WATFORD, UK: Ashley Young scored two superb goals against his former club as Manchester United beat Watford 4-2 early this morning to trim Manchester City’s lead at the Premier League summit to five points.
Tottenham slipped up again by losing 2-1 at Leicester thanks to beautifully taken goals by Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez.
It was a third loss in their last five league games for Tottenham, who have slumped 13 points behind first-place Manchester City, having played a game more.
The Vardy-Mahrez double act propelled Leicester to their improbable league title triumph in the 2015-16 season and their goals were a reminder of their class.
England international Young netted twice in six first-half minutes at a freezing Vicarage Road, with Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard also on target.
After two successive away defeats, it was a timely win for Jose Mourinho’s United, who visit Arsenal on Saturday, and give City food for thought ahead of their meeting with Southampton today.
Young had seen his deflected match-winner against Brighton and Hove Albion chalked up as an own goal by Lewis Dunk, but there was no denying him his brace against the club where he made his name.
It was by no means a straightforward win, however, with substitute Troy Deeney and Abdoulaye Doucoure bringing Watford within sight of a famous comeback before Lingard’s fine solo goal settled matters.
Victory also came at the cost of an injury to United holding midfielder Nemanja Matic, who gingerly made his exit early in the second period.
Seeking to register a third successive league win for only the second time in the Premier League era, Watford began by spraying the ball around assertively, but in the blink of an eye they were 3-0 down.