw at Liverpool
His simple use of the ball was exactly what was needed, frustrating Liverpool, but there was that hooked pass to Bruno Fernandes in the build-up to what would have been a winner if Harry Maguire had saved his stoppage-time shot. down below.
It was the first of five occasions Ugarte and Mainoo started together to secure a positive result for United, so it may be too early to get too carried away. But with Ugarte only 23 and Mainoo still a teenager, their midfield partnership clearly has huge potential.
Jimenez's perfect penalty record
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Fulham and Ipswich
Raul Jimenez scored two penalties Fulham drew 2-2 with Ipswich at Craven Cottage on Sunday, taking his Premier League strike tally to 10. He is yet to miss, only the third player now in double figures to boast a perfect penalty record.
Yaya Toure is one ahead with 11, while Cole Palmer currently holds the record with 12. Jimenez's technique is masterful, walking to the ball, looking at the keeper as he then forces the ball into either side of the net, misplacing them enough to score.
All 10 penalties of Raul Jimenez in the Premier League were realized
Four of the Mexican forward's penalties went to the goalkeeper, and six to the other side. His conversions against Ipswich typified that unpredictability. The first fell low to the right of Christian Walton, the second beat him high to his left.
All that makes it even more surprising that Jimenez wasn't even Fulham's penalty taker at the start of this season. When he scored against Nottingham Forest in September, he was criticized by his manager because Andrea Pereira was selected as a player.
“Obviously Raul is guilty,” Fulham coach Marco Silva said. “It won't happen again.” Three weeks later, Pereira took a penalty against Aston Villa with the score, but his poor effort was saved and Fulham lost the match 3–1 at Craven Cottage.
Jimenez is clearly the one taking over now. As it should have been all along.
Van Hecke's progressive pass
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Brighton and Arsenal
Jan Paul van Hecke recently revealed he felt the eyes of his Brighton teammates on him when former boss Roberto De Zerbi described him as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. But his performances still highlight his rare quality.
It's his passing from behind that sets Van Hecke apart from the rest. U 1-1 draw against Arsenal on Saturday he completed four passes that went around six or more opposing players, more than any other Premier League player at the weekend.
The range of Jan Paul van Heek's pass in Brighton's draw with Arsenal
That's not unusual. It's his eighth time this season. Again, more than any outfielder. He also holds the record this season for the most in a single game – 12 such passes bypassing six or more defenders in the win over Manchester City.
In total, Van Hecke's passes have bypassed 2,360 opponents in the Premier League this season, the most of any player.
Jan Paul van Hecke is in first place for the number of defenders bypassed this season
He ranks among the top 10 players in the Premier League for passes completed, but tracking data shows those passes have had a lower expected completion rate than the other nine men on the list. Van Hecke makes more difficult passes than normal.
Against the Gunners, those passes were mostly big switches from right to left. But Van Hecke can also play those clever passes between the lines that cut through teams. The Dutch international, now 24, is developing into an elite ball-playing central defender.