Romelo Lukaku carried off as Manchester United draws third match in a row

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Romelu Lukaku was carried off on a stretcher after a clash of heads during Manchester United's 0-0 draw at home to Southampton on Saturday, extending the team's miserable run of form over the busy Christmas period in the Premier League.

The United striker was wearing an oxygen mask as he left the field at Old Trafford in the 14th minute, having fallen to the ground when Southampton defender Wesley Hoedt's head went into the back of Lukaku's head in an aerial challenge.

United took a while to regroup after losing its main striker and struggled to open up a visiting defense that produced an embarrassing display in conceding five goals against Tottenham four days earlier.

It was a third straight draw in a week for United, which was held 2-2 at Leicester and then drew at home against Burnley by the same score.

United dropped to third place behind Chelsea and slipped 14 points adrift of leader Manchester City, whose game in hand is against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Its main task might now be holding onto a place in the top four.

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Newcastle United's Mikel Merino (right) vies with Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan during Man City's 1-0 win at St James' Park in Newcastle.  LINDSEY PARNABY, AFP/Getty Images

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Tottenham's Harry Kane scores his third goal of the game against Southampton.  Alastair Grant, AP

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Chelsea's Alvaro Morata attempts a header on goal against Brighton.  Tim Ireland, AP

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Manchester City's striker Sergio Aguero scores a header against Bournemouth.  Oli Scarff, AFP/Getty Images

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Liverpool's Sadio Mane in full flight against Arsenal.  Adrian Dennis, AFP/Getty Images

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Marko Arnautovic of West Ham United celebrates after scoring his side's second goal in a 3-0 win over Stoke City at Bet365 Stadium.  Gareth Copley, Getty Images

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Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez vies for the ball against Newcastle's Deandre Yedlin during the English Premier league game at the Emirates stadium in London. Arsenal won the game, 1-0.  FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA, EPA-EFE

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Huddersfield Town's Laurent Depoitre heads the ball to score past Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the John Smith's stadium in Huddersfield. Chelsea won the game, 3-1.  OLI SCARFF, AFP/Getty Images

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Manchester City's Nicolas Otamendi scores his side's second goal in a 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford Stadium.  Dave Thompson, AP

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Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross deflects the ball into his own net against Tottenham.  Adrian Dennis, AFP/Getty Images

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West Ham United defender Pablo Zabaleta reacts as Manchester City's David Silva celebrates a goal in a 2-1 win for Man City at the Etihad Stadium in Mancheste.  OLI SCARFF, AFP/Getty Images

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Brighton midfielder Izzy Brown jumps against Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold during Liverpool's 5-1 win at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton.  GLYN KIRK, AFP/Getty Images

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Manchester United's Jesse Lingard celebrates scoring his team's third goal during a 3-1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London.  ADRIAN DENNIS, AFP/Getty Images

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Eden Hazard celebrates scoring his first goal against Newcastle. Chelsea won the game, 3-1.  Favundo Arrizabalaga, EPA-EFE

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Everton's Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring a goal from midfield during a 4-0 win over West Ham United at Goodison Park in Liverpool. Rooney had his first-ever hat trick in the win.  PAUL ELLIS, AFP/Getty Images

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Manchester City's Raheem Sterling celebtrates scoring the winning goal over Southampton in a 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.  OLI SCARFF, AFP/Getty Images

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Arsenal's Olivier Giroud scores the Gunners' fifth goal against Huddersfield Town in a 5-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.  BEN STANSALL, AFP/Getty Images

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Liverpool's Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet saves at the feet of Chelsea's English midfielder Danny Drinkwater.  Paul Ellis, AFP/Getty Images

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Brighton Irish defender Shane Duffy challenges Manchester United's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.  Oli Scarff, AFP/Getty Images

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Andre Gray of Watford scores his sides third goal past Robert Elliot of Newcastle United  Steve Welsh, Getty Images

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Manchester United's Juan Mata tries an overhead kick as Newcastle United's Florian Lejeune defends.  Oli Scarff,, AFP/Getty Images

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Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil controls the ball against Tottenham.  Daniel Leal-Olivas, AFP/Getty Images

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Petr Cech of Arsenal reacts to conceding a penalty from Sergio Aguero of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium.  Laurence Griffiths, Getty Images

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Watford's Tom Cleverley reacts after failing to score from the penalty spot in the final moments of the English Premier League match against Everton at Goodison Park in Liverpool.  LINDSEY PARNABY, AFP/Getty Images

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Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini (left) and Chelsea's Antonio Ruediger challenge for the ball during the English Premier League match at Stamford Bridge stadium in London.  Frank Augstein, AP

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Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Chelsea.  Glyn Kirk, AFP/Getty Images

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Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha (right) celebrates scoring the final goal with teammate Andros Townsend during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and West Ham United  Ian Kington, AFP/Getty Images

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Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Huddersfield Town  Paul Ellis, AFP/Getty Images

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Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli scores a goal against Liverpool during a 4-1 win at Wembley.  FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA, EPA-EFE

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Huddersfield Town midfielder Aaron Mooy (second from left) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of a 2-1 win over Manchester United at the John Smith's stadium in Huddersfield.  LINDSEY PARNABY, AFP/Getty Images

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Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope saves a shot from Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne. Man City won the game, 3-0, at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.  OLI SCARFF, AFP/Getty Images

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Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho shoots to score the team's fifth goal against Stoke City.  Lindsey Parnaby, AFP/Getty Images

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Chelsea's Eden Hazard is tackled by Crystal Palace's James McArthur.  Alastair Grant, AP

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Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic clashes with Tottenham striker Georges Kevin N'Koudou on the edge of the penalty area.  Andy Rain, EPA-EFE

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Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny and Brighton's Davy Propper challenge for the ball.  Frank Augstein, AP

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Everton's Wayne Rooney crosses the ball against Burnley.  Paul Ellis, AFP/Getty Images

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Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini celebrates scoring the team's second goal against Crystal Palace.  Paul Ellis, AFP/Getty Images

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Chelsea's Alvaro Morata fights for the ball against Manchester City.  Ian Kington, AFP/Getty Images

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Stoke City's Peter Crouch celebrates his goal against Southampton.  Alex Livesey, Getty Images

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West Ham's Arthur Masuaku is tackled by Swansea's Leroy Fer.  Dan Mullan, Getty Images

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Manchester City midfielder Leroy Sane stretches for the ball against Crystal Palace.  Paul Ellis, AFP/Getty Images

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Tottenham's Fernando Llorente argues with West Ham's Winston Reid.  Tim Ireland, AP

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Chelsea's David Luiz (left), Arsenal's Granit Xhaka (right) and Arsenal's Nacho Monreal jump to head the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge stadium in London,.  Tim Ireland, AP

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Swansea City's English defender Alfie Mawson heads for goal but misses during the English Premier League match between Swansea City and Newcastle United at The Liberty Stadium in Swansea.  GEOFF CADDICK, AFP/Getty Images

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Tottenham's Christian Eriksen shoots against Everton.  Lindsey Parnaby, AFP/Getty Images

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Brighton players celebrate after scoring against West Brom.  Dan Istitene, Getty Images

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Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez vies for the ball with Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso.  Ben Stansall, AFP/Getty Images

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Manchester City's Leroy Sane celebrates scoring his team's fifth goal against Liverpool.  Stu Forster, Getty Images

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Arsenal's Mesut Oezil reacts after a 4-0 loss against Liverpool.  Peter Powell, EPA

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Tottenham Harry Kane reacts as Burnley players celebrate scoring a goal.  Tim Ireland, AP

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Manchester City's Raheem Sterling gestures to referee Mike Dean after he receives a second yellow card for going into the crowd in celebrating his game-winning goal against Bournemouth.  GLYN KIRK, AFP/Getty Images

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Swansea's Jordan Ayew celebrates after scoring a goal during a Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Swansea City at Selhurst Park in London.  Tim Ireland, AP

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Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini (left) celebrates with his teammate Jesse Lingard after giving his team a 2-0 lead against Leicester City at Old Trafford.  PETER POWELL, EPA

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Everton's Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring against Manchester City during a 1-1 draw. The goal was Rooney's 200th during his Premier League career. Rooney is the second player ever with 200 or more EPL goals (Alan Shearer, 260).  OLI SCARFF, AFP/Getty Images

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Aaron Mooy of Huddersfield Town celebrates after scoring a goal during a 1-0 win over Newcastle United at John Smith's Stadium in Huddersfield. Newly promoted Huddersfield Town AFC has won its first two games in the Premier League.  Jan Kruger, Getty Images

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Chelsea's Marcos Alonso celebrates scoring a goal during a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium in London.  BEN STANSALL, AFP/Getty Images

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Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku reacts at the final whistle after the win against Swansea.  Oli Scarff, AFP/Getty Images

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Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum fights for the ball against Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt and Jason Puncheon.  Oli Scarff, AFP/Getty Images

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West Ham United's Pedro Obiang vies for the ball with with Southampton's Shane Long.  Adrian Dennis, AFP/Getty Images

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Leicester's Shinji Okazaki celebrates scoring the opening goal against Brighton & Hove.  Michael Regan, Getty Images

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Tottenham Hotspur's Ben Davies heads the ball against Newcastle United.  Lindsey Parnaby, AFP

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Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku celebrates with teammates after scoring against West Ham United.  Dave Thompson, AP

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Everton's Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring against Stoke.  Oli Scarff, AFP/Getty Images

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Watford's Miguel Britos scores past Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.  Tony Marshall, Getty Images

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Burnley's Tom Heaton and Stephen Ward celebrate the win against Chelsea.  Facundo Arrizabalaga, EPA

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reacts during the opening day win against Leicester.  Andy Rain, EPA

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