After his barren run in the Premier League, it’s two goals in two games for Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku.
What he’s yet to rediscover is the joy of scoring.
Lukaku scored the opening goal in United’s 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday but refused to celebrate, instead looking stony-faced as he was mobbed by his teammates.
Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku, no. 9, celebrates scoring against West Bromwich Albion with teammates during their English Premier League soccer match at The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, England, Sunday Dec. 17, 2017. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
Just like after he scored the midweek winner against Bournemouth.
“Maybe he looks to the bench and sees his manager doesn’t celebrate,” Mourinho said, attempting an explanation for how Lukaku greeted his 27th-minute goal at The Hawthorns.
Then there was the fact he spent the 2012-13 season on loan at West Brom, even scoring a hat trick against United that year.
“Maybe he loves West Brom,” Mourinho added. “Maybe he remembers the team that helped him early in his career.”
Or maybe it was a riposte to the critics. Lukaku went 2 1/2 months scoring just one league goal before his strike against Bournemouth. He started the season with seven goals in his first seven league games.
Either way, Lukaku is back among the goals as second-place United heads into the busy festive period 11 points behind Manchester City, with 18 of 38 league games having been played.
Liverpool had no problem scoring against Bournemouth, either, in the other match on Sunday. The Reds won 4-0 on the south coast, with Mohamed Salah almost inevitably on the score sheet to move to 20 goals for the season before Christmas.
They moved up to fourth place ahead of a game against fifth-place Arsenal on Friday.
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Steve Douglas is at www.twitter.com/sdouglas80
Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring against West Bromwich Albion during their English Premier League soccer match at The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, England, Sunday Dec. 17, 2017. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his side’s third goal against Bournemouth during the English Premier League soccer match at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England, Sunday Dec. 17, 2017. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, left, celebrates with team-mate Mohamed Salah after scoring his side’s fourth goal against Bournemouth during the English Premier League soccer match at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England, Sunday Dec. 17, 2017. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
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