Man Utd horror stats are misleading… they're like Liverpool, says rival who reveals gameplan to target Maguire failed | The Sun

LUTON winger Andros Townsend has praised Manchester United following his side's 1-0 defeat to them before the international break.

Townsend said Manchester United's statistics do not tell the whole story this season and that they were a very difficult opponent to come up against.

After a tough start to the season, Manchester United have rallied to four wins in five in the Premier League.

They sit sixth in the table on 21 points, five points off Tottenham in fourth.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Townsend said: "They are difficult. We were able to defend against them well but similar to Liverpool they just find a way.

"Bruno Fernandes drifts out to the outside left position, links up with Reguilon, they get a few crosses that way. Dalot comes into the midfield creating an overload and we did limit them to very few chances and defended well.

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"Unfortunately, we switched off at one set piece and that was our whole game plan done. At the top level you need to stay switched on for 95 to 96 minutes because these top teams can punish you."

Luton were ultimately outdone via a Victor Lindelof goal after a corner kick from Fernandes but Townsend insisted it was a tough day at the office all round for Luton.

Townsend continued: "Honestly, it was extremely tough game. There was rotation all over the pitch. We were well drilled and confident as we had just got a point against Liverpool the week before, we had a game plan to press high up the pitch and force turnovers, United didn’t really give us anything."

Despite coach Rob Edwards outlining a plan to the Luton players before the game to give Harry Maguire no time on the ball, Townsend said Maguire evaded the press well.

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He said: "Maguire was good on the ball, we tried to press him but he was very good, Bruno Fernandes didn’t give us anything. You look on the stats sheet and it might be like United didn’t do this or that but it was so difficult for us to be able to contain this United side. They posed so many problems, even if it doesn’t show up on a piece of paper.”

Maguire started his fifth successive Premier League game in a row against Luton and continues to keep Raphael Varane out of the side.

The defender is settling well back into the side having been stripped of the captaincy and looking set to leave this summer.

United travel to Everton on Sunday and will be the first side to face the Toffees since their 10 point deduction dropped them into the relegation zone.

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