Manchester United are the team to beat this season.

A dominant performance by all standards. Manchester United are the in-form team in the Premier League right now. 10 goals scored, none conceded, a trio of clean sheets, 6 different scorers. If this team was ravaged by a cliche of bad luck and profligacy last season,Jose Mourinho — and his players — has managed to banish those demons.
Even when new signing Romelu Lukaku missed a penalty in the second half, there was this composed feeling around the players of when — not if — the goal would come. It came. There was no composure last season as this would have been one of the many (15) matches they drew. They dominated Leicester, had a goal disallowed for offside, found keeper Kasper Schmeichel in good form, but they never gave up. This is the team Mourinho has been clamoring for since his appointment, and it seems he has found it.
Mourinho complained last season about the lack of depth in his squad nut he could afford to have Smalling, Lingard, Rashford, and Fellaini on the bench. Summer signing Victor Lindelof was not on the bench and with the impending arrivals of Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw from injuries, he has a plethora of players to pick from, a selection headache — a manager’s joy.

United scored a paltry 54 goals last season, averaging 1.42 goals per game, despite the firepower of Ibrahimovic, Rashford, Mkhitaryan and Pogba, one more then Bournemouth. Creating chances was not an issue; scoring them was. Ibrahimovic missed 18 “big chances” last season, a terrifying statistic considering he was also their top scorer. They’ve scored 10 goals in three games already, averaging 3.33 goals per game. That’s a vast improvement from last season. Although their momentum could drop over the course of the season, there has already been a remarkable improvement in the team’s overall performance.
New signings Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic have settled quicker than a fish to water, with the Belgian already having three goals to his name. Matic has superbly marshaled the midfield, protecting the defence and giving Paul Pogba the freedom in the final third of the pitch. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, used sparingly last season, has found his feet in the team this season and already has 5 assists to his name. Juan Mata continues to be impressive, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are both giving Mourinho enough reasons to be in the starting XI. And then there’s Jesse Lingard. And Marouane Fellaini. And Ander Herrera.
Before the season kicked off, many bookmakers already tipped Manchester City for the title. But as things are right now, it is the red half of Manchester that everyone should be scared of. Mourinho has found his perfect team. He has won the league in each of his second season as manager. It will take a brave man to bet against them winning the title come May 2018. The international break couldn’t have come at the worst possible time because right now, they are the team to beat.
