Manchester United extend winning streak after Højlund scores early brace in Luton | first division

The conclusion of a suitably intense, worn-out and sometimes alarmingly open meeting is that the good news keeps coming for manchester united. This was his fourth consecutive league win and offered the latest confirmation that, in Rasmus Højlund, they have found a striker worthy of the sizeable investment paid to Atalanta last summer. When the Dane scored twice in the first seven minutes, becoming the youngest player to score in six consecutive Premier League games, United seemed to have set the stage for an easy night.

It is a huge credit to Luton, and a reflection of the lessons Erik ten Hag's team have yet to learn, that such a thing did not materialise. They counter-attacked through Carlton Morris and such was their ambition and application thereafter that no one could have complained if Ross Barkley's header had gone in, rather than grazing the crossbar, for a sensational equalizer in the final minute of stoppage time. .

Having made such a spectacular start, United must have thought that, in a place where all the top-flight giants they had a dog fight, they could be the ones who come out without a scratch. They took a two-goal lead thanks to another display of finishing ability from Højlund, whose early struggles in English football are a fading memory.

Luton's defense also contributed considerably. When Casemiro cleared early up the field, Amari'i Bell, who was facing the Luton goal when the ball bounced, appeared to have little threat. What should have been a simple return pass to Thomas Kaminski turned into a horrible, worn-out execution that chaser Højlund cleverly anticipated. In front of Kaminski, the Dane maneuvered to the left and scored the empty goal.

Only 37 seconds had passed and United were able to start having fun, a deflected shot from Marcus Rashford quickly testing Kaminski. Luton's trademark aggressiveness was noticeable only by his absence and, when Morris's cleared header from a corner sailed past an unattended Alejandro Garnacho, they were punished again. His 18-yard volley deflected off the right post until Højlund, showing admirable reactions, turned his upper body and chested the ball towards an opposing Kaminski.

The home team had been wide open, perhaps shaken by a warm-up injury to center forward Elijah Adebayo. They could have been eliminated when Rashford surged through the middle only to shoot wide when the opportunity arose to test Kaminski again. But there were signs, as Luton worked the ball upfield, that his left side could still enjoy a profitable afternoon and they soon found a way back down that route.

It was Alfie Doughty, the indefatigable full-back, who cleverly cut back for former United youngster Tahith Chong to turn and shoot. Chong's effort deflected off Harry Maguire into the six-yard box, where a hunched Morris headed past André Onana's stellar leap.

The tone had changed dramatically. United do not always cope well with such changes of emphasis and, for the rest of the first half, were rattled by opponents who had discovered their bite and snarl. There was additional grace in the midfield drives of Barkley and Alfred Lokonga; raw speed, too, in a Chiedozie Ogbene bursting at the seams when he bought a reserve or Luke Shaw.

Morris missed another headed opportunity and then moved forward before firing narrowly wide from 20 yards. Between those two starts, a careless pass from Maguire forced Diogo Dalot into evasive action against Cauley Woodrow, who had replaced Adebayo and was starting his first game. first division match since May 2014, could convert.

Doughty, bursting into the box but missing, missed a presentable chance to equalize before the break. United would feel bruised and lucky: Shaw left injured before the whistle, while Casemiro, already booked, was lucky to escape further punishment after a clumsy tackle on Barkley.

It was no surprise that neither Casemiro nor Maguire, who had also received a yellow card for bringing down Morris, appeared in the second half. Scott McTominay and Jonny Evans were called upon to steady the ship but Luton continued to force the issue, a Doughty cross flying towards goal during a period of sustained pressure. The excellent Chong then tricked his way to the byline but was unable to locate a teammate. United responded quickly and Rashford forced a sharp save from Kaminski after a solo run.

There were opportunities for United if they rediscovered some composure. Bruno Fernandes found the goal on the hour mark but, after beating Kaminski, he was denied by a heroic recovery block from Lokonga. Six minutes later, an almost identical situation involving Garnacho saw a combination of Bell and Kaminski keep the game alive. United could have gotten rid of their previous lack of leadership, but they had rejected a couple of gifts.

Luton, who had not found the cutting edge to match their spirited play since half-time, smelt an equalizer when the ball fell to Gabriel Osho six yards out, but the defender could not muster a clean shot. Almost immediately Kaminski, a formidable presence, magnificently denied Højlund a hat-trick. It would have been a key moment if Barkley's final header had landed a few inches lower.