Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer both felt strongly about one Manchester United star’s Premier League performance against Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday.
Manchester United lost their first clash in the aftermath of the September international break, with Manchester City securing a 3-0 win on the weekend.
The Red Devils were unable to climb back into the contest after City midfielder Phil Foden put Pep Guardiola’s men 1-0 up in the first half of the Manchester derby.
United’s woes against City continued into the second half after Erling Haaland had a devastating impact, with the in-form Norwegian striker netting a brace for his side.
City clinched all three points against United and Pep Guardiola’s side picked up their first Premier League win since the opening weekend of the 2025-26 campaign.
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Manchester United players look dejected after the team’s defeat during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in 2025 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Alan Shearer tells Gary Lineker his feelings about Benjamin Sesko’s Man Utd performance against Man City at the Etihad
Benjamin Sesko received his first Premier League start for Manchester United since his initial £66.3m move to Old Trafford from German side RB Leipzig in August.
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The 22-year-old Slovenian forward had featured in United’s previous three Premier League matches ahead of the City clash, but his appearances came from the bench.
However, Ruben Amorim finally rolled the dice with Benjamin Sesko in the starting XI and the former RB Leipzig ace struggled to exert his influence in the match.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Alan Shearer suggested that Sesko’s United performance against City highlighted the lack of service for him in the match.
“Yeah, they’re playing against a good team and I thought Man City had a lot more energy today, but I also look at Sesko because I obviously [played] in that position and he had that one shot very, very early on in the game,” he told Gary Lineker.
“Other than that, he must be thinking, ‘Any danger, any chance of giving me something here? Something to go after, some crosses or I don’t know.’
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Gary Lineker reveals to Alan Shearer what he noticed from Man Utd striker Benjamin Sesko against Man City
Benjamin Sesko was unable to find the back of the net before United manager Ruben Amorim made the decision to hook off the striker in the 80th minute.
Responding to Shearer’s assessment, Lineker agreed United’s summer signing lacked service before pointing out what he noticed about Sesko’s pace and movement.
“Yeah, he was absolutely starved of any real service,” he said.
“He went through once where he broke the offside trap and [the] ‘keeper blocked his shot, but he does look quick as well for a big guy.”
Lineker added: “And I watched him specifically for a lot of the game — as much as you can when you’re watching TV rather than being at the game — and his movement, he’s making darting runs, but the ball was I felt for him a little bit.
“I mean, it’s not, it’s tough when you’re not getting any service out.”
Sesko’s only other start for the Red Devils in his first five matches came in United’s humiliating defeat to Grimsby Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup.