Rasmus Højlund’s first goal in 21 games has broken two horrid Manchester United trends

Rasmus Højlund’s opening goal against Leicester City on Sunday evening has broken two horrid trends Manchester United have been suffering from of late.

Manchester United are currently leading against Leicester City thanks to the first-half finish from Ramsus Højlund, running through and being supplied by Bruno Fernandes.

The match began with both teams creating a few half-chances in the opening 20 minutes, but the deadlock remained unbroken until around the half-hour mark when Højlund finished off a brilliant pass from Fernandes to put United ahead.

Trailing, Leicester responded by pushing for an equaliser before half-time, with Wilfried Ndidi and Patson Daka both coming close. However, they were unable to find the net before the referee signaled the end of the first half.

While Rúben Amorim will be happy with his side’s lead, he will be hoping his side can tighten up defensively after Leicester’s encouraging display at the end of the first half.

Højlund breaks goalscoring duck

Højlund’s opening goal against Leicester was his first goal in 21 appearances, a run which he has been critiqued endlessly for.

His finish did not look like a player who had not scored in 99 days, as he slotted the ball in past his Danish compatriot Mads Hermansen.

The goal ends a very baren and dark time in the 22-year-old’s time at Old Trafford, and it was clear how much the goal meant to him with his emotional celebration with his teammates.

Højlund has improved in recent fixtures, with his goal coming just days after he assisted Diogo Dalot against Real Sociedad in midweek with a lovely dribble and pass to the Portuguese international.

United see second barren run broken

However, Højlund’s goal at the King Power Stadium is not the only record that has now been broken.

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The Danish international’s finish also represents the first time United have scored a goal from open play in the first 45 minutes of a fixture since losing 3-2 at Old Trafford against Nottingham Forest.

Funnily enough, the last player to do so was also Højlund, as he netted in the 18th minute of that fixture 99 days ago.

United have been heavily relying on set pieces from Fernandes to score goals in the first half, and Amorim will no doubt be delighted that his team have finally been able to create and score a goal from open play before the half-time whistle.

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