Manchester United

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League match between Sunderland and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Sunderland fans

Jacky: Good game. Sunderland by far the better team on the day. We were unlucky not to score, receive a pen and we hit the post. A point before the game would have been nice but disappointed not to win after such a good performance. No wonder their keeper got man of the match.

Peter: This game represented Sunderland's season. Solid in defence with some top-class interplay. But sadly clinical finishing has cost us a European spot. A great season that could have been fantastic.

Michael: Excellent all-round except the finishing. That is the last piece of the jigsaw for this team. Get that right and we will be a real force in the Premier League. Much better than United by far.

Jura: Another wasted opportunity to get maximum points because we struggle to score goals.

Man Utd fans

Andrew: Poor display by United, there was no urgency in trying to win the ball or win the game. United did not start to play until the last five minutes. I hope this effort was just a one-off or the Champions League is going to be short-lived.

Paul: Again a very under-par performance and couldn't have complained if the result had gone against them. Very poor forward play and midfield were always being pressured by a team who seemed more up for the challenge.

Mark: Sunderland certainly deserved a win. United were overrun by a team who fought better and had chances to win. United unfortunately were lethargic.

KB: United played like a team that had reached its objectives and it didn't really matter any more. Not a great watch.

Image source, Getty Images

The Telegraph's Luke Edwards believes Manchester United's performance against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light was "a reminder of how bad and limp" the Red Devils can be at the moment.

Having already secured Champions League for next season, Michael Carrick's side failed to find a breakthrough away from home, with their only shot on target coming in second-half stoppage time.

"Michael Carrick said the suggestion that there is nothing to play for offended him in his post-match news conference," Edwards added on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily.

"The suggestion offended him because they are playing for a magnificent football club etc - but I do think they had switched off mentally.

"Sunderland should've won because they were the better team. They were sharper, hungrier and stronger. I do think Carrick might've just wanted to take a look at a few of his fringe players though.

"He had a little look at Mason Mount, who was neat and tidy with a few flashes but was outmuscled. He also got a look at Joshua Zirkzee up front, who has probably come to the end of being a viable option to lead the line for Manchester United.

"Their mentality is still worrying to me, if not only a slight worry because they have had a fantastic run and they are back in the Champions League.

"They just looked flaky against Sunderland and if there's still that mentality in the dressing room, it raises the question of whether they are going to let Carrick down as well.

"It showed me they are still capable of throwing up the performances they did earlier on in the season."

Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison said: "I would agree. When you are Manchester United boss, you cannot be saying a point at Sunderland is good. I still don't understand what they are waiting for to give him this job, though."

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Manchester United have dismissed suggestions that Ivory Coast winger Amad Diallo, 23, could be allowed to leave this summer. (Teamtalk), external

Italy full-back Andrea Cambiaso has emerged as an option for Arsenal, Liverpool and United as Juventus could make the 26-year-old available for transfer this summer. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Sam Ashoo
Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It is fair to say Joshua Zirkzee's short career at Manchester United has lacked any sort of consistency.

Sunderland was his first start since December and was an opportunity to remind United fans that there's still a player there capable of wearing the shirt on a more regular basis. But it was not to be.

Zirkzee had just 25 touches - the least of any starter on the pitch - and one of which was a wayward pass aimed at Bruno Fernandes.

If nothing else, you expect to see urgency from a player who has featured so little, especially when playing in front of some of the country's most passionate away supporters.

Manchester United may well see these last few games as a chance to advertise Zirkzee in the proverbial 'shop window', but this was not a performance that will command a high price tag.

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney says the club need to decide quickly whether to appoint Michael Carrick as their permanent manager, as the uncertainty could lead to difficulty when trying to sign players in the summer.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens is happy with the way his debut season has gone at Old Trafford but accepts he still has lots to learn.

Lammens arrived from Royal Antwerp for £18.1m in September as a relative unknown to most supporters.

He was coveted by United's scouts though. They pushed to sign him ahead of Ruben Amorim's preferred option of Emi Martinez and while he watched three games from the bench as Altay Bayindir continued as first choice to the end of September, one Lammens got his chance, there was no looking back.

Until his error against Liverpool last weekend, the 23-year-old had barely made a mistake and earned more praise for his outstanding performance in keeping Sunderland at bay at the Stadium of Light.

Lammens is set to go to the World Cup as Thibaut Courtois' deputy for Belgium, which seemed unlikely last summer.

"I think I can be proud of the season I've been having," he said.

"I had the perfect opportunity and it was the perfect time to come into the team and to grow.

"I had a lot of things to learn and still have but in this squad, I also get the opportunity to show myself and to help the team out."

Lammens will get his first chance to experience the Champions League next season following United's rise in the table under Michael Carrick.

It is also anticipated they will do much better in the domestic cups that they managed this term, when they were knocked out at the first hurdle – they had been beaten by Grimsby in the EFL Cup before Lammens arrived at the club.

But Lammens also makes it clear this season's likely third place finish merely intended to be a step towards something better.

"It's been a very good season for me personally," he said.

"As a team as well, we've been growing and now it's about the next step.

"Next season is going to be a big one. Everyone's going to step up again because while this season was okay, it's not our end goal.

"We have to keep building on this and try to get better."

Image source, Getty Images

Match of the Day pundit Ashley Williams believes Nilson Angulo should have been sent off for hitting his forearm in the side of Bruno Fernandes' face in Sunderland's 0-0 draw with Manchester United in the Premier League.

"He's a very lucky boy," said Williams. "I don't know what he's thinking.

"It's not a running action and he's clearly tried to elbow him in the face. He's caught him with the forearm.

"We've heard since that because it was the forearm and not the elbow, or it wasn't enough contact, that it's not a red card.

"It is a red card because it's a naughty challenge and he's very lucky to have not been sent off."

Pundits Wayne Rooney and Ashley Williams join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Fulham 0-1 Bournemouth

• Sunderland 0-0 Manchester United

• Manchester City 3-0 Brentford

Interim head coach Michael Carrick has been speaking to BBC Radio Manchester and says his side had to dig deep in their 0-0 draw at Sunderland.

You can listen to the full interview above or on BBC Sounds.

Explore more Manchester United content here

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Casemiro has received a huge amount of praise for his performances this season.

Manchester United's fans have taken to chanting "one more year" in the hope the Brazilian would extend his stay at Old Trafford.

It won't happen. His absence this afternoon means an appearance clause that would have triggered an extra year in his contract will not have been met, even if it had not been mutually agreed to remove it, and Casemiro will leave at the end of the season.

United have made strengthening central midfield a number one priority in the summer and this performance emphasised why.

Kobbie Mainoo has shown his class since Michael Carrick took over and Mason Mount is an astute schemer and a danger in attack.

However, neither read a game like Casemiro - they don't sense danger in the same way, nor do they dictate the flow of a match.

It meant the visitors were not able to keep possession and build pressure, and frequently found themselves exposed to a Sunderland attack that would have profited had they been either more clinical or not found Lammens on top form.

It remains to be seen exactly how many players United bring in this summer, but two midfielders seems a minimum requirement. A lack of creativity when skipper Bruno Fernandes is off form was also evident given it took so long to threaten the Sunderland goal.

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It's an OK result, it isn't the end of the world by any stretch. We got a clean sheet away from home at a tough ground. We knew it was going to be tough.

"We knew it was never going to be a perfect game. It probably shows where we're at in terms of not playing totally at our best, so one point is OK.

"Maybe the changes affected our game a little bit, but it is a one-off game and it isn't something I'm thinking negatively about. There were a lot of positives today and it was good for some of the boys to get more game time and more minutes on the pitch, so I was really pleased with that."

On the run of scoring in every league game coming to an end: "That's football. We've scored goals for a long period of time, so not scoring in one game can also happen. It's not one to overanalyse from our point of view.

"I put this result down to football. There was a team out there defending as well as attacking, so it happens and I cannot be overcritical of our players today."

On whether Casemiro's presence was missed in midfield: "He has played well. In terms of missing players, we have a really good squad anyway. It is one performance and one game, so I don't think we need to overanalyse that bit of it either."

On whether there was an issue with motivation: "No. Not at all. Nothing is done, the season isn't finished. If someone has that mentality, they aren't in our camp. That's really not something we're concerned about at all."

Did you know?

• Manchester United's only shot on target in this match came in second half stoppage time, courtesy of Matheus Cunha.

• Manchester United are winless in all four Premier League matches this season in which Casemiro hasn't started (drawn one, lost three).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Sunderland's performance

What did you make of Man Utd's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Dan Ballard is suspended after getting sent off for pulling Tolu Arokodare's hair at Wolves last week.

Lutsharel Geertruida replaces Ballard in central defence as the only change from the draw at Molineux.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Mukiele, Geertruida, Alderete, Reinildo, Xhaka, Sadiki, Hume, Le Fee, Talbi, Brobbey.

Substitutes: Ellborg, Cirkins, Angula, Rigg, Mayenda, O'Nien, Isidor, Diarra, Bi.

Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko both miss out for Manchester United as Michael Carrick makes five changes to the side that beat Liverpool.

Manuel Ugarte is absent as well, so Kobbie Mainoo takes up a deeper midfield role and Mason Mount starts in the Premier League for the first time since December.

Lisandro Martinez is back after a three-game ban, while Noussair Mazraoui replaces Diogo Dalot at right-back and Joshua Zirkzee starts his fifth Premier League game of the season.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Mainoo, Mount, Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Zirkzee.

Substitutes: Bayindir, Dalot, Malacia, Dorgu, Heaven, Yoro, J Fletcher, T Fletcher, Mbeumo.

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Liverpool v Chelsea (12:30)

• Brighton v Wolves

• Fulham v Bournemouth - listen BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Sunderland v Manchester United - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester City v Brentford (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Fulham v Bournemouth" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v Brentford", for instance.

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Last Sunday's win over Liverpool was another big result for Manchester United boss Michael Carrick, especially because it secured Champions League qualification.

People forget what a rabble United were when he took over as head coach in January and he has brought a bit of calmness to the club.

United have got to make a decision about his future at the end of the season and can you imagine if they don't give him the job on a long-term basis? Mind you, I wouldn't be sure about United given some of the decisions they have made in the recent past.

In terms of this game, going to Sunderland is still a tough game - even though the Black Cats were walloped 5-0 by Nottingham Forest last time out at the Stadium of Light.

I keep backing Sunderland and keep being wrong about them. Their minds may be on the beach a bit, but I can see them getting a point here.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Prudent Nsengiyumva
BBC Sport journalist

Sunderland welcome Manchester United to the Stadium of Light on Saturday (15:00 BST) as they continue their push for a European place, while the visitors arrive with Champions League qualification already secured.

Can Sunderland's resilient defence withstand United?

Sunderland's first season back in the Premier League has been built on organisation and discipline, even if recent heavy defeats have tested that foundation. Regis Le Bris's side remain one of the division's more reliable defensive units, with 10 clean sheets underlining their structure.

They have also shown a habit of finishing strongly. Five goals in the final 10 minutes of home matches have earned valuable points, including a late win over Brentford and a draw with Arsenal.

The Black Cats will, however, be without suspended centre-back Dan Ballard after his red card against Wolves – a significant absence for a team that relies heavily on cohesion at the back.

Can United maintain form against bottom half opposition?

Manchester United travel north on the back of three straight wins, including completing a league double over Liverpool. Under head coach Michael Carrick, they have looked composed in high-pressure fixtures - also beating Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Their long-standing issue remains consistency against sides who sit deeper. United have won 10 out of 17 matches against top-half opponents, but only eight of 18 against those in the bottom half of the table, despite creating more chances.

History leans heavily towards the Red Devils, with Sunderland winning only three of their 33 Premier League meetings.

Bruno Fernandes again carries much of United's creative responsibility. The captain is one assist short of matching the Premier League season record of 20 held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.