Manchester United scored five goals against Ipswich at Old Trafford on Sunday as the Premier League season properly got underway.
It was a brilliant first home outing of the season for Manchester United to thrash Ipswich at Old Trafford in torrential rain, with Bruno Fernandes leading a second-half romp.
Fernandes scored a hat-trick for United, with Bryan Mbeumo adding the other goal on top of an own-goal.
There were plenty of talking points from United’s win. So let’s get into what I liked and disliked from the 5-2 win.
Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images
First, here is what I liked from United’s win…
Kobbie Mainoo is a sensational midfielder: Kobbie Mainoo was absolutely brilliant for United against Ipswich, running the show in midfield and reminding everyone that, despite the rebuild this summer, he remains the first-choice, tier one midfielder.
Mainoo has added incredible passing range and also defensive strengths to his already bolstered tool-kit. Huge talent, this is the season that he reaches an undisputed world-class level.
Bruno Fernandes showing no sign of slowing down: Bruno Fernandes turns 32 next week, yet you wouldn’t know it as he continues to extend his prime years for United. For his first goal, he raced in behind like he was a 26-year-old forward, before the finish was sublime.
Fernandes is United’s talisman, and this season looks set to be yet another unstoppable campaign for the club captain. Get that contract extended now, Ineos.
Matheus Cunha finding his form: Hull away was a struggle for Matheus Cunha, looking off the pace, but understandably so, because he had barely played in pre-season before being thrown into the side for the season opener.
Cunha was massively improved against Ipswich, showing his quality, getting an assist, and doing all the little intangibles that saw fans begin to adore him last season. Should have also had a goal, but he’s clearly finding his feet, which is excellent news for United.
Marcus Rashford looking right at home: One of the biggest pre-game talking points was that Marcus Rashford was starting for United, for the first time in nearly two years, and he was instantly right back at home.
Rashford won over Old Trafford early and was unfortunate not to walk away with a couple of assists and a goal to show for homecoming. The positive is that he looks ready to play a big part for United this coming season.
Depth off the bench for Michael Carrick: For years, United’s bench has been poor, with recent seasons seeing the likes of Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee frequently used as depth, but Carrick now has a squad that can be rotated.
On the bench today, United had Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu, Andrey Santos, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, and Shea Lacey, to name a few. Such a strong group that puts the team in an excellent position.
Character shown to bounce back: After the game, Harry Maguire suggested that the team sunk when Ipswich scored, almost like they thought, “here we go again”, but despite this, United fought back and ran through Ipswich instead of letting this define them.
Showing this character to come from behind and score five is a huge positive for United and a reason to be really thrilled with this result.
Fluid attacking football: It might not have been a game in which United showed the ‘control’ Carrick will ideally want, but it did see plenty of really exciting attacking football with some very talented players.
United are going to be very fun to watch this season, at both ends of the pitch.
Youri Tielemans’ passing: He struggled slightly in the first-half, but Youri Tielemans really settled down in the second 45 and excelled, helping United grab hold of the game with sublime passing, covering lots of ground, and doing well defensively.
A much better second appearance for United compared to his first. But this should only be the beginning for Tielemans as he starts to reach full fitness.
And what I didn’t like…
Luke Shaw being done for the Ipswich goal: After being poor against Hull, Luke Shaw reminded United that a left-back signing is needed this summer, with how he was done for Ipswich’s opener.
Abdul Fatawu knocked the ball past him, and Shaw was left for dead. Probably the sole biggest weakness right now within the starting line-up for United, and it will only get worse as the season goes on.
**Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire: **Like with Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire were disappointing defensively – not detracting from what they did with the ball – with both looking like fish out of water when Ipswich were countering against them in the first-half.
Martinez was poor for the second goal conceded, while Maguire wasn’t anywhere near preventing it. Both have their strengths, but defensively, they are becoming liabilities.
