Senne Lammens made an impressive debut in Man Utd's 2-0 win over Sunderland, but faces the ultimate test of his nerve with a trip to arch rivals Liverpool up next
Senne Lammens pictured in action for Manchester United against Sunderland
Senne Lammens pictured in action for Manchester United against Sunderland
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Senne Lammens was handed a gentle introduction to the Premier League with Manchester United's comfortable 2-0 win over Sunderland at the weekend.
Lammens, an £18.2million deadline day signing from Royal Antwerp, looked assured and untroubled as he secured a clean sheet on his impressive United debut at Old Trafford.
But the 23-year-old is set for the ultimate test after the international break when he walks out at Anfield a week on Sunday for the clash against United's fiercest rivals and champions, Liverpool.
Nothing will have prepared Lammens for the venom and hostility that will come his way, with Liverpool fans ready to leave him in no doubt over the hatred they reserve for United players.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 4: Senne Lammens of Manchester United celebrates their first goal to make the score 1-0 during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Sunderland at Old Trafford on October 4, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Lammens made an assured debut for United in their 2-0 win over Sunderland
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That is why the cauldron of Anfield will be the true barometer of the young goalkeeper's temperament and mindset, playing under the most intolerable pressure and relentless intimidation.
The Liverpool fans who will spend the whole game trying to put him off for the 90 minutes will hoping they succeed and that it is a case of 'Lammens to the Slaughter' by the end of the acrimonious encounter.
That Lammens has impressed United's goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, and his staff will come as no surprise to anyone who witnessed his confident display against the newly-promoted Black Cats.
Those who work closely with Lammens on a daily basis at United have been struck by how mature he is for his age, given his relative inexperience when it comes to playing at the highest level.
“He's got a very calm personality and seems to be taking everything in his stride so far,” said a United source who sees Lammens at the training ground every day. “He's impressed a lot in training and everyone only has positive things to say about him.”
Lammens credits his mother and father with his calm demeanour. “My parents are also really calm and collected,” he said. “From growing up, when I thought about the goalkeeper I wanted to become later in life, I think one of the best attributes you can have is staying calm under pressure, in any circumstances, even if you make a mistake. You just move on and try to give your best to the team.
Senne Lammens poses for a photograph
Lammens joined United from Belgian club Royal Antwerp for an initial fee of £18.2m
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“If you want to be a good keeper, you have to be a rock behind the defence. They have to trust you and count on you in difficult moments. That is something I take pride in.”
Off the pitch, Lammens -currently on international duty with Belgium - is as calm and settled as he is on it, having recently moved out of a Manchester hotel and into a house in the Cheshire enclave favoured by Premier League footballers, where he now resides with his girlfriend.
He may have only been a United player for a little over a month, but Lammens has adapted to his new environment much quicker than many of United's recent new signings. He has enjoyed a meteoric rise, considering last season was his first full campaign as Antwerp's first-choice keeper, and he now finds himself occupying that role for one of the biggest clubs on the planet.
That is testimony to his natural talent, strength of character and mental resilience, all of which will be tested to the limit at Anfield and the games to come if, as is surely the case, he keeps his place as United's No.1 ahead of Altay Bayindir.