Alan Shearer believes Manchester United were deserving winners in the derby against Manchester City and highlighted Dean Henderson for special praise.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side ended City’s 21-game winning streak with their third consecutive victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw struck to shock the Premier League champions-elect, who had been looking irrepressible before United’s impressive display.
There were several notable performers for United in a memorable away victory, none more so than Henderson who was making his debut in the Manchester derby.
Henderson, stepping in for the absent David De Gea, commanded his area and made smart saves in a near flawless display and he also played a key part in Shaw’ goal just after the break.
The England goalkeeper was alert and distributed brilliantly to Shaw with a long throw before the left-back broke forward and finished past Ederson.
Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer, was impressed with Henderson for his role in the goal and his overall performance.
“On the counter, as soon as they got the early goal, this was going to happen,” Shearer told Match of the Day 2, as quoted by the MEN.
“The good thing for Manchester United was how many people they could get forward because of the pace and desire to get there.
“They were the better team and they deserved to win.
“On several occasions, there were three getting forward and then when the move finished there were five or six around the 18-yard box. Henderson played his part in the [second] goal, he was bright and alert.
“The midfield kept driving forward. It helped them today with the start, getting the early goal, City would never change the way they played and it suited the way Manchester United play. It was very impressive.
“I thought Henderson was solid, he looked confident and he played a role in the goal for Luke Shaw, he was bright and the way he threw the ball in front of him, he had a good confidence.”
With De Gea still unavailable after the birth of his first child, Henderson is set to remain in goal for United’s Europa League first-leg clash against AC Milan on Thursday.
This extended run in the first-team is the perfect chance for the 23-year-old to establish himself as number one under Solskjaer.
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