Luke Shaw explains Man Utd's struggles in front of goal

  • Man Utd failed to score for a fourth consecutive game in West Ham defeat
  • The Red Devils suffered their eighth Premier League loss of the season on Saturday
  • Shaw has lamented his side's struggles in front of goal

Man Utd lost again
Man Utd lost again / BEN STANSALL/GettyImages
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Luke Shaw has lamented Manchester United's lack of cutting edge in the final third after the club's eighth Premier League defeat of the season.

The Red Devils were beaten 2-0 by West Ham United on Saturday afternoon, and despite having 66% of possession they rarely threatened Alphonse Areola's goal - mustering up just three shots on target during the game at London Stadium.

The defeat was the fourth consecutive game in which Man Utd have failed to score a goal, with Erik ten Hag's side only managing to net twice in their last six games in all competitions. Central to that frugality in the final third has been the noted struggles of Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford and Antony. The trio have bagged just two goals between them in the Premier League season - both scored by Rashford.

Speaking about his team's issues, defender Shaw admitted he struggles to comprehend how Man Utd are so poor in the final third so far this season.

"It's tough to think what's going on. I think maybe we're just not creating enough and when we do, on the other hand, we're not clinical," Shaw told TNT Sports.


Rasmus Hojlund
Can't buy a goal / Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages

"Maybe it could be a lack of confidence at the moment. Sometimes that's normal in football, it happens. Like I said, we have to try and keep staying positive. We've got another big game coming up against Aston Villa so we can't feel sorry for ourselves. We have to pick ourselves up and go again. It's a home game and we can't keep dropping points, we have to win games.

“We keep losing games, losing points and we’re making it very hard for ourselves – especially that second half, it’s not good enough.

“In the first half, we controlled the game, I think we had chances again. If we score the first goal, maybe the result is different, but we don’t, so we suffered in that second half and, again, it’s not good enough.”

Shaw and Man Utd will be back in action on Boxing Day when they face a tricky clash with high-flying Aston Villa at Old Trafford.


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