The winners and losers as Jose Mourinho’s unbeaten record is upheld by Luke Shaw

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The Premier League is back with a 2-1 win for Manchester United over Leicester City at Old Trafford. 

After an incredible World Cup in Russia this summer, which saw France win a second Jules Rimmet crown, as well as England reaching the semi-final, domestic football is back.

Although the game never truly sparked into life, it did provide plenty of talking points for both sides, as well as extending Jose Mourinho’s record to 18 opening day games without defeat as a manager, winning 11 and drawing seven.

Here are three winners and three losers from Friday night’s Premier League opener.

Winner

Paul Pogba

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Fresh off the back of a sensational World Cup-winning campaign this summer with France, Paul Pogba was thrown straight into the starting line-up for United, being given the captains armband as well.

Although he didn’t quite look at his sharpest, Pogba took his penalty very well early on to put United 1-0 up and played a number of dangerous passes into United’s forwards as the Red Devils looked to counter-attack in the second half.

Not the complete display from Pogba, but plenty for the 25-year-old to build on.

Loser

Daniel Amartey and Leicester’s right

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Gave the penalty away to put Leicester 1-0 down early on with a ridiculous handball, booked in the second half before finally being substituted on 63 minutes, this was definitely a night to forget for Daniel Amartey.

United never got into full flow in attack but when they did threaten, it was down Leicester’s right.

And when Amartey was substituted, it didn’t get much better – Luke Shaw completely lost Rachid Ghezzal for his goal in the 83rd minute, while Ricardo Pereira was ineffective right-wing and only started to look like a Premier League player when switched to right-back.

Definitely, something for Claude Puel to consider with Marc Albrighton sat on the bench for the game at Old Trafford.

Winner

Leicester’s left

(Photo credit OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

If Leicester’s right-side was ineffective in attack and their undoing in defence, their left side was the polar opposite.

Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray did themselves absolutely no harm on Friday night, linking up very well throughout the game and causing United a number of problems.

Harry Maguire, from defence, and James Maddison, from midfield, regularly pushed themselves out to that side in an effort to isolate Juan Mata and Matteo Darmian and, if Leicester were going to get a result, then it would have come from that side.

With Puel having a lot to ponder on the right-hand side, he will be happy that the left seems to be in order.

Loser

Alexis Sanchez

Having had a full pre-season behind him, undisturbed by the World Cup, Alexis Sanchez should have come into this game like a house on fire.

However, the Chilean winger looked like a shadow of what we know he can be.

He didn’t give United enough of a threat against a very weak looking Leicester right-hand side and when he did get the ball, he was often wasteful and sloppy.

A couple of decent balls in the second half didn’t disguise a lacklustre, lethargic performance for Sanchez on Friday that drew a lot of frustration from manager, Jose Mourinho.

Winner

Luke Shaw

At the 134th attempt, Luke Shaw finally scored his first senior goal in professional football.

Given the pressure on him at times over the last few seasons, with questions of his physical condition and mentality, Shaw will be delighted to have scored.

In a United side that struggled at times on Friday, Shaw got forward well and looked assured at the back.

With United not making any major defensive signings, this could be a big marker put down by the ex-Southampton left-back.

Loser 

Wes Morgan

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

With 271 appearances and a Premier League winners medal under his belt with Leicester, nobody can question Wes Morgan’s commitment to the Foxes’ cause.

However, on Friday’s performance, it looks like age may finally be catching up with the 34-year-old.

He was caught out behind a couple of times with his lack of pace, caught square with Daniel Amartey on the right, and was often sloppy in possession.

Harry Maguire is undoubtedly Leicester’s first-choice centre-back, and rightly so, but, with Jonny Evans now waiting in the wings, Morgan could find his starting place under threat this season.

 

 

 

 

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