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Premier League football, as well as Manchester United's campaign, are well and truly underway for another cracking season.
Premier League teams will be well prepared this time around for an exhausting fixture list thanks to a full pre-season with their players. With recruitment nearly complete, Premier League teams will also be better equipped to handle covid-related emergencies
At least that is what one can make out of Manchester United's preparations for the new season, looking at their 5-1 victory over Leeds on the opening day of the 2021-22 Premier League season.
On that note, let's take a quick look at
5 Manchester United players who stood out in the Premier League gameweek 1 win against Leeds United
#5 Scott McTominay
This writer firmly believes that every fixture of Ole Gunnar Solskjær's Manchester United against Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds should be viewed as a continued midfield warfare rather than a standalone battle. Every fixture since Leeds' promotion to the Premier League has seemed like a clash won in midfield.
In that context, Scott McTominay is someone who has always stepped up as Manchester United's Commander-in-Chief in midfield. Be it making late runs into the box, recovering the ball from deep, sticking an elbow out to regain possession or scoring screamers.
Although not yet a finished product, Scott McTominay has nevertheless stepped up for Manchester United as a true warrior whenever his team has needed saving. With a stellar performance on the opening day, McTominay is sure to add to the midfield conundrum. Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær will have to solve it soon to get the best out of his team.
#4 Harry Maguire
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is a leader on the pitch, and a leader off it. After many struggling displays in his starting days at Premier League giants Manchester United, Harry Maguire has finally come good for Manchester United as a proper centre-back and a leader with a voice.
With performances such as the one against Leeds and an impressive international campaign with England at UEFA Euro 2020, Harry Maguire is well and truly proving exactly why the Manchester clubs were in a race to sign him.
From calling out, "Rashy! Go on!" to Marcus Rashford to start his rapid runs into the box to taking the game head on with his commanding physicality. These are traits that this Manchester United team have been wanting in their central defense for so long.
Now Harry Maguire isn't just in it, but he's also becoming more than an indispensable member of the dressing room. Manchester United may finally be able to lay their defensive woes to rest following the signing of Raphael Varane. Naturally, Manchester United fans cannot wait for the defensive duo of Maguire and Varane to take their place at the heart of United's defense and hopefully start delivering silverware for the Premier League side.
#3 Mason Greenwood
Is Manchester United player Mason Greenwood still a star for the future, you ask? NO. Following the opening day thumping of Marcelo Bielsa's high-octane Leeds United, there's one standout finisher who has proved that age is just a number.
Although he finds himself on the favorable side of the spectrum at just 19 years of age, Mason Greenwood played an instrumental role in getting his side the lead after Luke Ayling equalized with a cracker of a goal.
Manchester United are no strangers to going behind in games, only to turn it around in the dying moments. Yet, in the victory over Leeds, this is just what Ole Gunnar Solskjær set out to avoid as he picked his side's cleanest finisher to lead the front line.
And boy, did Mason Greenwood deliver! Cutting in from the left to convert a sublime pass from Paul Pogba to drill a finish with his left. The stunning move showcased just a very small part of what this teenager has to offer to the Stretford End faithful.
Performances like these go on to reflect just how well Manchester United have been handling Greenwood's development in the first team and what an exciting future lies ahead for the forward.
#2 Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba is on a roll, having registered 4 assists to his name after just the opening fixture against Leeds. It just goes to show the level of performance the Manchester United star will be aiming to put in for the season ahead.
Pogba returned to United's first team in his best ever physical shape, thanks to an active off-season regime in the United States with top conditioning coaches. It's in stark contrast to how he started the season before.
Better late than never! This is the Paul Pogba that Manchester United paid top dollar for. Laying down assist after assist for his teammates at United is just what the hierarchy at Old Trafford have demanded of him.
Pogba playing an instrumental role against Leeds United - picking majestic passes to tear through their defense - is how United ended up with a scoreline of five goals to one.
Fans can expect more from this version of Paul Pogba, who thrives with attacking freedom.
#1 Bruno Fernandes
A hat-trick to seal the first win of the Premier League season for the Red Devils. There's no better way of announcing yourself to the fans finally back at Old Trafford to support the team. What makes it sweeter? The hat-trick came against one of United's fiercest rivals, Leeds United, in the Roses derby.
Incredible runs into the box, extreme attacking intent and more of a right man in the right place scenario - it all clicked for Bruno Fernandes to get his goal tally underway. Scoring goals left, right and center, all while beating a marker that Bielsa was careful to place on Bruno - to no avail!
Fernandes has not just excelled on the attacking front for Manchester United, but with intelligent performances like this, he's adding layers to their attack. Layers that United will be heavily banking on for the season ahead.
With Bruno Fernandes as their talisman, this Manchester United team is off to a great start!
