Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland : Mount 8’, Sesko 31’
After a promising start to the season, newly promoted Sunderland could have reasonably dreamed of pulling off a shock at Old Trafford against a Manchester United side that had fallen back into bad habits the previous weekend. But in the end, United handled business efficiently and came away with a win without ever being truly threatened.
This match had all the makings of a potential trap for a United team that has often blown hot and cold—capable of brilliance one day and frustration the next. For this one, manager Rúben Amorim made several bold choices, most notably handing a start to his new Belgian goalkeeper, Senne Lammens. The Portuguese coach remains under pressure despite the public backing of his board, and his team clearly wanted to spare him another headache.
Mason Mount opened the scoring in the 8th minute—a fitting reward for a player who has consistently earned his manager’s trust. The second goal came from Benjamin Šeško, one of United’s high-profile summer signings.
The victory gives Manchester United a welcome two-week breather heading into the international break, with a tough run of fixtures awaiting them upon return—Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, and Brighton.
As for Sunderland, they lacked the cutting edge needed to make their tactical plan work. Two early goals effectively killed their hopes, leaving the Black Cats chasing a game they never looked like rescuing.