Hojlund: 'I never doubted myself but of course you can be a bit down when you don't score'

Premier League 

Luton 1 (Morris 14’) 

Man Utd 2 (Hojlund 1’, 7’)

Harry Styles was in the Kenilworth Road stands as Manchester United continued their unbeaten start to the new year. The Red Devils had been travelling in only one direction as 2023 came to a close - the wrong one - but six wins and a draw have lifted a cloud of pressure off manager Erik ten Hag.

Rasmus Hojlund scored twice in the first seven minutes to continue a similar upturn in personal fortunes. The Dane had to wait until after Christmas to record his first Premier League goal but has now scored in each of his last six league outings. Indeed, at 21 he became the youngest to achieve such a feat.

"I never doubted myself but of course you can be a bit down when you don't score," he said. "I knew it was just a matter of time. I was learning about my teammates and knowing their positioning."

Luton recovered quickly to pull a goal back through Carlton Morris; in truth United only had it easy in those opening few minutes.

But they are now five points off the top four and three behind fifth-placed Tottenham, who lost at on Saturday.

"I think we are back in the race and we are building momentum," ten Hag said. "We need to build pressure. Every game is a final to get closer to them."

Luton were clapped off by their fans and remain out of the bottom three but that won't be the case if Everton avoid defeat against Crystal Palace tonight.

"You can say we're performing well but it's a results business," Morris admitted. "We need to perform better in both boxes and that's something we're working hard on."

Fortune favoured United three times in the space of a handful of minutes either side of kick-off.

First striker Elijah Adebayo, Luton's main goal threat, pulled up