Manchester United eased some of the pressure on manager Ruben Amorim with a 2-0 win over Sunderland, and one star has played a big role in turning things around.
The Red Devils endured a dismal start to the season. They failed to secure a win in their initial two matches against Arsenal and Fulham, followed by a penalty shoot-out defeat to Grimsby Town in the League Cup.
But since then, United have put together three straight home wins over Burnley, Chelsea and Sunderland. Even with defeats to City and Brentford in between, it has given them some much-needed momentum.
It has been enough to put them in the top half of the table with ten points from seven matches – a clear step up from how they started last year.
There are tougher fixtures ahead, including Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur within the next month. Those will be major tests for Ruben Amorim, but he does have one player in form who is helping steady things early on.
Bryan Mbeumo’s Man United assist makes him one of the Premier League’s top attacking players
United spent £71 million to bring in Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford during the summer window, after he had hit 20 league goals for them last season.
Last season, the Red Devils had real problems in front of goal, with only Everton and the three relegated sides finishing below them in terms of goals scored.
Mbeumo, along with fellow new arrivals Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha, was brought in to help address that issue. And early signs suggest things are moving in the right direction.
The Cameroonian star picked up his first assist for United this season by setting up Mason Mount’s opener against Sunderland on Saturday.
On a personal level, it was a notable moment as well. That assist made him just the third player in the league this year to reach double figures for goals while also providing at least five assists.
Mohamed Salah and Antoine Semenyo have already reached that mark in 2025 – two players who have been crucial for their clubs recently – putting Mbeumo among some elite company.
Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo showing early signs of value after summer move
Mbeumo has managed just two league goals contributions for United since his arrival, with both coming against newly-promoted teams. However, there are signs that he can play a more significant role as the season progresses.
Beyond occasional moments of brilliance from Amad Diallo, United lacked a clear attacking threat last year, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee both struggling to find consistency in front of goal.
Mbeumo’s presence in the final third could prove vital for Amorim as he looks to climb the table and solidify his position at Old Trafford.
If Mbeumo can find the form he showed at Brentford, his impact could be what separates European qualification from another disappointing campaign – and that may well have been part of INEOS’ thinking all along.
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