Rasmus Hojlund’s super-early brace helped Manchester United to a season-best four-game Premier League winning streak following a 2-1 defeat of Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.
[ MORE: Ten Hag says Man Utd ‘back in race’ for UCL spot ]
Hojlund pounced on a first-minute Luton giveaway and then chested home an Alejandro Garnacho shot after seven minutes, and Luton’s only answer came through Carlton Morris seven minutes after that.
The Red Devils have now beaten Wolves, West Ham, Aston Villa, and Luton by a combined 11-5 score line to restore their top-four hopes with nothing but the league and FA Cup in front of them the rest of the way.
WATCH LUTON TOWN vs MANCHESTER UNITED FULL MATCH REPLAY
Man United sit sixth with 44 points, three behind Spurs and five back of Aston Villa.
Luton Town is fighting for their Premier League lives and again played well enough for a point but leave the match a point above Everton and with a midweek PL match ahead of them.
Hot Hojlund in a groove
No one’s calling him Rasmus Haaland or anything, but the big Danish striker has been playing with the ferocity and style we associate with the Premier League’s reigning Golden Boot winner across town.
The freshly-minted 21-year-old has now scored in six-straight Premier League matches to give him seven goals since Boxing Day, when he ended his long search for a PL goal.
His 13 goals and two assists across all competitions in just under 2,200 minutes is very decent for a young player making a move to a new league, and it might be worth drawing a connection to his slow first few months in Atalanta last season before hitting the form that drew the attention of his new employers.
Right now, he can be the difference in a push to make a surprising return to the top four.
What’s next?
Luton go to Liverpool on Wednesday for a 2:30pm ET kickoff, then host Man City in the FA Cup on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Manchester United host Fulham at 10am Saturday, then go to Nottingham Forest for an FA Cup match on Feb. 28. The Manchester derby away follows those matches.
How to watch Luton Town vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 11:30am ET Sunday
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBC.com
Luton Town vs Manchester United live updates as they happened— By Nick Mendola
Luton Town vs Manchester United final score: 1-2
Goals: Hojlund (1', 7'), Morris (14')
Luton Town vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob)
Luton vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Luton vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Luton keep pushing
You’d argue that United should’ve had it 3-1 or 4-1 a while ago.
Because they didn’t do that, Luton’s continually threatened to equalize, though it seems the Red Devils will just about hold onto their three points and win streak.
What might this have been had Elijah Adebayo not been hurt in warm-ups?
Solid United
Luton haven’t quit but United’s a lot more solid after introducing Scott McTominay for the on-yellow Casemiro and Jonny Evans for Harry Maguire.
Possession’s been 50-50 in the second half through 25 minutes or so, and the Red Devils have seven of the half’s 12 shot attempts.
Luke Shaw injury — (45+1')
A doubt to start, Luke Shaw can’t quite make it to halftime.
Victor Lindelof replaces the left back.
Luton pull one back — Luton 1-2 Man Utd (14th minute)
Tahith Chong’s hopeful shot inside the box is blocked up into the air, and Carlton Morris tracks it.
Morris snaps the ball out of the air and puts it past Andre Onana for 2-1.
Just your average intentional chest goal — Luton 0-2 Man Utd (7th minute)
Alejandro Garnacho whips a hard shot toward goal but it’s going to miss at the near post.
Hojlund is there, however, and he chests the ball on goal and pas Thomas Kaminski.
2-0. Very clever.
Rasmus Hojlund accepts a gift — Luton 0-1 Man Utd (1st minute)
Welcome to Kenilworth Road, says Amari’i Bell. Would you like a breakaway?
Bell plays Casemiro’s hopeful first-minute clearance onto the path of on-rushing and in-form Rasmus Hojlund, and the rest is history.
1-0 in the 1st minute.
Elijah Adebayo injured in warm-ups
Elijah Adebayo has pulled up in warm-ups and cannot start this match.
Cauley Woodrow will replace the influential playmaker, a man with five goals in the last month including a hat trick. Oof.
Luton lineup
Your Super Sunday Hatters 🫡 pic.twitter.com/d6KvN4vdQK
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) February 18, 2024
Manchester United lineup
📣 TEAM NEWS! 📣
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 18, 2024
The Reds are unchanged from last weekend's win at Villa, with @LukeShaw23 passed fit to start 👊#MUFC || #LUTMUN
Luton Town focus, team news
Carlton Morris has scored in two-straight Premier League matches, while Elijah Adebayo is also a handful up top and will cause United plenty of problems.
OUT: Tom Lockyer (heart), Marvelous Nakamba (knee), Mads Andersen (calf) | QUESTIONABLE: Daiki Hashioka (undisclosed)
Manchester United focus, team news
The list of players who have created 60 or more chances in Premier League play this season is four: United’s Bruno Fernandes as well as Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Kieran Trippier. The list of players with 70? Just Fernandes. His assist totals will rise of Rasmus Hojlund stays hot.
OUT: Mason Mount (calf), Anthony Martial (groin), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (undisclosed), Tyrell Malacia (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Luke Shaw (undisclosed)
