βAs the year is grinding to another happening end with a multi-dimensional offing on the horizon that promises fear and hope at the same time, Manchester United would not be happy with how things have proceeded for them in the Premier League.
Despite finishing the Champions League group stage as table-toppers, their exploits in the English top-tier football have been pretty modest.
They also stayed witness to a shuffle in their managerial personnel with German coach Ralf Rangnick taking over the mantle from their Championship League hero, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Despite a solid start to his stint, Manchester United would consider themselves fortunate to walk away with the bragging rights against a lackluster Norwich City while a late salvo from Cavani saved them the blushes against Newcastle United.
Keeping aside all the doom and gloom of the departing year, United’s year was also marked by momentary spectacles of bedazzling brilliance as they scored a few impeccable screamers. In this story, we will take a look at the top five goals scored by Manchester United in 2021.
Alex Telles against Villareal in the Champions League fixture
Happy birthday to Alex Telles who turns 29 today ππ΄
Advertisement— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) December 15, 2021
Manchester had a woeful start against the Yellow Submarine in their first leg fixture. Paco Alcacer opened the scoring on the night, exploiting a disjointed Manchester United defence. The goal galvanized the Devils into action as they started nibbling back at Villareal and seven minutes from the opener, they found their coveted equalizer and it came in one of the most sumptuous fashions. Mason Greenwood was tipped just ahead of the penalty box and Fernandes stepped up for the free-kick. He sent in a scouring cross for a marauding Telles and the Brazilian left-back smacked home an impeccable driver into the bottom-right corner of the net.
Bruno Fernandes against Newcastle United in the Premier League
βοΈ @Cristiano
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βοΈ @JesseLingardOur last #PL outing against Newcastle was a memorable one! π#MUFC | #NEWMUN pic.twitter.com/9SCSyeuYPk
Advertisement— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 27, 2021
Despite United being desperate shadows in the second leg fixture against the Magpies, they were at their towering best against Newcastle in the opening leg fixture. It also heralded Ronaldo’s homecoming as the Portuguese had already smacked a brace to set United cruising in a path of domination. David de Gea started the proceedings with a downtown delivery that had Greenwood bombing down the right. After noticing a considerable scrimmage of Newcastle defenders in the penalty box, Greenwood took a step back, passed it to Pogba, who drifted left and right and then laid it in the stride of an onrushing Bruno Fernandes who set it up for flight with a deft first touch and then pulled the trigger as the ball flew into the back of the net past a full-stretched Woodman.
Mason Greenwood against Everton in Premier League
1-0 Manchester United. Mason Greenwood has given them the lead vs Everton. pic.twitter.com/J2Id6lrAmw
— ππ π ππππ π (@TheEuropeanLad) August 7, 2021
For the first time when United collided against Everton in 2021, it was August. Even before the Toffees could realize what had struck them, the wunderkind of Manchester United, dribbled his way past an ever-shifting maze of Everton’s feet and speared a lightning bolt to send the United fans and players alike into a delirious explosion of frenzy. It didn’t get the limelight that it deserved because of the three other netters that flew in but it was a disparate essay, considering the preceding dribbles and the flash of madness that Greenwood has turned into.
Cristiano Ronaldo against Tottenham Hotspur in Premier League
Cristiano Ronaldo makes it 1-0 vs Tottenham Hotspur. #TOTMUN #Ronaldo #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/TKg5hPlAzJ
— ArnΓ¦b (@UtdArnabx) October 30, 2021
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You are making a list of wonder strikes and the Portuguese Hitman won’t be there, that is a bungled tale from the folklore. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was floating neck-deep in high waters with a nudge away from sinking and it needed something special to provide Ole a fighting chance. Despite calling the early shots, Manchester United couldn’t breach the final Spurs rearguard with an unpleased Lady Luck and a glaring pint of profligacy. However, all of the initial worries were put to bed as Cristiano Ronaldo grazed an incredulous effort into an acute corner of the net, forcing the world to contemplate the audacity of his confidence and the outrageous precision that he conjured to beat Hugo Lloris, one of the best in goalkeeping business.
Fred against Crystal Palace
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Advertisement— Fred Rodrigues (@Fred08oficial) December 5, 2021
Though how unlikely it may seem, the Brazilian midfielder bagged the top spot in the list of the best goals with an exquisite curler from range that also heralded the onset of the German professor of gegenpressing. Manchester United thoroughly dominated the proceedings against the Eagles but the only thing that they lacked was that final touch. It took the United attack a lot of digging to find its chiselled precision as they kept on knocking at the Palace doors. The Palace rearguard surrounded Greenwood with the latter calmly laying it in the path of the unmarked Brazilian. Fred didnβt take an extra touch, set himself up for the rolling ball itself and hammered home an impeccable curling finish that left the crowd stunned at the sheer magnificence of it.
