Burnley 0-2 Manchester United: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis | Premier League: 2019-20

#2 Rashford impressive again as United's invaluable attacking force

Rashford's importance as a focal point in United's attack cannot be understated

Rashford's importance at the heart of this transitional United side cannot be underestimated. Even when not at his best, the 22-year-old channels determination and guile to persist during times of adversity. It's why he's been trusted as their main man and equally, made an easy scapegoat when they do underperform and lose. Operating on the left-hand side of their 4-2-3-1 formation as he did against Newcastle, he enjoyed a more productive showing here and netted his 16th goal of the campaign across all competitions late on too.

It was far from a vintage finish, though instead emphasised just how hard he works to combine well with teammates in this side. Daniel James did well to effortlessly breach the Burnley backline on their counter-attack, but there was still work to be done. Rashford's movement was key here: sprinting from his own box to the Burnley area in nine seconds flat, leaving three retreating players in his wake before having the composure to flick the ball around an onrushing Pope and slide home from close-range.

For context, he doubled their lead in stoppage-time. This blistering counter-attacking move was finished in the fifth minute of added time. Having hit the post minutes after forcing Pope into an important stop early in the first-half, he importantly didn't relent. Eventually, he earned his reward the hard way. Having completed six dribbles and being a nuisance throughout, he might've had a hat-trick - just like Martial - had fortune been in his favour.