Manchester United vs Sunderland: Lammens stands out as depth issues remain

Manchester United’s goalless draw at Sunderland was more useful as a snapshot of the squad than as a point gained. It was Manchester United’s first 0-0 of the season, and it took until after the 90th minute for them to muster a shot on target. [Senne Lammens] was the best player on the pitch, Joshua Zirkzee was not, and the gap between the two told a lot about where this squad still sits.

Lammens rescued a flat attacking display

Lammens produced four saves and finished with a 9.2 rating, which is the sort of performance that can stop a dull afternoon becoming a damaging one. United needed it because the attacking side of the performance never really arrived.

Zirkzee made his first Premier League start of 2026 and was taken off in the 65th minute after a 6.2-rated display. He had just one shot, and for a player being asked to offer something different from the bench or from the start, that was a missed chance. Benjamin Šeško and Mason Mount were not the story here. Zirkzee was, because this was exactly the kind of game where fringe forwards are supposed to make a case.

Carrick did not hide from the wider issue. “I was aware some players hadn't played as much as they might have hoped,” plain text only. He also said, “This was evidence that, as it stands, this squad isn't equipped with the depth required to compete on two fronts.” Those lines fit the evidence from the match. United looked short of ideas, short of energy and short of reliable attacking alternatives when the game needed changing.

Why the draw matters more for next season

The draw also feeds into the bigger squad question. Manchester United will play closer to 60 games than 40 next season with Champions League football, and that makes these sorts of fringe-player auditions more important than they would be in a lighter campaign. If United are already leaning on a strong first-choice spine, they will need more from the squad behind it.

Casemiro’s absence became part of that conversation too. One report linked it to a knock, while another raised the possibility that it was related to avoiding a 35th start. The only safe conclusion is that United were without him, and the midfield was overrun by Noah Sadiki and Granit Xhaka. That matters because the issue is not just one line or one player. It is the fact that United can look too thin in the centre of the pitch and too blunt up front in the same match.

The draw did not change United’s season on its own. It did sharpen the case for a busier summer. Lammens showed there is value in parts of the squad. Zirkzee showed why Carrick still needs more, and United’s first shot on target arriving after the 90th minute was the clearest warning of all.