It has been a perfect start to the season for Manchester United. Three wins from three, 10 goals scored and zero conceded are numbers that will please Jose Mourinho, even if the Portuguese will not be getting carried away with 35 top-flight matches still to be played.
Some will point to the identity of their opponents so far, and it is undoubtedly true that the fixture computer has been kind to United - who have faced West Ham United, Swansea City and Leicester City - in the early weeks of the campaign. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that the Red Devils struggled in similar encounters last term, particularly at Old Trafford; Mourinho will therefore be delighted with the comprehensive nature of their triumphs so far, even if the bulk of their goals have tended to arrive late in games.
There looks to be a great balance to this United team, which many of their fellow big-six competitors are unable to match. Nemanja Matic has helped shore up the midfield and freed up Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to attack, while Romelu Lukaku has hit the ground running despite missing a penalty in the 2-0 defeat of Leicester. Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial provide a range of qualities from wide areas, and Eric Bailly and Phil Jones have proved a sturdy partnership in the heart of the backline. Indeed, while defensive question marks continue to hang over Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, United look resolute and solid.
There are therefore plenty of positive signs heading into the first international break of 2017/18, but supporters will remember that Mourinho's men also amassed nine points from the first nine available last time out, before finishing down in sixth place. It will also be interesting to see whether the United boss will take a bolder approach against his team's direct rivals; there is an argument that playing for a point in such matches is no longer enough for those clubs with title aspirations.
For now, though, United are looking strong as they set the pace early on in this Premier League season. There is a long way to go, but the Red Devils' balance means they are likely to be right up there at the business end of the campaign.
