Romelu Lukaku has more history to make and other Man United talking points

LUKAKU’S LATEST LANDMARK

Lukaku’s opener for United saw him join an exclusive club.

Only 28 players since the Premier League’s formation for 1992/93 have scored 100 or more goals. He is only the fifth-youngest footballer to do this, at 24 years and 322 days.

This brilliance is further exemplified by the fact 2017/18 is the only campaign as a guaranteed starter at an English giant. Lukaku would surely have gotten there sooner if he’d not been in the stands at Chelsea, on loan at the mid-table West Bromwich Albion or on the outskirts of the European spots at Everton.

The same cannot be said of the quartet who beat him to the ton – Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler (both Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (the vast majority of his century came at United) and Harry Kane (Tottenham).

Lukaku’s challenge is to ensure his form since the turn of 2018 – and at the start of 2017/18 – is extended throughout 2018/19. A current tally of 26 strikes in 45 appearances after the summer’s £75 million (Dh386.1m) move would be far greater if not for his relative dry spell from early October-mid November.

In this calendar year for club and country, he’s struck a phenomenal 13 times in 16 run-outs. That’s title-winning form.

FINDING THE BALANCE

Concocting a winning formula at United in the top flight has proven strangely elusive for manager Mourinho.

The January addition of celebrated forward Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal was meant to provide the missing ingredient, but the phrase “too many cooks spoil the broth” has sprung to mind since.

But this one-sided contest against Swansea proved an insight into a glorious way forward.

Rather than look to play through the Chile international, he was utilised far more as a penalty-box threat when cutting inside from the left in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Playmaking was left to England’s emerging threat, Lingard.

For all 29-year-old’s Sanchez’s brilliance, a conductor cannot lose the ball 42 times as he did in the shameful round-of-16 deciding loss to Sevilla in the Champions League.

The reward for Mourinho was a goal and an assist. This was the 11^th time he’d done this in the Premier League – and first for United.

Adroit interplay for the first between Sanchez and Lingard was also illustrative.

Further back, fellow recalled superstar Paul Pogba put in a mature display after two games on the bench.

As one of the holding pair in midfield, he delivered a joint-team high of three key passes from a respectable 91.4-per-cent pass accuracy.

On such form, the wait since January 15 to move into double digits for Premier League assists will soon end. Flashes of brilliance to match his lightning free-kick for France in Russia should also follow.

Bringing the best out of such elite talents is key for the giant step from second to first next term.

LINDELOF DESERVES A LUCK IN

The reintroduction of Sweden centre-back Victor Lindelof slipped under the radar when the team sheets were presented an hour before kick-off.

All eyes had been on the roles handed to Sanchez and Pogba. Just like that pair, Mourinho’s faith was rewarded with a positive display.

The technical ability of the £30.8m (Dh158.7m) summer signing from Benfica has never been in question. That he led the way with 97.4 per-cent pass accuracy is no surprise.

Rather, it is the 23-year-old’s ability to handle the more prosaic arts of defending that have been questioned.

On Saturday, the Old Trafford-faithful saw a different Lindelof. In the early stages, he cut through Swans midfielder Sam Clucas to win a loose ball and charged repeatedly past Ghana forward Andre Ayew.

His tally of three interceptions, three clearances and one tackle was equal to partner Chris Smalling, who possesses experience of 165 more Premier League games.

Lindelof’s integration has been slower than expected. Yet, evidence grows he could still come good.