Manchester United closed out a turbulent week with a 1-1 draw at Leeds, a result that does little to ease the pressure mounting on manager Michael Carrick.
The visitors traveled to Yorkshire determined to rediscover a winning feeling after a poor start that has produced just two wins in nine matches across all competitions this season. The tense mood at Old Trafford grew more serious in midweek when center-back Lisandro Martinez publicly criticized the club's leadership following a 0-2 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Martinez argued that Carrick, in his first full season in charge, has had to work with a squad lacking depth after an unconvincing summer transfer window. The English manager said on Friday that the club had "moved on" from the incident, and Martinez was named in the starting lineup at Elland Road.
Both sides started with real intensity in a tight contest, though clear chances were scarce. The first shot on target came in the 26th minute, when United goalkeeper Senne Lammens pushed away Nico Elvedi's header after the ball bounced up.
A minute later, Bryan Mbeumo — deployed as the most advanced forward — headed wide from a good Youri Tielemans cross, then sent a tame effort straight into the hands of goalkeeper James Trafford.
In the 35th minute, Mbeumo finally broke the deadlock, meeting a low ball from the right by Tielemans and guiding it into the bottom corner for his fourth Premier League goal of the season.
At the break, Martinez was withdrawn and Noussair Mazraoui came on. Leeds started the second half strongly and equalized in the 51st minute: from a corner, Tarik Muharemovic headed the ball into the path of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who controlled it on his chest and finished from a stretched position into the net.
The home side then took control and for much of the match forced United to play on the counter. Carrick brought on Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha in search of a winner, but neither team could find a difference-maker.
The result leaves United — a 20-time English champion — 13th in the table with just one win in their last seven matches, while Leeds sit seventh.
Brighton stun Crystal Palace 5-0
Also on Sunday, Brighton moved temporarily above Arsenal into second place with a 5-0 win over Crystal Palace, a match that featured a notable goal from Diego Gomez from midfield.
Fabian Hurzeler's side led by three goals inside the first 10 minutes, thanks to an own goal by Palace defender Jaydee Canvot, a long-range strike from Gomez and a goal from Yasin Ayari. In the second half, Charalampos Kostoulas and substitute Jack Hinshelwood added further goals, deepening Palace's misery.
Arsenal, six points behind Manchester City, were due to play later at Nottingham Forest. Enzo Maresca's team need a win to keep pace with City, who have won all seven of their Premier League matches this season despite off-field turmoil after the club was accused of breaching multiple financial regulations.
In another match, Bournemouth beat Sunderland 2-0 with goals from Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson, claiming their first Premier League win of the season even though their opponents finished with 10 men.
