Manchester United's 1-0 victory over Everton is not only meaningful in terms of 3 points, but also a complete performance of the new squad arriving at Old Trafford in the summer of 2025.
The only goal was the perfect combination of 3 new signings. Matheus Cunha initiated the situation, Bryan Mbeumo launched a sharp assist and Benjamin Sesko coldly finished.
Behind that explosive moment is a solid stopper named Senne Lammens. The Belgian goalkeeper is proving that he could be Man United's most quality signing in the past year, even the perfect piece for many years to come.
Lammens faced 10 corner kicks, most of which were poured straight into the penalty area. He handled 35 crosses, caught two situations and punched the ball to relieve danger four times. 4 shots on target forced him to show his talent, in which the highlight was the divine dive to deny Michael Keane's shot in the 82nd minute, before continuing to save Tyrique George's late effort in the 90+2 minute.
The calmness and confidence of the Belgian goalkeeper in the face of fierce attacks were even more commendable when he started the match not smoothly at all. Just 10 seconds after the opening whistle, Lammens was approached by Thierno Barry, forcing him to quickly clear the ball into the opponent's striker's position. A situation that could become a disaster, but he quickly regained his focus.
Even midfielder Kobbie Mainoo compared the high balls and corner kicks in front of Man United's goal to a WWE "Royal Rumble" - where fitness, bravery and predictive ability are pushed to the limit.
Lammens' performance creates a clear contrast with what fans have witnessed from Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir. Both have conceded goals directly from corner kicks, often appearing uncertain when facing crosses and sometimes losing psychological control after mistakes.
On the contrary, Lammens showed incredible bravery. Not panicked, not confused, he stood firm in the pressure and preserved the achievements that his teammates above created. In a match where the defense was constantly challenged, the stability of this young goalkeeper was the foundation for Man United's minimal but valuable victory.
Lammens clearly benefited from tactical adjustments since Michael Carrick took over as coach. He has abandoned the 3-center-back system that Ruben Amorim used to apply. The familiar 4-defender formation makes the defensive structure clearer, while the continuous center-back rotation under Amorim previously significantly affected the cohesion of the whole team.
Although Lisandro Martinez is absent due to injury, Lammens still shows significant understanding with the upper defense. The clean sheet against Everton is the third time in 6 matches he has done this under Carrick's reign. This number is clearly contrasting with the period Amorim led. In the first 20 matches in all competitions this season, Man United has only had a meager two wins.
Arranging an additional defender and letting the players play in their preferred positions helps the M.U defense system operate more stably. However, the biggest difference lies in Lammens himself. The certainty in tackles, the ability to control space and decisive reflexes make Man United's defense look much more confident.
