After losing their first two games, Manchester United looked to have finally got back on track under Erik ten Hag. Wins against Liverpool and Arsenal were the highlights as they found themselves moving up the table, but then they had to face Pep Guardiola's Man City.
The difference in quality was clear from the first minute; as it should have been with Ten Hag's side only three months into its project and their opponents many years down the line. Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both scored hattricks as they dismantled their rivals at the Etihad.
United did manage to score three goals however and that is reflected in their power rankings, which have been taken from the club's rankings on Whoscored. But who tops the charts for Ten Hag's side?
ALSO READ: A 1/10 and 2/10s: United player ratings vs City
Let's have a look at the top five United players currently on Whoscored.com :
5. Diogo Dalot:
Dalot had a tough time against Man City. The Portuguese right-back received a yellow card within two minutes after fouling Jack Grealish and could not seem to get a handle on the forward throughout the first half.
However, throughout the rest of the season, Dalot has only gone from strength to strength and is starting to deliver on the promise that Jose Mourinho talked about when he signed him back in 2018. And that is why the full-back finds himself fifth on the list of best so far.
4. Bruno Fernandes:
Many United fans would be expecting Christian Eriksen to be on this list, but he sits well outside the top five according to Whoscored. His Portuguese teammate Fernandes however finds himself fourth, mainly due to the number of chances he has created so far this season.
Fernandes hasn't quite clicked under Ten Hag as of yet, but he has been improving. If he can consistently arrive in the half spaces and late into the box to offer a goal threat, then hopefully he can get back to his goalscoring best under the Dutch manager.
3. Marcus Rashford
Off the back of his Player of the Month win, Rashford finds himself third on this list. He wasn't effective against Man City but United struggled to reliably get the ball to him or any of the other forwards at the Etihad.
He has scored three goals and registered two assists in seven games so far occupying the striker role, but with the return of Antony Martial to fitness it will be likely that he will move back out wide. Hopefully, he can continue his form from the left wing as well.
2. Antony
Two starts in the Premier League for Antony and two goals. The Brazilian may not have had a chance to show off his skills so far for United but his goal against Man City was a reason for United fans to get off their seats on a bad day at the office.
The Brazillian received the ball out wide before cutting inside and curling it into the far corner with a well-struck shot. Ederson didn't have a chance.
1. Anthony Martial
With only two substitute appearances under his belt, this may skew his rating slightly, but Martial has affected both games he has appeared in positively so far. He assisted Marcus Rashford's eventual winner against Liverpool and scored two goals against Man City.
Now he has returned to fitness, the hope is he will finally be the number nine Ten Hag has been looking for and someone who can lead the line for the rest of the season.
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