Manchester United kept the unbeaten streak going against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, fighting back to draw 2-2.
While Manchester United’s recent standards have been victory-centric, a draw away against a defensively sound Nottingham Forest side can still be considered a successful outcome.
United salvaged a 2-2 draw with Forest, thanks to Amad scoring an utterly top-class volley from the edge of the area.
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Although a less-than-ideal outcome, United had some standout performers in the game, and also winners and losers.
Amad celebrates scoring for Manchester United
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
Winners
First, the winners.
Amad: Over the past few weeks, Amad has been getting increasingly better for United at wing-back, and after missing his share of chances this season, he is now on the mark
Amad showcased his quality to score the equaliser, and it was this moment of brilliance from the Ivorian that prevented United from losing.
Casemiro: 12 months ago, Casemiro was considered a ‘dead man walking’ at United, with expectations that the club would try to force him out.
Now, Casemiro is irreplaceable in the midfield, with goals and massive defensive output that is unmatched by other options.
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Luke Shaw: Lisandro Martinez is nearly back for United, and there is an expectation that this will ultimately see Shaw dropped.
However, Shaw had a top game against Forest, and he won’t go down without a fight.
Luke Shaw claps Manchester United fans vs Nottingham Forest.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Matheus Cunha: On a day when the United attack wasn’t quite functioning to an optimal level, Cunha was still very impressive.
Cunha created four chances, won 11 duels, and won five fouls, which helped relieve pressure. Consistently a top performer and irreplaceable for Amorim, as his lack of substitutions this week proved.
Losers
And now the losers.
Benjamin Sesko: Despite being really impressive in recent weeks, Sesko had arguably his worst game in a United shirt against Forest.
Poor touches and finishing alongside the number nine, looking isolated, will give Amorim the justification to drop him for Mason Mount.
Kobbie Mainoo: With minutes a rarity already for Mainoo, Saturday was a new low as Amorim left him on the bench for the entire game.
United were crying out for players to get on the ball and make things happen, something Mainoo thrives at, yet Amorim ignored him, which doesn’t bode well for his future.
Joshua Zirkzee: Similar to Mainoo, Zirkzee’s future at United is on very thin ice right now, with a January exit looking all but certain as he continues to receive next to no minutes.
On Saturday, it was ‘no’ minutes that he got, and this should be the clearest indication yet, in a game where goals were needed, and he wasn’t given a look-in, that he won’t be at United long.