Luton Town 1-2 Man United – Premier League LIVE: Latest score, team news and updates as Rasmus Hojlund scores twice early on

PEEP! That was absolutely breathless.

The hosts really should be on level terms!

Again, United were split wide open at will, freeing up space for Doughty to race in to before cutting inside and shooting.

His low effort fizzed across the grass but went wide of the target.

Shaw has made way for Lindelof.

Was he fit enough to start? He was a doubt heading into this.

That’s a big blow for United, though the full back has been sluggish.

We’re into four added minutes now.

Rashford went down rather dramatically after being caught by Lokonga’s arm, but he was able to get back to his feet.

The home crowd, as you can expect, were spitting with rage.

Is there time for an equaliser? United have simply imploded.

BOOKING! That was desperate from Maguire.

He was left exposed down the left after another turnover and took down Morris, who danced past him with a clever shoulder drop.

Barkley and Doughty stood over the resulting free-kick and the latter stepped up, only to blast his effort into the wall.

Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports…

He’s not going for his card despite Luton players urging him to do so… he’s lucky!

Casemiro is very lucky to avoid a red card!

I’m shocked he hasn’t walked.

Already on a yellow, he slid in late on Barkley and made contact. That was reckless and certainly from behind.

He’s ridiculously fortunate.

So, so close! United have been so poor the last 10 minutes or so.

They lost the ball under the press yet again and Morris, glancing up from 25 yards out, flashed one just wide of the far post.

Onana looked worried there at full stretch.

BOOKING! Suddenly, Luton are on top and United look sluggish.

Bell moved beyond Casemiro with ease and was taken down.

The holding midfielder delivered another memorable reaction but he had absolutely no case there. It’s a yellow all day long.

Another chance for Luton! They’re knocking on the door.

From the resulting corner, Doughty whipped the ball in and Osho found himself free of any markers and stood around 12 yards out.

His header was poor, though, and United survived.

HUGE CHANCE! Maguire is a lucky, lucky boy.

The attempted pass out from the defender was shocking and Barkley stole in before releasing Woodrow into the area.

Just when he looked to shoot, Varane got across to deflect behind.

United wanted a penalty – but that was never going to be given.

Hojlund looked like he tried to pre-empt a challenge from Bell that, in the end, never came. He went down but there was no contact.

CHANCE! Almost for Luton! They’re giving this a real go.

Doughty received out wide and whipped a devilish ball into the box.

Morris got up at the back post but could only glance off target.

This has been a good spell for the underdogs.

This is a crazy game of football.

Dalot couldn’t quite wriggle free after a simple flick-on down one end, with Luton committing to going man-for-man all over the pitch.

It’s risky but it’s nullifying certain threats for the visitors.

Luton are also threatening when they push on, particularly out wide.

BOOKING! Shaw has also been cautioned.

Ogbene looked to take on the full back and beat him all ends up.

That’s a yellow every day of the week. Especially on Sunday.

Rashford is very fortunate not to have been booked there.

He felt Mengi had left an arm in his face as the duo challenged and then chased down Ogbene before taking him down.

On Sky Sports, Gary Neville said the forward ‘snapped’.

BOOKING! Woodrow has picked up the game’s first yellow card.

It was an avoidable one, too.

The striker didn’t moved back the required 10 yards as Maguire looked to play United forward from deep.

Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports…

We’ve got a game! Onana came out and tried to smother, but Morris was brave.

Well, then! That was brave from Morris – and Luton have hope!

The hosts got to the edge of United’s box and Chong span and tried his luck. The effort deflected up in the air and Onana tried to race out.

Morris read the danger brilliantly, though, and dived in to nod beyond United’s goalkeeper. Out of nowhere, they’ve got a goal back.

Shot from Garnacho straight at Kaminski.

Mainoo did brilliantly in skipping past a challenge and teeing up the winger, who danced inside and cracked an effort at goal.

It had plenty of power but the goalkeeper held on well down low.

Good chance for Rashford! Luton are all over the place.

Maguire stepped in to a good challenge on Woodrow and brought the ball forward before releasing Rashford to run at goal.

He got to the edge of the box and let fly, with his shot swerving wide.

United have a quickfire second! Two goals in the first 10 minutes!

Everything Hojlund touches turns to goals at the moment.

A corner for United after a deflected Fernandes shot fell to Garnacho, who attempted a volley that looked to be heading off target.

Hojlund, however, stuck out his chest and managed to divert a very clever finish back across goal and into the corner. I think he meant it!

United look very, very sharp on the attack.

They should also be two-nil up with two chances in the space of a minute squandered, first from Casemiro then Rashford.

Shaw whipped in a delivery to the near post and Casemiro threatened, with his effort from close range just about scrambled away.

Then, Garnacho found Rashford on the edge of the box. His strike looked goalbound after a deflection, but Kaminski saved well.

Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports…

Bell should deal with it but doesn’t. Hojlund is really banging them in now. He looks like the real deal.

What a blistering start for United.

That was a record-breaking goal. Hojlund is now the youngest-ever player to score in six consecutive Premier League games.

Make no mistake. He’s firing on all cylinders now.

WOW! What a mess at the back from the hosts. My word.

A long ball from United exposed Luton’s man-for-man approach at the back, leaving Hojlund in a foot race with Bell.

Bell should have cleared but made a horrible mess of pass across the pitch, allowing Hojlund to nip in and run at goal.

Kaminski narrowed the angle but the striker, full of confidence now, simply rounded him and slotted into the empty net.

The ball is rolling at Kenilworth Road!

We’re just moments away from kick-off now.

Let’s get some last-minute score predictions in the comments.

Man United boss Erik ten Hag, speaking to Sky Sports…

In the last few weeks, they have made steps forward. We have to play our football or else we will be in trouble.

It’s been a lovely reception for Tom Lockyer this afternoon.

He’s on punditry duties for Sky Sports and has been treated to several rounds of applause from all four corners as well as countless chants.

So far, he’s doing a cracking job.

It’s almost go-time at the Kenny!

I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into this one. There are sure to be several intriguing battles in every area of the pitch.

Keep a close eye on midfield. Bruno Fernandes will be key for United, but Ross Barkley should not be underestimated for the hosts.

At the back, it would appear that Luton will go man-for-man up against United’s attacking trio. That’s brave – but will it pay off?

That’s such a shame for Luton.

Adebayo picked up an injury during the warm-up and has been deemed not fit enough to play today.

Woodrow will start instead – his first Premier League appearance from the off since an outing for Fulham back in 2014.

Adebayo has scored some big, big goals this season.

It was a slow start to Premier League life for Rasmus Hojlund after completing his £72million transfer from Atalanta to Old Trafford in the summer.

He had to wait 15 games for his first goal in the English top-flight as the Dane scored in United’s comeback win over Aston Villa, and since then has scored in each of his next four appearances.

Hojlund whipped out an electric guitar celebration after scoring against West Ham recently and being in such rich form it would be no surprise to see him rock again today.

Ross Barkley and a place in England’s Euros team. A year ago that was a laughable idea, now after starring with Luton this season it could become a possibility.

The former Everton and Chelsea playmaker has been out in the cold for years but is one of Luton’s most influential stars this season, chipping in with three goals and three assists in 18 Premier League games.

Barkley’s last England appearance came in the 2019 European qualifiers and Gary Neville believes there is a chance the Luton star could force his way into the Three Lions camp again.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville said: ‘A little bit [of a chance], it will take a lot I think because of the players Gareth Southgate has got in those types of positions.

‘He has got a lot of flair players that he trusts and I think with Gareth once he’s made his decision on a sort of player, it takes a long time for them to get back into his sort of frame.

‘I think for me, Ross should just concentrate on enjoying his football and playing well for Luton without the pressure of thinking about England.’

It’s a cold winters afternoon at Kenilworth Road but Harry Styles is bringing the good vibes at Luton as he joins supporters in the stands.

The pop superstar is a self-confessed Man United supporter and is hoping to see his side’s good form continue today against a Luton side not shy of taking on top sides.

Will it be a sweet afternoon for Styles or can Luton sour the party?

Rob Edwards names his starting side to take on United and two former Red Devils play against their previous club with defender Teden Mengi and winger Tahith Chong both given the chance to prove themselves.

United remain unchanged from their 2-1 win over Aston Villa last weekend. There was concerns over Luke Shaw’s fitness but he has come through a late test and starts at Kenilworth Road.

Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo continues his starring midfield role alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.

It seems like only yesterday that United had no hope of catching the top four and Spurs were considered genuine title contenders. A win today for the Red Devils puts them within three points of Ange Postecoglou’s side.

United struggled heavily with injuries in the first half of the season but have found form since the turn of the year and are unbeaten in all competitions in 2024.

A 2-1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa last weekend made it three wins on the spin, today will make it four, but a trip to Kenilworth Road is no easy task.

One Luton player not involved today is Luton captain Tom Lockyer. The Hatters defender suffered a cardiac arrest at Bournemouth in December and has been sidelined while recovering since then.

Lockyer is part of the Sky Sports punditry team for today’s match and has been talking through the series of events that took place on that scary day on the south coast.

The 29-year-old revealed he thought he might die on the pitch that day when he was shocked back to life by a defibrilator and has given an update on his current condition.

Good afternoon, thanks for joining us and welcome to Kenilworth Road as Luton host Manchester United in the Premier League.

You have to go all the way back to 1992 to find details of the last time these two played each other in the league and it was a 1-1 draw on that occasion. Such a result today suits neither party.

Team news is coming at 3.30pm with kick-off an hour later and we have plenty to cover in the build-up.