Manchester United face tough test ahead after best Premier League start since 2011
Craig Burley breaks down Man United's first goal and how their movement has impacted their goalscoring form. Jose Mourinho hails Marouane Fellaini's impressive current form as a response to critics over recent seasons. Stewart Robson explains why, unlike Paul Mariner, he has Romelu Lukaku over Sergio Aguero in his ranking of Premier League strikers.
Manchester United have made their best start to a Premier League season since 2011-12, when they also won six and drew one of their opening seven games. It's not the only comparison that is uncannily similar.
Six years ago, United's goal difference was 19 after seven games, as it is now. The only game in which dropped points were dropped was September a draw at Stoke. In 2011-12, the eighth league game was Liverpool away: United drew 1-1 on Oct. 15 and Jose Mourinho's side will play at Anfield on Oct. 14 this year.
And there's more: United were drawn in a Champions League group with Benfica and Basel that season, just as they have been this term; they haven't played either side in the intervening years. United drew their opening games and didn't make it out of the group stage, but look much better placed this season having taken six points from their opening two matches.
After seven games of the 2011-12 campaign, United and City led the way in the Premier League with 19 points after seven games and the pair are on top again, five points clear of the rest. However, for all the similarities there are also some differences, most notably where United's strength of opposition is concerned.
United were champions back then and, in those opening matches, beat Tottenham 3-0, Arsenal 8-2 and Chelsea 3-1; Spurs would finish fourth, Arsenal third and Chelsea sixth. So far this season, Mourinho's men have played weaker teams, with all six victories coming against sides in the bottom eight, including five of the bottom six.
In four of their next five matches, United play Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle. If the team can be as impressive in those games as they have been until now, there will be no doubt of their status as title favourites with the rivals from across town.
Meanwhile, around league trips to United Liverpool and Huddersfield are Benfica and Swansea away in the Champions League and Carabao Cup respectively. Mourinho is once again trying to compete on all fronts and, while he'd always like more players, he has a very strong squad.
The loss of Paul Pogba could be a significant one, though. No date has been put upon his return and that is a shame, for he started the season well. Unlike last year when he United club in August, he enjoyed a full preseason and also didn't have to deal with being the most expensive player on the planet; that was something some of his friends worried could adversely affect his performances, even though they say he is fine under pressure.
Having scored 54 goals in 38 Premier League last season, Manchester United have already netted 21 in seven in 2017-18.
Pogba was bought to shine against the very best but United still have a strong midfield, with Nemanja Matic exceptional since his arrival from Chelsea. No matter what the defending English champions say, they did not want to sell him. The problem for them was that Matic wanted to move to Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, probably for the first time since he joined four years ago, United can rely on Marouane Fellaini as a starter. Full of confidence, the Belgian midfielder has improved noticeably this season under Mourinho and become the player that David Moyes always hoped he could be when he signed him from Everton.
Fellani has scored four in his last six games, which gives rise to another incredible stat: With him on the pitch this season, United have scored 17 goals and conceded none. Given that he has played only 420 minutes, that's a goal every 24 minutes; little wonder that fans were singing for him with genuine appreciation during Saturday's 4-0 win against Crystal Palace.
United are scoring more and conceding fewer than ever before, including the 1985-86 team that started the season with 10 straight league wins... and then finished fourth. That position this season would be an improvement on last term but, given the start, fourth would be a disappointment.
Supporters are realistic but they know that Mourinho usually wins the league in his second season at a club and the manager enjoys almost unanimous support among fans. He's seen as the real deal, not just because of the results he is getting, as well as his reputation and experience, but because of the way he deals with players and gets the best out of them.
Anthony Martial was in his bad books at this time last season, but now looks like one of the best attackers in European football. Marcus Rashford continues to blossom. The pair start alternate games, a clever way by Mourinho to keep both fresh and yet determined as they become more experienced and, judging by their recent form, consistent.
Manchester's teams have started the season well, but they did so last year too and I remember agreeing with a City fan outside Old Trafford, before September's derby, that we couldn't see beyond the red and blue of Manchester finishing first or second. City ended up fifth, United were sixth.
It was different in 2011-12, when the teams led from the start and stayed out in front, even though City hammered United 6-1 at Old Trafford. Month later, United looked to have the edge going into the biggest Manchester derby in history, but City won by a single Vincent Kompany goal at the Etihad Stadium. The result gave City the impetus to win their first league title since 1968.
It came at the expense of United in the 93rd minute of the season's final game and is not something United fans need reminding about. Five-and-a-half years later and after several seasons in which they fell short of contending for league titles it is encouraging to see Mourinho's side at the top end of the table, with a near flawless record.
Andy Mitten is a freelance writer and the founder and editor of United We Stand. Follow him on Twitter: @AndyMitten.
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