Alan Shearer has sung the priases of two Manchester United stars in his predictions ahead of the Monday night fixture against Everton.
With the international football window coming to an end, Manchester United returns to action against Everton.
Rúben Amorim‘s men are currently one point behind fourth-place Sunderland and are five games unbeaten. They will be hoping to continue the consistent form after a mixed start to the season.
The extra firepower of summer signings, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, has elevated the attack this season, culminating in the club’s current rich vein of form.
Despite sitting in 13th, David Moyes’s Everton will be a tough test for United to overcome. They only sit three points behind, so a win for them would bring them level.
Shearer impressed with Cunha and Mbeumo
Despite offering very different profiles, Cunha and Mbeumo have brought a range of qualities to what was a previously blunt attack last season.
Goal-scoring-wise, Mbeumo has hit the ground running this season. With five goals in the Premier League so far, he is United’s top goalscorer and has contributed to 26% of Amorim’s side’s total goals so far. This culminated in the Cameroonian earning the Premier League Player of the Month for October.
While Cunha has not yet reached the heights in terms of goals and assists, his technical ability is clear to see. The Brazilian ranks in the 99th percentile in successful take-ons and 98th percentile in progressive carries and passes for forwards in the top five leagues, according to Fbref.
Alan Shearer, in his Metro predictions for the match, highlighted the pair as the Red Devils’ key players.
“Man United are on a good run, and the comeback against Spurs suggests they’re all in it together and have the bit between their teeth,” he said.
“It’ll be tough because Everton will frustrate them. But with Cunha and Mbuemo, they have two players who ask a lot of the opposition. For that reason, I’ll go for a home win.”
Man Utd need other players to step up
Cunha and Mbeumo are both clear breaths of fresh air this season. However, when the Cameroonian as well as Amad leave for Afcon, the club need to find alternatives.
Benjamin Šeško being out with an injury allows Joshua Zirkzee to get some much-needed sharpness, having only played 90 minutes all season so far. Kobbie Mainoo is another option, but he also needs more minutes to get his sharpness back to peak levels.
With both players looking for loan moves away for minutes ahead of the World Cup next summer, potentially now is their chance to cement their positions in the side.
Amorim will be hoping the pair step up when called upon; otherwise, during AFCON, the only other attacker left to call upon is Mason Mount.
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