Wayne Rooney has admitted he was “sceptical” about one Manchester United star, who has since been “by far” the best player and proven him wrong.
Man Utd end nine-year wait for victory at Anfield
Despite Liverpool’s poor form, few would have predicted Man United going to Anfield and picking up all three points, but that is exactly what they managed to do, with Harry Maguire’s late header ending a nine-year wait for a win at the home of their major rivals.
Maguire scoring a late winner was a fitting end to the game, given that the defender missed a golden chance to bag all three points for United at Anfield last season, and Ruben Amorim will be hoping his side can now kick on, after a turbulent start to the season.
The manager spent heavily to strengthen his squad in the summer, and a number of new signings have caught the eye, with goalkeeper Senne Lammens impressing on his debut against Sunderland, before going on to make four saves from inside the box against Liverpool.
However, Rooney has now claimed that a different new arrival has been the Red Devils’ most impressive player in the early stages of the campaign, singling out Bryan Mbeumo for high praise on his BBC Sport podcast.
The former striker said: “I’ll be honest, I was a bit sceptical when Manchester United signed him. I didn’t know whether he had the ability to come and play for Man United but he’s proven me wrong, and I think he’s been a great addition to the team, and by far Man United’s best player this season.”
Mbeumo strikes early to help see off Liverpool
Mbeumo opened the scoring at Anfield after just 62 seconds, albeit in controversial fashion, with debate arising about whether the goal should have stood, given that Alexis Mac Allister was down due to a head injury.
The 26-year-old’s second Premier League goal wasn’t his only contribution either, having also created one big chance, which helped him earn a 7.6 SofaScore match rating, the highest of any Man United player.
The £150k-a-week star has been a shining light for United, amid a slow start to the campaign, chipping in with an assist against Sunderland, as well as his side’s second goal in the 3-2 victory against Burnley at the end of August.
With no European or EFL Cup football to contend with, the Red Devils have a golden opportunity to mount a push for the Champions League this season, and Mbeumo is likely to be key to their success.
