Manchester United have made an impressive start to the Premier League, hammering each of their first opponents 4-0, before beating Leicester City 2-0 in their third match. The Red Devils coasted to victory over West Ham United in their opener at Old Trafford before putting another strong performance in on the road to overcome Swansea City with ease. Against the Foxes, United won in a different way, scoring their goals late in the contest, but it was still a very convincing triumph.
Jose Mourinho’s men had their issues against the so-called lesser outfits in the league last season. However, their dominant start suggests that those issues could be behind them. As a result, at 2/1, they are once again an enticing prospect for passionate punters or even the casuals who bet on any sport to win the Premier League, as United have a great opportunity to lift the crown for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
Mourinho’s men struggled for goals last season, scoring the fewest amount of any club in the top six. However, the addition of Romelu Lukaku in a £75m move from Everton has revolutionized their attacking play in the final third early on. United look much more dangerous in their second term under the Portuguese’s tenure, with the signing of Nemanja Matic also paying dividends. The Serbian completed a £35m deal from Chelsea and has picked up where he left off at the Blues, protecting the back four.
His presence has provided freedom for Paul Pogba to express himself in combination with Lukaku. The Frenchman has already netted two goals in the Premier League this season, making significant inroads towards bettering the five he notched last term. The partnership between Pogba and Lukaku looks to be a formidable pairing as the duo have already struck up an excellent rapport.
Their power, pace and strength in the final third has been especially devastating in the closing stages of the opening two matches when tiring legs in their opposition weren’t able to cope.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan took a year to adapt to life in the Premier League. Last year, the Armenian was not the player that he had been during his time with Borussia Dortmund, as he struggled to break into matches. However, he has been electric from the word go in his second campaign, carving up the opposition with his trademark incisive through balls. Mkhitaryan, along with Juan Mata, have performed so well that Anthony Martial has to truly fight for his minutes.
The Frenchman signed for the club from AS Monaco in 2015, but was unable to take the next stage in his development last season. However, the 21-year-old has provided an impact off the bench already this term, capitalizing again on tiring opponents to use his blistering pace. Martial scored two well-taken strikes against West Ham and Swansea and could offer the effect Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had on the teams that thrived under Sir Alex Ferguson. His performance in the first two games earned Martial a start in the third.
Marcus Rashford must not be forgotten either, and you knew that he would no doubt have an impact sooner or later due to his immense talent. Rashford came off the bench to score versus Leicester, further conveying all the options that United have on the left wing. Meanwhile, the re-signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic could help push the team over the top, although Lukaku has not played with a strike partner, so the Swede may also be used just to ease the burden on the 24-year-old.
Mourinho has a plethora of options in the final third and his side have to maintain their stellar form in order to deliver the title that the Old Trafford faithful have been craving for since Ferguson’s exit.