Even though Manchester United have rarely been as depleted, a couple of injuries may have proved a boon to them. When Tyrell Malacia had a sore leg, Diogo Dalot was press-ganged into service as a left-back. When Marcel Sabitzer, the star turn against Sevilla on Thursday, was hurt in the warm-up, Christian Eriksen was a late addition to the line-up. And as United recorded a first away league win in two months to go third, 2-0 the final score, their second goal came from Dalot and their excellence stemmed from Eriksen.
His influence can be indirect – Antony got the first goal and Bruno Fernandes was the game’s outstanding player – but that can be the case with playmakers.
