Rio Ferdinand names Man Utd’s three most important players this season, including ‘joke’ signing

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Rio Ferdinand has named Manchester United’s three most important players this season, including two new signings who have hit the ground running.

Manchester United have turned things around after a slow start to the season, with a five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, including a 2-1 win over reigning champions Liverpool.

In their last outing, United drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur, but it felt like two points were dropped after conceding two avoidable goals late in the second half.

Bryan Mbeumo scored his sixth goal of the season and Matthijs de Ligt scored an equaliser in stoppage time, as United secured a point to keep them within reach of the top four.

United will be hoping to maintain their unbeaten run and get back to winning ways after the November international break when they host Everton at Old Trafford.

Rio Ferdinand is a huge fan of Bryan Mbeumo

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand has named United’s three most impressive players so far this season.

Mbeumo gets the most praise after his flying start since joining from Brentford for £71 million in the summer.

When asked to name United’s most important player right now on his YouTube podcast, Ferdinand named Mbeumo among two other players, calling the Cameroon international a ‘joke’.

“Mbeumo has been a joke,” Ferdinand said. “He’s really stepped in there and become a mainstay.

“He’s someone who can give you two or three seconds on the ball to relieve pressure. He can score important goals and create chances.

“I saw Thomas Frank’s comments about him the other day and Mbeumo nearly being a complete winger.

“I think by the end of this season, he’ll be one of the most complete wingers in the Premier League because he can do everything. He just needs to consistently do it in a United shirt.”

This praise comes after Owen Hargreaves compared Mbeumo to Mohamed Salah.

Mbeumo won the Premier League Player of the Month award in October, contributing massively to United’s improved run of results.

Ferdinand also singled out De Ligt and Senne Lammens for praise as United’s other two most important players this term.

“I don’t think it’s one man,’ Ferdinand added. ‘It can’t be down to one man. I think Matthijs de Ligt has been our best defender this season, he’s been outstanding for us.

“He’s even adding goals – with the last-minute one the other day [against Tottenham].

“His pressing, his assertiveness and his willingness to go into foreign areas up the pitch to defend at the right times has been good. Clearing out of the box, he has been brilliant.

“[And] the goalkeeper. You can’t talk about anyone being our most important player without mentioning the goalkeeper.

“It’s no coincidence we’ve had an upturn in form. We’ve got a goalkeeper that it seems all the players trust.”

How does Bryan Mbeumo compare among Premier League top scorers?

Five of Mbeumo’s first six goals for United were scored in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old is ranked sixth in the Premier League top scorers list.

Man City’s Erling Haaland tops the list with 14 goals, while former United striker Danny Welbeck is third with six goals.

Premier League top scorers:

• Erling Haaland: 14
• Igor Thiago: 8
• Antoine Semenyo: 6
• Danny Welbeck: 6
• Jean-Philippe Mateta: 6
• Bryan Mbeumo: 5