Monday, 7 October 2013 00:00
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REUTERS: Manchester United unearthed a sparkling gem to lighten the early-season gloom, Adnan Januzaj striking twice in a 2-1 win at Sunderland on Saturday after resurgent Liverpool stormed to the top of the Premier League.
Liverpool fans were celebrating a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace, Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard scoring, and their day seemed about to get even better as arch-rivals United trailed at bottom club Sunderland in the day’s late kickoff.
The champions seemed to be heading to a third consecutive Premiership defeat for the first time in 12 years after Craig Gardner had given Sunderland a deserved first-half lead but 18-year-old Januzaj, given a first league start by David Moyes, spared their blushes.
He sidefooted a 55th-minute equaliser and six minutes later produced a sumptuous left-foot volley to seal three welcome points for a United side experiencing their worst start to a season since 1989.
Victory moved United up to ninth with 10 points from seven games, six behind Liverpool who seemed set for a goal avalanche against Palace after netting three times in the first half.
