PAUL POGBA was the Manchester United hero as the Frenchman fired in a late winner to send the Red Devils top.
- Final score: Burnley 0-1 Man Utd
Follow all the reaction with our live blog below…
GOODNIGHT FROM TURF MOOR
Manchester United are back on top of the Premier League.
It’s been eight years since the Red Devils last lauded it from the summit of English football at this stage of a season, and they couldn’t have timed their rise any better.
Ahead of Sunday’s showdown against Liverpool, three points now separate the north-west rivals as they prepare to go head-to-head.
Paul Pogba was United’s matchwinner at Turf Moor, netting a deflected second half volley to cap a classy performance in midfield.
Burnley battled hard, starting and finishing the contest with typical gusto, but United dominated for long periods and deserved victory in a game not short on incident.
The scoreline could have perhaps been different had Luke Shaw been shown red for a first half challenge that occurred during a spell of play that saw Robbie Brady booked, almost sent off and then reprieved of his caution.
But any other result would have been harsh on United, who felt aggrieved at the ruling out of a fine Harry Maguire header.
Both Pogba and his manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, were typically tight-lipped about title talk at full time, insisting the United squad were remaining grounded – yet you got the impression that thoughts had already turned to the weekend
So, on Sunday, it will be the champions against the league leaders. It will be Liverpool against Manchester United. And we cannot wait.
Until then, goodnight.
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Hot off the press, check out Neil Custis’ match report from Turf Moor after Manchester United defeated Burnley 1-0.
HAPPY AS HARRY
The captain has issued a rallying call to his teammates.
THE TABLE
Here’s how the top six of the Premier League table looks this evening.
Liverpool face Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
POGBA REACTION
Man of the Match Paul Pogba insists that Manchester United are staying grounded despite moving to the top of the Premier League table tonight.
The game today was very hard. We know it’s not easy to play here, but we got the three points and we’re very happy. There’s still a long way to go so we have to focus again, and until the end of the season.
Paul Pogba
POG’S OWN WORK
Manchester United’s Paul Pogba was immense this evening, particularly in the second period, and deserved his decisive goal.
SHOUT TO THE TOP
The Red Devils are back at the summit. Bring on Sunday!
FT: BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
United go three points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to Paul Pogba’s second half strike.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
IT’S ALL OVER AND MANCHESTER UNITED ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!
BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
90+5. Now Matic is down, and nursing his groin. He may just be eating up a few more seconds, but this is not the way Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would have wanted to play out the final minutes.
BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
90+3. Martial should seal the victory when one-on-one with Pope, but fluffs his shot straight at the Burnley keeper.
In the aftermath, Martial hobbles a way holding his hamstring and appears hurt. He’s quickly replaced by Tuanzebe, but that could be a huge blow ahead of the Liverpool game on Sunday.
BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
90. Four minutes of stoppage time are signalled by the fourth official, just as another mad scramble takes place in the United penalty area.
Tawkowski looks a certainty to score, but fluffs his connection from point blank range, and then Mee and Shaw clash heads as they both throw themselves at the loose ball. Pandemonium.
BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
88. Jay Rodriguez is thrown as Burnley pack the area for the corner.
The delivery is launched into a crowd of bodies and, somewhere amongst them, there’s an arm involved. It’s Harry Maguire, and his hand did not look in a natural position.
VAR takes a second look and rule no penalty. It’s one of those that would have definitely been given three months ago.
BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
87. Vydra! Side netting! The substitute was the late hero on Saturday with an equaliser and he nearly has another here.
Burnley burst down the right with Vydra dummying to set Westwood loose. The midfielder cuts the ball back, and there’s the Czech striker again with the strike.
It crashes off the diving Bailly and ripples the outside of the net. Corner.
BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
85. Oooof! A loose header clear from Wan-Bissaka falls nicely for the arriving Brownhill just outside the box.
Cutting across the ball, the midfielder meets the clearance first time to send a fierce shot past the flat-footed De Gea – and wide of goal. Close!
BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
82. Martial gets in behind, and senses another Turf Moor goal as he prepares to shoot at the near post.
The Frenchman is reckoning without James Tarkowski, however, and can only look on in shock as the Burnley defender throws himself in the way to brilliantly block.
BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
80. A substitution apiece.
Mason Greenwood is on for Marcus Rashford while Matej Vydra comes on for Chris Wood.
BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
78. Cavani looks riled up again, and uses his anger to good effect to dispossess Lowton.
He then finds Rashford, who has moved out to the left, but the attack breaks down after an exchange of one pass too many with Pogba.
BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
76. Now Burnley pour forward. It takes alert defending from both Pogba and Bailly to head away two dangerous crosses in quick succession.
Meanwhile, at Molineux, Everton have regained the lead through Michael Keane. They lead Wolves 2-1.
BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
74. Is Sean Dyche contemplating changes? He does have Matej Vydra and Jay Rodriguez on the bench.
BURNLEY 0-1 MAN UTD
71. Manchester United have the lead!
Paul Pogba has been the best player on the pitch this evening, and it’s no surprise that the Frenchman is the player to break the deadlock.
Marcus Rashford finds space on the right, and that allows him time to wait, weigh up his options, and then pick out Pogba on the edge of the box with a lofted cross.
The French midfielder’s connection is true, but the strike still needs a slight nick off Matthew Lowton to beat Nick Pope.
United are heading to the top of the Premier League table tonight!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!
PAUL POGBA VOLLEYS UNITED IN FRONT!!BURNLEY 0-0 MAN UTD
69. Despite their strong start this evening, it’s been a long time since the Burnley forwards were in this game.
The home side have yet to register a shot on target this evening. It’s no surprise, they have had the fewest efforts on target in home Premier League games this season (20).
BURNLEY 0-0 MAN UTD
67. Cavani! Wide!
The corner causes confusion in the box as Lowton fails to properly clear, and that offers the striker the chance to take charge.
He shows great composure to skip back inside the Burnley defender, and then attempts a cheeky curler towards the far corner – to no avail.
BURNLEY 0-0 MAN UTD
66. Better from Rashford as he drives down the right.
He toys with Pieters, not once, but twice, and then drives a cross into the box that Brownhill does well to head behind.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
