Alan Shearer identifies key change that has made Man United big attacking threat

Alan Shearer was impressed by the attacking threat posed by Manchester United in their dominant 3-0 win over Sheffield United at Old Trafford. 

United cruised to victory over Chris Wilder’s men, who are also challenging for a European spot in the closing games of the season.

Anthony Martial netted his first hat-trick for the Reds, with two clinical first-half finishes before a nonchalant chip over Dean Henderson’s replacement Simon Moore.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was afforded the perfect chance to start the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Martial in the same side against the Blades and the variety in attacking talent was so exciting for United fans.

While Martial stole all the headlines with his trio of goals, there were plenty of other notable performers.

And Shearer believes the number of players United committed when transitioning in attack is what made them so dangerous.

“There are definitely big improvements, particularly going forward in the number of players they were committing,” he told Match for the Day, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News. 

“At times, they had five or six players… when the team (Sheffield United) presses that high it’s what United want because they have the pace to hurt you.

“They’re certainly playing with confidence and they look fresh.

“Sheffield United were poor defensively and they’re missing big players but Martial looked so lively in and around the six-yard box. His finishing was superb.

“Look at the men they’ve got in the box ready to finish it off (for the second goal). If it doesn’t fall to Martial there it goes to someone else.

“This (the third goal) was sublime. Little touch from Bruno Fernandes, into Martial, give and go, a pass into his path and the finish was excellent. A hat-trick for him and his first hat-trick in English football. Very, very good.”

Martial’s hat-trick was the first a United player has made in the league for over seven years. Robin Van Persie was the last United player to score one to secure the Reds’ 20th title under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.

The Frenchman eclipsed his previous best goal tally and is now on 19 for the season in all competitions, repaying the faith showed in him by Solskjaer to select him as the frontman.

He is likely to get the chance to hit the 20-goal mark, seen as the staple for any elite forward, as the Reds take on Norwich City in the FA Cup quarter-final at Carrow Road on Sunday.

READ MORE: Wilder suggests unbelievable MUFC were Sheffield United’s toughest opponents all season

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