Anthony Martial may well grab the headlines, but Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes excelled for Manchester United on their first start together.
The 2015 summer signing finally scored his first senior hat-trick as he lead United to a 3-0 victory over Sheffield United to underline United’s Champions League credentials.
However, the performances of Pogba and Fernandes in behind will have provided Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with plenty of optimism for the remainder of this season and the following campaign.
The Norwegian deployed Pogba alongside Nemanja Matic in a deeper midfield role, with Fernandes in behind Martial as a No.10.
The France international was making his first start for the club since December 2019 after struggling with an ankle injury all season.
In his absence, January signing Fernandes has shone at Old Trafford and has single-handedly dragged the Red Devils to victory t times already with his determined performances and silky skills.
So how did they fare on their first start together? Check out our detailed scouting reports on both Pogba and Fernandes as they combined to cut the Blades to ribbons at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.
10 mins: The first real link up between Pogba and Fernandes as the France international spins a first-time pass round the onrushing centre-midfielders into his colleague’s path.
Although the move breaks down, the biggest problem for Sheffield United became clear; get tight to Pogba and leave space in behind or drop off and give the World Cup winner time to pick his pass.
13 mins: Fernandes started to drift wide to find even more space as Rashford moved inside to link up with Anthony Martial up front.
While the England international inexplicably missed an open goal, Fernandes’ movement out wide is distracting the attacking centre-backs of Sheffield United and allowing Pogba and the front three space in which to operate.
17 mins: It is official; Fernandes has officially replaced Pogba as United’s main free kick taker. While Rashford is also capable of causing mayhem from set-pieces, Pogba has attempted his fair share of shots from long range.
The Portugal international tests Sheffield United goalkeeper Simon Moore with a rasping drive and he also takes the resulting corner, with Pogba lying ominously on the edge of the area.
19 mins: A glorious flick from Fernandes finds Rashford in space just outside the 18-yard box. The striker plays a one-two with Pogba and the midfielder dinks a lovely through ball into the path of the 22-year-old, who misses his volley.
27 mins: Fernandes once again finds himself in space and a beautiful flick allows him to evade the swarming midfielders. As has been the tone of the game, Pogba is there to support him and the Red Devils nearly carve out a chance.
34 mins: A period of Sheffield United pressure is subsided when, after intense pressure lead by Fernandes, the Blades are forced to clear long and concede the ball back to the home team.
Pogba is getting more and more time to dictate play from deep as a result.
34 mins: Fernandes goes down with an apparent ankle injury, only to jump straight back into action.
43 mins: Fernandes shapes to shoot twice, dummying on both occasions and selling two defenders with ease. His pass finds Pogba and the Frenchman feeds Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right hand side.
The £50m full-back crosses for Anthony Martial to side foot home United’s second goal of the evening.
47 mins: Fernandes plays a simple pass back to Pogba, who sprays a scything pass into the feet of Martial. Searching for his hat-trick, he plays a one-two with Fernandes who delays playing the ball back across the goal.
Although Mason Greenwood’s shot is easy for Moore in goal, the link-up between Pogba and Fernandes in the #10 and #8 axis in midfield is evident for all to see.
50 mins: The importance of Nemanja Matic in this formation is becoming more and more evident. Oli McBurnie is on to provide a more direct threat for the visitor and the Serbian is required to provide a shield for Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
61 mins: Pogba almost scores the goal of the season. As Sander Berge comes out to block what he thinks will be a pass to Fernandes, the France international nonchalantly rolls the ball through his legs.
Bruno Fernandes tells talkSPORT how excited he is to finally play with Paul Pogba at Manchester United
After shimmying past two tackles, he seems set to pull the trigger before Anthony Martial takes the ball off his toes and tries to shoot himself.
74 mins: Pogba picks up the ball on the right hand side and finds Fernandes on the edge of the box. As the defenders inevitably close in, the Portuguese star is once again too quick and flicks the ball away.
Marcus Rashford plays a one-two with Martial and the Frenchman scores his third to claim his first senior hat-trick.
78 mins: Both Fernandes and Pogba leave the pitch with Solskjaer keen to freshen his squad up. The fact there are no fans here at Old Trafford is a travesty; the home fans have missed a masterclass performance from Solskjaer’s star men.
