David de Gea
Recent errors potentially signal regression but, prior to Atalanta away, De Gea had been faultless. He has saved United points at Southampton, Wolves and West Ham, as well as in the fortuitous win over Villarreal. He was United’s only adequate performer in the thumpings by Leicester and Liverpool. 8
Dean Henderson
Made some fine saves in his one and only appearance all season in the defeat to West Ham. His bout of Covid-19 not only wrote off Henderson’s pre-season but six months of his career. 6
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
United's downward spiral began with Wan-Bissaka's expulsion against Young Boys. No player symbolises the failure of the ‘cultural reset’ more than Wan-Bissaka, a £50million signing United chose out of 804 right-backs that were scouted. United wanted to replace him with Kieran Trippier in the summer. 3
Diogo Dalot
Wan-Bissaka has at least avoided a chasing like the one Dalot got from Arnaut Danjuma in the first-half against Villarreal. Despite Wan-Bissaka’s dire form, Dalot has only started twice. 3
Harry Maguire
Maguire has endured a raging hangover from a phenomenal European Championship. He was flagging before the horror show at Leicester, where the crowd unnerved him, and he has become worse since. His leadership has also come under question. 2
Raphael Varane
It is not a coincidence United have lost all four league games with one of Varane and Maguire off the pitch. Varane was sidelined for the defeats to Leicester, Liverpool and City, games United shipped 11 goals in. His presence was key to the clean sheets at Wolves and Tottenham. 7
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Victor Lindelof
Long gone are the days when United could afford an injury to Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic, with a dependable third-choice to call upon. Lindelof has had plenty of playing time and shown why Varane was signed. 4
Eric Bailly
Excelled in two starts six weeks apart against West Ham and Atalanta but Bailly tears around like a Formula 1 driver without a gearbox and disaster was around the corner against City, when he scored an own goal and was hooked at half-time. 5
Luke Shaw
Had a reasonable start to the season but has suffered a gradual decline the last two months and has not been as penetrative a force down the left. By Shaw's own admission, his form has dropped off. 5
Alex Telles
Heavily culpable for West Ham’s League Cup winner but rallied with a match-changing equaliser against Villarreal seven days later. Those have been his only starts and Telles' shelf-life at United might not extend beyond this season. 4
Scott McTominay
Shone in the thrashing of Leeds until it transpired Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was running him into the ground as well. Has been overplayed since returning from groin surgery and his form has deteriorated. 5
Fred
Sardonically cheered off against City by supporters fatigued by his regular presence in the side. Fred, a decent player who should not be a regular for United, has been overexposed by his manager and wilted. 4
Nemanja Matic
Underused by Solskjaer when he is the only specialist defensive midfielder in the squad. Solskjaer’s failure to identify a midfield solution from within has been his undoing. Matic has had good impacts off the bench, steadying the ship in Bern and breaking the line with his pass for Jesse Lingard at West Ham. 5
Paul Pogba
Peaked with a virtuoso opening performance against Leeds. Pogba was one of the league’s players of the month in August, then United signed another number seven on exorbitant wages. Dropped against Liverpool and a walking disaster at Atalanta. 5
Donny van de Beek
Two starts in the cups, two reasonable performances, and yet he has barely had a kick in the league. Solskjaer was not entirely sold on signing Van de Beek and it has shown. He has not lined up in a meaningful league game since December 6. 4
Jesse Lingard
Scored classily against Newcastle, erred in Bern but atoned with a blockbuster winner at West Ham, and also cleverly allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to take the glory against Villarreal. Yet he has still not started in the league - where Lingard has been restricted to five cameos. 6
Juan Mata
Played one game all season and was mystifyingly first to be substituted in the defeat to West Ham. Considering a permanent departure in January. 4
Bruno Fernandes
The opening day hat-trick against Leeds suggested Fernandes was raising the bar again and the quality of his assists has matched the quantity. Yet he has hit a ceiling and often infuriates with his hasty wastefulness in a team seemingly incapable of controlling matches. 6
Anthony Martial
Tony Martial, scorned again. Pitiful in his starts against Southampton and West Ham, his only goal of the campaign against whipping boys Everton was on his last appearance - on October 2. Crumbled in the past when there has been competition (Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexis Sanchez, Edinson Cavani) and it has happened again with Ronaldo. 2
Edinson Cavani
El matador charges around like a bull and United’s attack was as sharp as horns with Cavani alongside Ronaldo at Spurs. Yet Cavani is constantly in the physio’s room and tends to break down frequently. 5
Marcus Rashford
Recovered from his three-month lay-off encouragingly, scoring three coolly taken goals in four games. Still has some way to go to improve his performance level and permanently regain his place in the first XI. 6
Jadon Sancho
Without a goal or an assist three months into the season. Sancho has not performed well in any of his outings and is struggling with the heat in the pressure cooker environment. Another whose club form has cost him his national squad place. 3
Mason Greenwood
Started the season superbly but, other than the howitzer at Leicester and a key role in the Atalanta draw, has appeared cowed by Ronaldo’s return. 6
Cristiano Ronaldo
Netted winners against Newcastle, Villarreal, Atalanta, and Tottenham, as well as the stoppage-time equaliser in Bergamo. Ronaldo was always going to succeed back at United even if United weren’t. He has kept Solskjaer in his job. 8
