Watford vs Manchester United: Player Ratings

Manchester United escaped a late Watford revival as they beat the Hornets 4-2 at Vicarage Road last night.

United were cruising in the first half, as two Ashley Young goals and Anthony Martial goal made it 3-0. However, with 13 minutes to go, the away side conceded a penalty, which Troy Deeney converted. This goal gave Watford confidence too, as Doucoure then made it 3-2, something that seemed impossible just 10 minutes before-hand.

But, a solo goal from Jesse Lingard sealed the win for the visitors, as Jose Mourinho's team scored 4 goals for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Here are the player ratings:

Watford

Heurelho Gomes – 5

Gomes picked the ball out of his net four times, although none were his fault. Unfortunately, the defence in front of him could see him do this on many more occasions this season.

Adrian Mariappa – 5

Mariappa looked uncomfortable in defence against United and his failure to close down Lingard quickly and tackle the United forward allowed him to kill the game off for United.

Christian Kabasele – 5

A dreadful headed clearance, which could have easily been headed back to Gomes, allowed Lukaku to play in Martial for his goal and United’s third. He found it difficult all evening against the United front three.

Sebastian Prodl – 5

Prodl found it tough against the United attack, who were cutting through the Watford defence like a knife at times. He put in a couple of crucial tackles, but he was hauled off for Pereyra in the 58th minute, which proved to be a crucial substitute.

Kiko Femenia – 6

The right wing-back had a relatively quiet game, and saw Ashley Young, his opposite wingback score. He did make a fabulous run and nearly got an assist for Richarlison, but other than that he was not involved enough on the whole.

Abdoulaye Doucoure – 7

The central midfielder has had joy against the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea this season, but he was run ragged by Pogba in midfield. However, he did nearly help complete a Watford comeback, as his volley flashed past De Gea in the United goal.

Tom Cleverley – 6

Cleverley was extremely comfortable in possession, but mainly in defensive areas, as his team failed to make the possession count for most of the game.

Marvin Zeegelaar – 5

Zeegelaar was Watford’s best player at the weekend in a fantastic win at Newcastle, but he was unable to transfer that performance to this evening. He did not get involved in attacking areas and had a hard time dealing with Lingard.

Will Hughes – 6

As Watford started brightly, Hughes looked to be involved in every attack, but his job was made harder for him as the goals flooded in for the opposition and he eventually came off with a hamstring injury.

Andre Gray – 4

Gray had just 21 touches all game and failed to get involved much at all in attacking areas.

Richarlison – 8

Richarlison was Watford’s most influential player by far and was unlucky not to get his team back in the game as his header struck the bar on the brink of halftime. In the second half, he continued to make the biggest impact and put in another good performance, like he has done many times this season.

Substitutions

Pereyra – 8

An excellent bit of skill saw him drift past Rojo and win a penalty for Watford, which gave his team a lifeline. His introduction made a massive difference and helped Watford get back in the game.

Carrilo – 9

Carillo gave Watford an injection of pace and skill as he ran at United defenders. Moreover, his ball that played in Pereyra got Watford a penalty before he then set up Doucoure for Watford’s second. Although Watford did not get a point, he has staked his claim for a place in the starting 11.

Troy Deeney – 7

As he typically does, he proved to be a handful for the United defence instantly after his introduction. He also then got himself a goal from the penalty spot, like he did against Arsenal in October at Vicarage Road.

Ashley Young celebrates with his teammates

David De Gea – 6

The Spaniard had nothing to do all evening, until he faced Deeney for a Watford penalty, and Doucoure smashed the ball past him for Watford’s second. Realistically, he could do little about either goal and was unfortunate not to get a clean sheet.

Victor Lindelof – 6

Lindelof defended well at times, but he still looks shaky in a United shirt. He looks reluctant to play out from the back at times and looks weak when battling with forwards. Luckily for him, he was not at fault for either goal.

Chris Smalling – 7

Smalling was the best United defender on the night, and put in a commanding performance in the centre of the back three.

Marcos Rojo – 5

Rojo was booked for a silly foul on the halfway line in the first half but looked relatively solid in United’s three-man defence. However, his reckless tackle to bring down Pereyra could have cost his team, and helped Watford get back in the game.

Antonio Valencia – 6

Valencia showed solidity defensively but he didn’t make the impact he usually does higher up the pitch.

Paul Pogba – 8

With Watford’s system being quite expansive, Pogba found lots of space in midfield and was ruthless in building the play on the counter-attack.

Nemanja Matic – 7

As he has done so frequently for United this season, Matic dictated the play comfortably from deep in midfield. However, an injury meant the Serbian had to be replaced by Herrera in the 55th minute.

Ashley Young – 9

Playing against the club where he started his professional career, Young drilled an excellent low volley past Gomes. And he then added to his tally at Vicarage Road with a fantastic free-kick into the top corner.

Jesse Lingard – 9

Lingard, in his first Premier League start for United in over a month, made it count with an assist to set up Ashley Young for his low strike into the bottom corner. Then late on in the second half as Watford attempted to complete an improbable comeback, Lingard dribbled past three before putting it the wrong side of Gomes.

Anthony Martial – 9

Finding bundles of space in behind Watford’s defence, Martial guided the ball past Gomes to get his third goal in his last seven Premier League games. This was not his only contribution either, as he put in one of his best performances in a United shirt.

Romelu Lukaku – 7

After a quiet start, Lukaku made a great turn on the halfway line in the build up to Young’s opener, and his cushioned ball assisted Martial for United’s third of the evening. However, in front of goal he looked nervous, and took an age in a one on one with Gomes before his effort was blocked.

Substitutions

Ander Hererra – 6

Hererra got himself an assist for Lingard’s goal, and won some crucial fouls in midfield, mainly helping wind the game down for United.

Marcus Rashford – 6

Rashford found it hard after his introduction as United didn’t see too much of the ball on the counter. He did well to win the ball off Mariappa and set up Lukaku who looked like he would score, but he was denied an assist when Lukaku’s effort was blocked.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – N/A

Ibrahimovic was introduced with just two minutes to play, meaning it was hard for him to have any sort of impact.

Edited by Amit Mishra