Alan Shearer and Micah Richards in agreement on Man Utd duo ready to ‘hurt'

Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were both impressive in Manchester United's Premier League win over Brighton and they have been praised for their impact in Ruben Amorim's team

Micah Richards and Alan Shearer have heaped praise on Manchester United forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha following Saturday's 4-2 win over Brighton. United have now recorded three successive victories for the first time under Ruben Amorim, following their previous wins over Sunderland and Liverpool.

United raced into a 2-0 lead against the Seagulls on Saturday evening thanks to Matheus Cunha's first goal for the club and Casemiro's deflected strike. Mbeumo scored his third goal for the club since his summer move from Brentford in the second-half with an excellent finish past Bart Verbruggen.

Danny Welbeck's free-kick and Charalampos Kostoulas' header made it a nervy finish at Old Trafford. However, Mbeumo was on the scoresheet once again to round off another impressive afternoon for Amorim.

Following the conclusion of the weekend's action, United sit sixth in the Premier League table after nine games. They are just two points off Bournemouth in second and sit one point above champions Liverpool, who have now suffered four straight games.

Since losing 3-1 to Brentford at the end of September, United have now earned maximum points in their last three games and appear to be finally clicking in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system. Mbeumo and Cunha, who cost over £120million between them in the summer, have both been key to the turnaround in United's attack.

Speaking on the latest edition of the 'Rest is Football' podcast, Shearer and Richards have credited the duo for their influence on United. "You've got to give big credit to Man United," Shearer said.

"After their result last weekend, you can imagine if you win at Liverpool and then you don't win at home, you know what the scenario is and what everyone would be saying. [It's a] big win for them.

"Mbeumo getting a couple of goals. [They were] under pressure in the last few minutes, but then he gets that goal and it's all over. That result, along with the run they're on, will give everyone confidence and a huge belief that his system can work.

"Let's see, good result, but let's see in the next month or so. Going forward, you've got to say well done to them.

Richards added: "What Man United have been crying out for is, if you're going to play that system, to be brave. Luke Shaw was very brave in the way he stopped in and they go and get the goal.

"If you look at the positioning of Cunha, he was filling in that midfield role. The system can work, I just don't think they played it in the right way, or have the players to do that. This is the first time I've been convinced that they know what their roles are.

"I agree with Alan now, the challenge now is consistency. Mbeumo, you give him time and space, he's going to hurt you and he played really well."

Lineker followed that with praise for Cunha, who had previously failed to score for United. "He's really good Mbeumo," Lineker added.

"I mean he's also, I suppose, the question mark again, someone that's done consistently well at a club like Brentford with all due respect, is to then jump to one of the giants in world football and be able to handle it.

"Clearly he can. It's not phased him in the slightest. I would say the same for Cunha. Obviously, he's got the experience of Atletico Madrid, which you know, is obviously one of the big boys in Spain, but Manchester United is a little different."

Shearer interjected: "And they've gone there at the most difficult time as well, haven't they? I mean, it's not as if they're going into a football club that's flowing and winning games and all of that.

"They've gone into a really turbulent club that has had a really tough time and it's toughest time to go in there and perform. He's done really well."

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