Manchester United in perfect condition for derby encounter: Premier League talking points

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring their first goal against Stoke City on Saturday. Reuters / Lee Smith

Three games in and Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United side look like strong contenders for the Premier League title. They’ve made a massive improvement since last season and are going toe-to-toe with Manchester City and Chelsea at the top of the table.

On the surface, Mourinho hasn’t made drastic changes. United only have three new signings in the side – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly – and they are playing the same formation as last season.

But there is more confidence and swagger about the side, and that can only be down to Mourinho’s influence.

• More: Liverpool, Tottenham draw in a feisty affair | PL Round-up

Despite having to wait until injury time to find the winner against Hull City on Saturday, United were in complete control of the game and failure to win three points would have been down to their profligacy in front of goal alone. Hull barely had a kick in United’s half.

Last season, United rarely dominated a game in such a way. Yes, they dominated possession on many occasions, but this was a domination of possession, territory and chances. United had 29 shots on goal.

What is striking are the options Mourinho has at his disposal. He named an unchanged side from the team that beat Southampton 2-0 at Old Trafford.

He talked midweek about why Bastian Schweinsteiger is unlikely to get a game in his United midfield, because Mourinho has five players ahead of him in that position. But it’s not just midfield where United have options. Chris Smalling can’t get a game in defence at the moment, and he was a near-ever present last season.

Marcus Rashford is an impact substitute. Big-money summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan can’t get in a game because Wayne Rooney has risen to the challenge of more competition.

United have the strength in depth and overall quality to absorb injuries and be challenging for a title in nine months time. The next question they have to answer is on the pitch. They’ve beaten two possible relegation contenders on the road and Southampton at home. Next up is their first major test – the Manchester derby.

Something up with Stoke

Stoke have finished ninth in the past two seasons, but they’re off to a poor start in the current campaign. In 2015/16, they failed to win the first six matches, so they’re not in all-out-panic mode, yet, but Mark Hughes’ team seem to be missing a spark.

When all Stoke’s players are fit, they have a fantastic team on paper, but star playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri is injuy-prone and their best goal scorer, Marko Arnautovic, can take a while to get going. He netted 14 goals for club and country last season, but only scored once in his first 10 in all competitions.

In the meantime, it’s like Stoke have gone back two years – they are playing Peter Crouch as centre-forward.

The 35-year-old striker didn’t score a league goal last season and has never scored more than 10 in a league campaign for Stoke. It’s surely only a temporary plan for Hughes, but as his side sit rock bottom of the table, he either has to get the cheque book out again before Wednesday’s deadline, or hope that key players regain fitness and form quickly.

If not, Stoke could be facing a surprise season of struggle.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport