Manchester United missed an opportunity to move clear in the race for the Champions League places.
Manchester United’s 2-1 loss to Leeds was not a critical defeat but it could be a damaging one.
United’s season will be defined by what comes next, not this result.
And so while there is little benefit to dwelling on the result, there is once again a feeling of frustration with the referees.
Just like in the 2-2 draw to Bournemouth, there is a feeling of injustice.
Manchester United v Leeds United - Premier League
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Do you agree with Michael Carrick – Should Leeds’ first goal have been ruled out?
Carrick was fuming after the game
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Leeds two goals could have been ruled out
Leeds scored twice in the first half to set themselves up to win the game. It was enough to clinch a 2-1 win.
But both goals had a touch of fortune about them. MUTV analyst Ben Thornley noted that both goals could have been ruled out by the officials.
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He told the channel: “The way Leeds played the game in the first half, I felt a closer look was needed at both the goals, that may have resulted in different decisions.
“We had a foul on Leny Yoro on the first goal, Calvert-Lewin with his forearm, and then the foul on the halfway line on Bruno fernandes.
“They both led to goals, they could have been ruled out.”
Manager Michael Carrick hit out at the decision to permit Leeds’ opener.
Meanwhile the crowd at Old Trafford were calling for Leeds to kick the ball out with Fernandes down injured for their second, but it fell on deaf ears.
VAR did not even send Paul Tierney to check the foul in either case.
But they had no problem sending him to check an inconsequential hair pull in the second half that resulted in Lisandro Martinez’s red card.
Did Man Utd deserve more against Leeds – or was a defeat the right result?
Are you taking any positives away from the loss?
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Rio Ferdinand also called out decisions
Former Manchester United and Leeds defender Rio Ferdinand pointed out the inconsistency with the refereeing standards.
He re-posted images of Martinez’s foul, and the one on Yoro, with the Manchester United defender haing been struck in the face.
Only one involved a goalscoring incident, and it was not reviewed.
You can see why Michael Carrick was so angry after the game.
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