The pre-match buzz was all about Manchester United’s struggles and Rubin Amorim’s unwavering dedication to his much-debated 3-4-3 system. With the pundits progressively recognising our sturdy begin, the main focus appeared to be on United’s vulnerabilities, with three defeats of their final six league video games.
For us, there’s little question that it’s been an excellent begin to the season with three wins, two attracts, and only one loss, putting us comfortably in sixth. This was the perfect begin for a promoted crew in 13 years — a testomony to the onerous work of Régis Le Bris and his teaching employees.
Sunderland supervisor Regis Le Bris at full time in the course of the Premier League match at Outdated Trafford, Manchester. Image date: Saturday October 4, 2025. (Picture by Martin Rickett/PA Photographs by way of Getty Photographs)
Arthur Masuaku continued at left again as Reinildo Mandava’s suspension was ongoing, and studies of Nordi Mukiele’s demise turned out to be barely exaggerated as he began at alongside the hero of Nottingham Forest in Omar Alderete.
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Though Enzo Le Fée began the final recreation, he was moved into extra of a quantity ten function for this one, by which we beloved to see him throughout final season.
On the wings, Simon Adingra was introduced in to face off in opposition to his worldwide counterpart Amad Diallo, with Bertrand Traore additionally given his first begin. Chris Rigg and Chemsdine Talbi had been moved to the bench and though Rigg turned out to be an unused substitute, I’m certain he’ll get probabilities in different video games having impressed in opposition to Nottingham Forest.
For Talbi, it was an opportunity for a relaxation following consecutive begins and though he’s been spectacular — particularly in terms of preserving maintain of the ball and making clever choices — Traore might’ve probably provided extra of a direct attacking menace for this explicit recreation.
United additionally made a couple of modifications, dropping Altay Bayindir after a couple of uninspiring performances with Senne Lammens introduced in for his debut. Matheus Cunha, bought for £62.5 million, was additionally dropped, with Amorim choosing Mason Mount as an alternative.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 04: Senne Lammens of Manchester United reacts in the course of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Sunderland at Outdated Trafford on October 04, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Picture by Gareth Copley/Getty Photographs)
Personally, I used to be nervous about this recreation. Once we had been complacent earlier within the season, it resulted in a 2-0 win for Burnley however I did really feel the gamers realized lots of classes from that recreation and wouldn’t permit it to occur on this occasion.
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United had gained their earlier two video games at Outdated Trafford and there’s nonetheless one thing imposing about watching us play there. Our away document in opposition to the Manchester golf equipment isn’t one thing to shout about, having gained simply one among our final twenty 9 away encounters. Nevertheless, information are there to be damaged and this squad has a very totally different mentality.
Early on, we had been eager to place strain on United, with some defensive frailties uncovered. Granit Xhaka performed an excellent go into Adingra which took half of their crew out of play immediately, though the offside flag was raised, sparing Traore’s blushes.
Our strategy appeared far more aggressive than in earlier weeks and the sport was ridiculously open within the first ten minutes when issues took a sudden flip — Mount discovering himself open and taking his likelihood nicely. The contact and end had been stylish and it wasn’t one thing you could possibly attribute blame to from our perspective, however as an alternative, it was a second of Premier League high quality that we needed to acknowledge.
Amad determined to be treacherous on the twenty minute mark by testing Roefs, who produced a strong save matched by one other unbelievable cease two minutes later from Bryan Mbuemo. It marked some extent within the recreation the place each units of midfielders determined to play a recreation of “Scorching potato”, handing possession to the opposition in a well mannered and common method, however it did seem to be conceding the aim rocked us barely as we struggled to get again into the sport.
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On twenty 5 minutes, I made a decision that Roefs is a god amongst males. Bruno Fernandes curled an effort in the direction of the highest nook, however someway, Roefs managed to provide one other world class save. If there’s any human on Earth who wonders why Anthony Patterson isn’t getting an opportunity, they need to rewatch that save.
Sunderland’s Dutch goalkeeper #22 Robin Roefs dives in the course of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Sunderland at Outdated Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on October 4, 2025. (Picture by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, information, fixture lists, membership/league logos or ‘reside’ companies. On-line in-match use restricted to 120 photographs. An extra 40 photographs could also be utilized in further time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use restricted to 120 photographs. An extra 40 photographs could also be utilized in further time. No use in betting publications, video games or single membership/league/participant publications. / (Picture by PAUL ELLIS/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
United’s second aim was poor from our perspective. A protracted throw resulted in 5 of our gamers attempting to win the preliminary ball. None of them did, and Benjamin Sěsko discovered himself free for a tap-in. A very poor second and because of this, we noticed a change in techniques and mentality.
Dan Ballard was introduced on for Adingra with thirty six minutes performed. Although it was harsh on Adingra, it was a call that needed to be made earlier than the sport become a massacre, and the tactical change led to notable enchancment, Xhaka attempting his greatest to redeem our first half efficiency with a strong hit in the direction of the tip of the primary half, producing a save from Lammens.
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Sěsko then demonstrated his versatility by showing to kick Trai Hume in a approach that WWE’s Kane would’ve been happy with, however VAR confirmed that though his leg was raised, there was no contact with Hume. A assessment was referred to as, no penalty was given and from the nook, Ballard was first to the ball, hitting the side-netting. It was a promising finish to a poor first half — though it was an opportunity that you just’d count on Ballard to transform on most events.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 4: Mason Mount of Manchester United, Nordi Mukiele of Sunderland and Matthijs de Ligt of Manchester United watch on as Daniel Ballard of Sunderland heads the ball from a nook in the course of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Sunderland at Outdated Trafford on October 4, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Picture by Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside by way of Getty Photographs)
The second half noticed no modifications.
We got here out and did a greater job at holding on to the ball and valuing possession, whereas United sat again to defend their lead and little or no occurred till fifty seven minutes, in when there was an actual second of competition as Traore was booked for simulation after getting sandwiched between two United gamers as he regarded to progress into the penalty space.
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VAR didn’t intervene when it regarded like Lammens ought to’ve been despatched off, and though I’m normally a little bit of a VAR apologist, appreciating that we’ll profit at occasions and really feel wronged at others, it felt like a puzzling choice. There was clear contact and completely no signal that Traore had dived or was attempting to deceive the officers. It ought to’ve seen Lammens despatched off and I’m completely baffled as to why VAR didn’t become involved.
Three substitutions had been then made by Le Bris, with Eliezer Mayenda, Brian Brobbey and Talbi on for the aggrieved Traore, Wilson Isidor and Masuaku.
Sadly, there was little of be aware from that time because the second half petered out. Our substitutes initially struggled to get into the sport because the tempo slowed down, though Talbi was capable of get himself into some promising positions on the wing, taking part in in some actually inviting crosses which no person might capitalise on.
As the sport drew to an in depth, we had been left to rue some pretty first rate probabilities.
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Mayenda had an opportunity on seventy eight minutes however was unable to take it; Trai Hume was overlapping and had supplied an incredible alternative. This was then adopted by our greatest likelihood of the sport: a strong alternative for Talbi on the ninety-minute mark having been performed in by Mayenda. While he hit the goal, you’ll’ve anticipated him to attain in that scenario.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 04: Matheus Cunha of Manchester United is challenged by Trai Hume and Ahmed Abdullahi of Sunderland in the course of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Sunderland at Outdated Trafford on October 04, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Picture by Ben Roberts – Danehouse/Getty Photographs)
Finally, the harm had been achieved within the first thirty minutes. I’m undecided if we thought that being aggressive and actually going for it within the opening levels would unsettle a mentally fragile Manchester United, however it had the other impact as we left ourselves too open.
While I’m happy that Le Bris made the tactical change, you possibly can’t win video games at this degree whenever you give the opposition a two-goal head begin. As an alternative, you’re left questioning how the sport would’ve completed had we opted for that tactical swap from the very starting.
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That mentioned, although, it’s vital to have some perspective.
It’s one poor recreation, we realized our classes from Burnley and I’m certain we’ll do the identical on this occasion. We’ve obtained an prolonged break earlier than Wolves on October 18 and I’m hoping to see the crew come again and get one other three factors at residence.
4 October 2025
Premier League
Outdated Trafford
Attendance: 74,004
Manchester United 2 (Mount 8’, Sěsko 31’)
Manchester United: Lammens, Shaw, De Ligt; Yoro (Maguire 84’), Dalot (Dorgu 63’), Amad; Casemiro (Ugarte 84’), Fernandes, Mount (Cunha 63’); Mbuemo (Mainoo, 75), Sěsko
Subs Not Used: Bayindir, Heaven, Leon, Zirkzee
Sunderland: Roefs, Hume (Geertruida 78’), Mukiele; Alderete, Masuaku (Talbi 58’), Xhaka; Sadiki, Le Fée, Traore (Mayenda 58’); Adingra (Ballard 34’), Isidor (Brobbey 59’)
Subs Not Used: Patterson, Neil, Rigg, O’Nien