A Jesse Lingard double rescued Manchester United from the clutches of defeat, as they came from behind to draw 2-2 with Burnley at Old Trafford. Ashley Barnes gave the Clarets a dream start when he put them 1-0 up inside the first three minutes, after a scramble in the United box.
FULL-TIME Man Utd 2-2 Burnley
Jesse Lingard saves the day against a spirited Burnley, as he nets twice after coming on at half-time#MUNBUR pic.twitter.com/srMWJBfeXz
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 26, 2017
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Steven Defour doubled the advantage for the visitors through a deliciously taken free kick, handing the Red Devils a mountain to climb at the break.
However, second half substitute, Jesse Lingard pulled one back for the home side after the break with a cheeky back heel effort, following an excellent low cross from Ashley Young.
With time running out, it was Lingard again who saved his side from an embarrassing defeat when he grabbed the equaliser in stoppage time to deny a determined Sean Dyche side a special win and all three points.
2 – Jesse Lingard is the first Man Utd substitute to score a Premier League brace since Chris Smalling did so in February 2015 (also v Burnley). Impact.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2017
Mourinho’s United drop another points in a matter days, after doing same against Leicester City on Saturday.
However, United’s Portuguese manager was full of praise for his players, who gave it all their best against a side that was only interested in defending.
“The boys fought against the 2-0 at half-time,” Mourinho said. “So, nothing at all negative to say about my players. I praise their spirit, their reaction, the way they accept all the risks we took in the second half.”
United are now 12points off city rivals, Man City, who could be 15points above the Red Devils should they beat Newcastle United on Thursday.
At Stamford Bridge, Victor Moses’ Chelsea moved within a point of Man United after a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. After a rather dull goalless first half, Caesar Azpilicueta and Alvaro Morata effectively combined again to put the Blues ahead.
A delightful cross from Azpilicueta found Morata, who made no mistakes to head Chelsea ahead from close range. Antonio Conte’s side would double their advantage nine minutes later, this time through a Marcos Alonso header, after the defender reacted quickest to a Cesc Fabregas corner.
A deserved victory for the champions, who are now within a point of second placed side, Manchester United.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth played out an entertaining 3-3 draw West Ham United, while Everton and West Brom Albion played out a goalless draw.
Full Results
Liverpool 5-0 Swansea
Spurs 5-2 Southampton
Man United 2-2 Burnley
B’mouth 3-3 West Ham
Chelsea 2-0 Brighton
Huddersfield 1-1 Stoke City
Watford 2-1 Leicester
WBA 0-0 Everton
