Player Ratings: Manchester United 5-1 Leeds United

_{Manchester United Player Ratings as United open their Premier League campaign in emphatic fashion (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images,)}

Manchester United opened their Premier League campaign with an emphatic victory vs Leeds. The pain of last season’s resurfaced for Leeds fans despite their equaliser to Bruno Fernandes first-half goal early in the second half. An additional two goals from the Portuguese international plus goals from Fred and Mason Greenwood ensured the perfect start for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men.

Here’s how each player performed with a rating out of 10:

David De Gea: 6

De Gea had a strong performance, making a couple of good saves and displaying a strong, dominant, and demanding presence within the box. Despite this, however, the Spanish Goalkeeper didn’t have much else to do, as a result of the rest of the team’s assertive performances.

Defence

Luke Shaw: 6.5

Shaw, as ever, had a very good match- consistently bombing up and down the line, portraying an excellent attacking threat and an equally impressive defensive outing, providing consistent over for United’s centre-backs, whilst also using his pace to attack the Leeds backline.

Harry Maguire: 6

Harry Maguire had a fairly decent performance, making a few vital interceptions and leading his backline in his usual commanding demeanour. However, with United dominating the midfield in particular, it has to be said that Maguire wasn’t under constant pressure from Leeds’s attacking forces.

Victor Lindelof: 7

Similarly to Harry Maguire, Lindelof performed well today. He displayed an impressive ability to read the crossed balls into the box and intercept them ahead of the Leeds attackers. In addition to this, the Swedish Centre-half registered a fantastic deep-lying, long-ball assist, in which Bruno Fernandes magically capitalised on with a smashing finish.

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Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 6.5

Wan-Bissaka seems to be a player that is gradually improving all aspects of his game during his Manchester United career, and this was particularly evident in today’s outing. His speed and tenacity, amongst other valuable characteristics, shone through in today’s performance. Aaron possesses a wonderful ability to charge through opposition defences, whilst also having the recovery pace to sprint back into his half and exhibit one of his infamous slide tackles; feared by attackers around the country!

Midfield

Fred: 7

Despite what could have been considered a relatively shaky first-half, losing possession on several occasions, Fred massively improved during the second half. During this half, Fred showed every positive trait that Man United fans typically associate with the Brazillian midfielder- he was fearless, obstinate, and never shied away from a tackle, winning the ball on several occasions and displaying a good level of expansive attacking influence upon the game, with his forward passing. Fred, although an unlikely candidate, even managed to score one of United’s 6 goals, providing an excellent finish after a great forward run into the box.

Scott Mctominay 7

McTominay, during today’s game, also had a terrific performance. The United midfielder is increasingly become a fan favourite due to his animalistic work rate- never giving up and constantly fighting for possession. Scott also possesses a surprising attacking element to his game, with the ability to storm forward through the centre of the pitch- This, again, was evident against Leeds, today.

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Bruno Fernandes: 9.5

It is hard to find a single adjective in which to describe this player. Here’s one: Astonishing! Bruno Fernandes is arguably becoming one of, if not the best, attacking midfielder in world football. Today’s game proved this. Bruno registered a hattrick against Leeds, scoring three outstanding goals, with the third goal particularly notable- in which he rocketed the ball into the top of the net after taking the ball into his stride in an effortless fashion. Bruno Fernandes will once again light up the Premier League, this season.

Attack

Paul Pogba: 9

Amongst Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba was also a contender for Man Of The Match. Pogba will have inevitably silenced many of his doubters with this performance, managing 4 assists. The Frenchman was able to completely control and dictate the midfield today, using his strength and technical elegance to feed through balls of a perfected nature to United’s attackers. What a brilliant performance, from a world-class midfielder.

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Mason Greenwood: 8

It is hard to remember that Greenwood is only 19 years of age. Within today’s performance, his hold up play, passing range, and attacking, skilful forward runs had a noticeable effect on the game. Greenwood also managed to score after a perfectly weighted ball was played through from Pogba, in which Mason gracefully slid the ball past the Leeds keeper and into the back of the new.

James: 5

Despite an overall great team performance, the one weak link seemed to be Dan James down the right-hand side for United. Despite clear work rate and effort from the Welsh international, it seems he lacks clear creative quality, something that Jadon Sancho will likely be able to provide as a replacement on the wing.