EXCLUSIVE: Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke says the Red Devils' forward line is now on par with Liverpool's after a dramatic series of moves for the Reds late in the transfer window
Bruno Fernandes
Liverpool and Manchester United are both off to high-scoring starts to the 2026/27 season(Image: Getty Images)
The 2026 transfer window has been a busy one for Liverpool in the attacking areas. Gone is stalwart Mohamed Salah, and in his place are Bradley Barcola from PSG and Victor Munoz from Osasuna.
Cody Gakpo looked to be shipped to Manchester City with Ismaela Sarr coming back to the Reds, but the deal collapsed just ahead of the transfer deadline. The injury-prone Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are Liverpool's only two senior strikers.
Manchester United, after spending big on forward areas in 2025, has spent the 2026 summer window investing in midfielders. Who does this leave better equipped in forward areas for the 2026/27 season?
Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke thinks "there isn't much" between the Reds and Red Devils up front despite Liverpool's flurry of transfer activity.
"[This] wouldn’t have been the case maybe four or five years ago, but I think that is the case now," Yorke told Liverpool.com on behalf of Reviant. Four or five years ago, the Reds ran out the Champions League-winning trio of Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino.
United spent over $200 million in 2025 on the attacking trio of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbuemo. Marcus Rashford has returned to the club from a loan spell at Barcelona.
Amad Diallo broke out in 2025. Bruno Fernandes, the 2025/26 Premier League Player of the Year, scored a hat-trick over the weekend against Ipswich Town.
Dwight Yorke
Dwight Yorke scored 123 Premier League goals(Image: Getty Images)
"I think United, and Sesko specifically, is as good as anybody in the league when he's on form," Yorke added. "If you look across the flanks, we’ve got players in these various areas like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo who can play wide left and right and really be creative."
He added, "I don't think we are far off from the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City now."
Yorke knows a thing or two about scoring: the three-time Premier League winning scorer was the 1999 UEFA Champions League top scorer, the same year he won the Premier League's Player of the Season honor.
Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes celebrates his hat-trick with fellow Manchester United forward Bryan Mbuemo(Image: Getty Images)
The Red Devils' offense purred against Ipswich Town as coach Michael Carrick opted for Rashford and Mbuemo on the wings next to Bruno at the No. 10 and Cunha up front. His side's 4.77 expected goals scored was the most for a Manchester United team since 2023.
Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola already tweaked his left-winger-heavy attack in each of the first two Premier League matchdays.
Against Newcastle, he started youngster Rio Ngumoha (a natural left-winger) on the right next to Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo on the left and under striker Alexander Isak.
Against Nottingham Forest, he drafted Victor Munoz in on the left after his strong Newcastle cameo and shifted Gakpo to the right, dropping the underwhelming Ngumoha to the bench.