Manchester United

On the latest episode of The Devils' Advocate, the team discuss Manchester United's win over Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday.

BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater reiterated that he is not going to get carried away after one good performance, but believes things could take a turn for the better if United can go to Anfield, put in a good performance and come away with points.

"Manchester United have been slightly better in terms of performances this season, but not good enough in terms of results," says Gaz. "And after last season, he needed results. So, he's come into this one - he's got a win, and I am not going to sit here and get too carried away.

"The only way it can be a turning point is if Manchester United go to Anfield and put in a decent performance and get a result, either with a draw or a win. But Brighton after that, I want to see United turn up there and get a good result as well and performance."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's head of academy recruitment Luke Fedorenko is to leave the club.

Fedorenko has accepted a new opportunity with an agency, although the date around his United exit is still to be finalised.

The decision is said to be amicable, with Fedorenko keen to ensure a smooth transition to help the young players and their families.

It comes just over two weeks after Stephen Torpey started work as United's new head of academy, following the departure of Nick Cox to take over as technical director at Everton.

Since the end of last season, Under-18 coach Adam Lawrence also left the club and both the Under-21 side's assistant coach David Hughes, and his replacement David Horseman have both left to join Newport and Arsenal respectively, although results at both age groups this season have been impressive.

Fedorenko was a key figure in bringing striker Chido Obi and defender Ayden Heaven north from Arsenal. Both made first team appearances last season.

Fedorenko was also involved in a number of promising youngsters - including Bendito Mantato and JJ Gabriel - joining the club.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel joined BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club to discuss Senne Lammens' debut against Sunderland, and the chant that emerged from the Old Trafford crowd.

Schmeichel says Lammens offered a "solid performance".

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Napoli are in pole position to sign Manchester United and England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 20, on loan in January after maintaining contact with the Premier League club since the summer. (Sky Switzerland - in French), external

Manchester United see Aston Villa manager Unai Emery as the perfect replacement for Ruben Amorim should they sack the Portuguese coach. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Manchester United believe defender Lisandro Martinez, 27, might return from his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury before the end of the year. The Argentine has not played for the club in eight months. (Sun), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's lack of European football was cited as a positive going into this season.

Unfortunately for United's players, they have discovered the relatively wide gap between fixtures just offers more time to brood over bad results.

It was something Mason Mount, who opened the scoring in Saturday's 2-0 win over Sunderland, reflected on following the dismal defeat at Brentford the previous week.

"Sometimes it is difficult when you only have one game a week," he said. "It means there's a lot of time to think.

"After a game like Brentford, we're hurt, as a team and as a staff because we know we can do better.

"It really hurts as a club as well. It feels like a long time going into the next game."

Not currently part of Thomas Tuchel's England set-up, Mount has even more time to ponder the next game as United now have two weeks before a trip to Liverpool, when they will again try to win two Premier League games in a row for the first time under Ruben Amorim.

Unlike at Brentford, when United started sloppily and found themselves 2-0 down, against Sunderland they began well, with Mount putting them in front after eight minutes with a superbly taken goal, his first in the league at Old Trafford.

"Coming off obviously a difficult result, I think it was so important for us to start sharp," he said.

"It was something we spoke about in the dressing room and Bruno [Fernandes] spoke about in the huddle before kick-off.

"I felt the energy at the beginning and then to get the goal really settled us."

Will Perry
Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

If you hadn't seen any of the last year of miserable Manchester United football then watching them comfortably ease past an in-form Sunderland would never leave you thinking there were deep problems at the football club.

Ruben Amorim said it wasn't perfect but it was as good as and probably ranks as one of the best performances during his time at Old Trafford. Let's not get carried away, this was against a newly promoted side who really should have had an early lead. I'm sure Bertrand Traoré closed his eyes for that part of MOTD.

Does this win just paper over the cracks and delay the inevitable? A trip to Anfield after the international break will pose some much bigger questions.

Senne Lammens and Benjamin Sesko came out of Saturday with heads held high, two summer signings who United desperately need to find their maximum potential. The Stretford end sang "are you Schmeichel in disguise?" They'd likely take half of Schmeichel's ability given some of the keepers they've had to endure.

Make no mistake, this was much better from Manchester United but is there another grizzly monster waiting around the corner?

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Opta

Mason Mount's goal for Manchester United against Sunderland on Saturday rounded off an 18-pass move, which according to Opta, is the joint-most passes completed before a goal scored by any Premier League side this season.

It is also the most leading to a goal for United in more than two years.

Given how often the Red Devils have struggled to keep the ball and control games in recent times, it is certainly a promising sign that the side has shown the ability to play a passing game.

On the other hand, a quick glance at Opta's pass map, external is telling. There is a complete lack of activity in the middle of the pitch. Is this just a one-off example, or does this show a lack of trust in the midfield to get involved In the build up?

This should not take anything away from the goal itself, but it is almost hard to believe that Bruno Fernandes - one of Manchester United's central midfielders on the day - only completed one of the 18 passes before the goal and from a position more expected from a right central defender.

Perhaps the plan could be to sign a ball-playing midfielder so goals from sustained periods of possession like this would become more frequent and offer Amorim's side more confidence on the ball.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United youngster James Overy will be making an earlier-than-expected return from the Under-20s World Cup in Chile after Australia failed to make it out of the group stages.

Saturday night's victory over Cuba had raised hopes of qualification as one of the best third-placed teams but results on Sunday wrecked that possibility.

After sitting out the opening defeat to Italy through injury, Overy featured against Argentina and Cuba.

United have picked out the 18-year-old full-back from Western Australia as a player of promise but his time at the club has been badly interrupted by injuries.

He has played for both Darren Fletcher's under-18 team and Travis Binnion's at under-21 level and will hope to make a significant impact after the current international break.

Image source, Getty Images

Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United "got the tactics right" in their victory over Sunderland, crediting Ruben Amorim's side for simplifying their play and showing greater control after a nervy opening spell.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sounds, the former United striker singled out Senne Lammens' composure and Benjamin Sesko's physical presence as key factors in securing what he called a "massive" win for the team and their manager.

"I think the keeper's done well," said Rooney. "He's obviously had the misjudgement where he's come out of the box and that could be end up in a different way. But I thought in the main, he simplified things. Which, for a keeper, is not a bad thing.

"He didn't take too many touches on the ball. He got the ball forward quick, and it was effective. Sesko has been good at winning headers in the air, and Mbeumo running in behind him. So I actually thought Manchester United got the tactics right.

"I think Amorim slightly changed his tactics and went with two forwards up top. And it worked certainly for the first 30 minutes. Sunderland had to change it early on in the first half. And then from there, they saw the game out well; Sunderland didn't really cause that many problems.

"The result was the most important thing."

Rooney also highlighted Sesko's influence up front, saying the forward's strength and movement gave United a focal point and created space for the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount to exploit.

"I think he's a handful, and he uses his body well. He challenges for balls, and it makes it easier for Mbeumo, Cunha when he's on, or Mount to make runs in behind him. So I think that's clearly something they've worked on.

"And obviously getting another goal, I think, will help him. So, I think for all the players, the win was massive. The manager, the win was massive and much needed."

Listen on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's victory over Sunderland on Saturday has brought Ruben Amorim some much-needed breathing space amid huge pressure on his job.

The fact he even got to that game following the shocking defeat at Brentford a week earlier was a minor victory, especially as it has been revealed referee's chief Howard Webb had been in touch to tell United Nathan Collins should have been sent off for dragging Bryan Mbeumo back at the Gtech Community Stadium.

United did get a second-half penalty - which was saved - but should have also been playing against 10 men, as Webb acknowledged. Head coach Ruben Amorim was told at the time Collins had stayed on the pitch because Mbeumo did not have control of the ball. Amorim said this was impossible as Collins was preventing Mbeumo from reaching it.

The incident had echoes of the injury-time penalty that condemned United to defeat at West Ham last season that ended up costing Erik ten Hag his job.

Webb said afterwards the spotkick should not have been given for a collision between Matthijs de Ligt and Danny Ings.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Sunderland.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans

Bob: Very small tweaks made a very big difference. Plus, it's nice to have a goalkeeper who at last who appears to know his job. When Matheus Cunha finally snicks into gear we may have a chance of top five... maybe!

Brian: Any win in a good win. The performance was better overall but as a side we give the ball away in the middle third far too easily with players out of position. This put us immediately under pressure. I struggle to understand why we don't knock more balls in the air into the box now we have a centre forward who is 6ft 5in. In summary, there was better quality of passing and better balls into areas we can score from. We can and will play better.

Paul: Really good performance from the players with plenty of good pressing and passing. Benjamin Sesko was a revelation and Senne Lammens showed why we bought him with a good first outing. Ruben Amorim made his usual strange substitutions but thankfully it didn't affect the result. What we need now is consistency and the results should follow.

Sam: It is a much-needed win, however, how often have we seen this before from United? They are consistently average, then receive criticism from all sources, and then put in a reasonable shift to scrape a win. Amorim is the wrong man in my honest opinion, and this group of players are unrecognisable as a true Manchester United team, unfortunately.

Sunderland fans

David: The first 35 minutes was arguably the poorest we have defended this season, until Regis le Bris was brave enough to admit that he had picked the wrong XI and change the system. We then held our own against an impressive United but, being greedy, we still need to work on being more of an attacking threat and a cutting edge. Great start to the season overall though.

Andre: So kicking someone's armpit or chest isn't a foul is it not? It has to be the head apparently. Isn't a high foot kicking any part of the opposition player a foul? A high foot is a high foot. And to book Bertrand Traore when he was clearly wiped out was shocking too.

Peter: Not fantastic but because of our great start, the disappointment is dampened. I hoped we could win as Man Utd have come under so much pressure. Le Bris will be frustrated to not take all three or even one but still such a positive start.

Lee: The shape was wrong to begin with but that's fine because it was spotted and changed. However, our passing was well off and it was frustrating not to see us mix things up and go more direct to cause a bit of chaos. All too easy for Man Utd.

Out-of-favour Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee, 24, will consider staying in the Premier League if he leaves Old Trafford, with Everton and West Ham touted as potential destinations. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's Mason Mount feels he can lead the charge to press opposition defences.

Under Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim, United have seemed not able to get a concerted approach to their pressing game, with too many individuals trying to close down the opposition with no assistance.

Chosen ahead of Matheus Cunha in the left-sided 'number 10' slot against Sunderland, Mount led the press which unsettled the Black Cats, especially in the first half hour when the game was won.

"I see myself as bringing a lot of energy into the team and setting off the press at times, being a bit of a catalyst going forward," said Mount.

"It's something I focus on, helping the people around me and really bringing energy."

Amorim had only been at United for a month when Mount suffered the hamstring injury at Manchester City that kept him out for more than three months.

It was a big blow to the new coach, who knew the 26-year-old had more experience of his formation than most of his team-mates after working with Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate.

"At the beginning especially, it was something that maybe he could lean on me for," said Mount.

"Knowing the roles and what he wants out of the team resonates with me because I've done it before. It's something I understand."

It will be interesting to see how Mount's role evolves given Cunha was a big-money summer signing and was expected to be a central figure in United's development going forward.

For now, Mount is happy to have started and scored his first goal of the season – and his first Premier League goal at Old Trafford.

"It was massive for me," he said. "Really important. I enjoyed that."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Senne Lammens' introduction was one of a number of positives for United.

They have now won three home games in a row for the first time in over two years. That first clean sheet is important and if results elsewhere go their way they may enter the international break in the top half of the table.

Yet Ruben Amorim, who went into the game under huge pressure amid conflicting reports about Sir Jim Ratcliffe's support for him, needs much more.

The trip to Liverpool on 19 October has the potential – again – to mark United winning two consecutive Premier League games for the first time in well over a year. They have been in this position twice already this season, gone away from home, to Manchester City and Brentford, and lost.

"There is no momentum," said Amorim. "We know what happens when we win one game. The frustration is not to see the same team at home and away."

Amorim needs to get a sequence of positive results to persuade the hierarchy and the fans he can deliver the meaningful impact United were searching for when they employed him nearly a year ago.

After Liverpool comes a sequence of fixtures – Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Everton, Crystal Palace - that will determine his future.

Goalscorer Mason Mount said after the game the players are behind Amorim. The former Sporting coach can feel that too.

"I know they want to do their best and I know they don't want to change the coach all the time," said Amorim.

"But like I said during this week, to be with the manager is: 'I will kill myself to go in every transition'. We need to show with actions."

Read Simon Stone's full analysis of Lammens' debut and United's win here

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures and Friday's action.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

• Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland

• Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

After leaving Lammens on the bench for the first three games since his deadline-day move from Royal Antwerp, Amorim finally decided it was time to put the Belgian into the Premier League fray ahead of Altay Bayindir.

The decision went down well with the United supporters, who cheered his name when it was read out over the tannoy for the first time an hour before kick-off and did the same again just before the teams came out.

Lammens proved his value in a 90-second period just before the break.

First, he flung himself to the left to make a low save from Sunderland skipper Granit Xhaka, whose long-range effort was possibly creeping in by the post. Then he came confidently to collect Noah Sadiki's high ball.

The 23-year-old did something similar at the end of the game too, keeping out Chemsdine Talbi's low shot with his legs before rising high to claim a ball that was looping into a danger area.

By no means was Lammens perfect.

Bertrand Traore was convinced he was taken out by a combination of Lammens and United skipper Bruno Fernandes after he nicked the ball between them and went down just outside the box.

If he had been, Lammens might have been in trouble. As it was, referee Stuart Atwell booked Traore for diving and VAR Neil Davies agreed.

It still did not take away the fact Lammens had dashed out of his goal and not got the ball, the kind of moment that would have drawn huge criticism had it featured Bayindir or Andre Onana.

But results can mask all manner of mistakes and United got one - and a clean sheet - thanks to Mount, whose left-foot control and right-foot finish were exceptional, and Sesko, who only needed quick reactions and one touch from three yards to score his second goal in as many games.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim speaking to BBC Sport after their victory over Sunderland: "That is the kind of game where when we're not playing well we're defending well. We had our moments, we were focussed and competitive. Not the perfect performance. Senne [Lammens] did really well. We were a competitive and adult team today. We need to win these games with a clean sheet. Good for us.

"We need to understand that we need everyone to be ready to play. It's a long season, we have a lot of problems, anything can happen. The important thing is that the teammates helped Lammens a lot to have a very good performance."

On Benjamin Sesko: "He has time, he's going to stay here for a lot of years. The media puts a lot of pressure on the goals for the striker but for me it's the effort that is the most important thing. Every time we kick the ball he's fighting for it, that's massive for us. To win the second ball and give us time to breathe. I'm really happy with that.

"It's frustrating to not have this kind of performance again. We need to do this kind of performance away as well - it's our responsibility to play like this."

Did you know?

• Manchester United have won four of their last eight Premier League games (D1 L3), as many wins as in their previous 21 (W4 D5 L12).

• Mason Mount's opener for Manchester United against Sunderland rounded off an 18-pass move, the joint-most for a goal in the Premier League this season and their most in a league game since Bruno Fernandes v Burnley in September 2023 (also 18).

Listen to more from Amorim and Benjamin Sesko on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on United's performance

What did you make of Sunderland's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Ruben Amorim hands deadline day arrival Senne Lammens his debut for Manchester United.

Lammens was an £18.1m signing from Royal Antwerp but has spent three games on the bench.

Mason Mount, Casemiro, Amad and Leny Yoro are all included as Matheus Cunha, Harry Maguire, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte drop to the bench.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw, Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot, Mbeumo, Mount, Sesko. Substitutes: Bayindir, Maguire, Cunha, Zirkzee, Dorgu, Ugarte, Heaven, Leon, Mainoo.

Sunderland make two changes to the side that won at Nottingham Forest last week.

Bertrand Traore and Simon Adringa are both included as Chris Rigg and Chemsdine Talbi drop to the bench.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Masuaku, Alderete, Mukiele, Hume, Sadiki, Xhaka, Le Fee, Traore, Adringa, Isidor. Substitutes: Patterson, Neil, Ballard, Geertruida, Talbi, Brobbey, Rigg, Mayenda, O'Nein.