Despite another underwhelming start to the season, Manchester United may have finally turned the corner under Ruben Amorim.
After only winning twice in the first six Premier League rounds, the Red Devils have pieced together a five-game unbeaten league run, closing the gap to fourth-placed Sunderland to a single point.
For fans looking to place a football bet with 1xbet Ireland, Amorim’s men have established themselves as genuine Champions League qualification contenders and are priced at 3.00 with bookmakers to secure a coveted top-four finish.
While the title seems like a pipe dream, with the bookies giving the record-time English champions slim chances of dethroning Liverpool (41.00), a return to Europe’s elite competition is well within reach if their upward trajectory continues.
Amorim’s proactive, front-foot style has injected renewed belief into a side that looked directionless in recent years, restoring hope in the red part of Manchester.
However, the international break came at an opportune moment for United, as a brace of 2-2 draws against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur had hindered their momentum.
Man Utd will be eager to return to winning ways when they take on Everton at Old Trafford next weekend, particularly because they head into proceedings as pre-match favourites (1.70).
All eyes will be on Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, who have reshaped United’s fortunes this season.
Both summer signings have already won over the Red Devils faithful, with the former emerging as the new Theatre of Dreams hero after a string of eye-catching performances.
Without further ado, let’s examine the summer signings’ early impact.
Senne Lammens
Senne Lammens has made a promising early impression at Old Trafford after Man Utd picked him over Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez in the summer.
Brought in from Royale Antwerp for a reported fee of £18.1 million, Lammens has already silenced his detractors despite only keeping one clean sheet in five league matches.
With Villa reluctant to negotiate the Argentine’s sale, United turned to Lammens, whose fantastic form in 2024/25 made him one of Europe’s most sought-after shot-stoppers.
After making more saves than any other goalkeeper in Europe’s top-10 leagues last season, he picked up where he left off this term.
The 23-year-old’s impressive start has caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson, who heaped praise on the Belgian keeper in a brief chat with Raceday RTV.
“Particularly the goalkeeper has been outstanding,” Ferguson said. “He’s only played three or four games, and he’s looking really good.”
Bryan Mbeumo
Mbeumo has been a game-changer for Man Utd this season.
With five goals and one assist, he is United’s best-performing player in the Premier League, but the Cameroonian star’s influence goes well beyond the raw statistics.
His unselfish runs drag defenders out of position, giving United invaluable room to operate in the final third while creating lanes and opportunities for others.
There’s no doubt that he has been the most impactful signing since Cristiano Ronaldo.
United have won three of their four league matches in which the 26-year-old has found the net, underscoring his growing talismanic status.
Matheus Cunha
Though Cunha had to wait until late October for his first goal in the red jersey, his deadlock-breaker in a 4-2 rout of Brighton & Hove Albion was well-deserved.
However, the Brazilian’s one-goal tally doesn’t feel right, given that he has quickly become Man Utd’s driving force in the final third.
The 23-year-old’s sharp movement, direct dribbling and ability to create overloads between the lines have injected much-needed unpredictability into Amorim’s frontline.
In all fairness, Cunha has never been a prolific goalscorer, yet his influence on United’s attacking rhythm has been undeniable.
Before joining Man Utd, Cunha was one of the most in-demand Premier League stars, with Arsenal also vying for his signature in the summer.
Asked whether he’d join the Gunners (via The Sun), Cunha replied: “No, thank you,” confirming his commitment and loyalty to the Red Devils family.
Benjamin Sesko
Man Utd supporters are still waiting for the former RB Leipzig centre-forward to blossom after witnessing glimpses of his potential.
Sesko has scored twice and added one assist in 11 Premier League appearances, but it’s worth noting that he entered the break on a four-game scoring drought.
However, unlike Rasmus Hojlund, the Slovenian’s play off the ball has drawn praise from the coaching staff.
Sesko’s awareness, ball distribution and ability to retain possession under pressure have made him a valuable asset for Amorim’s attacking structure.
Hopefully, he can start scoring more frequently.
