United after five gameweeks
Michael Carrick’s United are twelfth after Gameweek 5 with one win, two draws and two defeats: beaten at Hull on the opening day and at home to Manchester City, a 5-2 win over Ipswich, and draws at Everton and Fulham.
The number that matters for FPL is the zero in the clean-sheet column. United have conceded eight in five, and every one of their defenders and goalkeepers has scored accordingly. The attack is different — eight goals, spread across Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha — which is where the FPL case for United sits.
Bruno Fernandes — every set piece United take
Bruno Fernandes is first in the official FPL order on penalties, corners and direct free kicks — one of only three players in the game on all three, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Pascal Groß. He has three goals and an assist and has played every minute.
That role is why he holds a floor other premium midfielders do not, even in a side that has not found its shape. He is a captaincy option in the weeks United are at home to a weak side; GW6, Tottenham at Old Trafford, is one of them.
Mbeumo, Cunha and the rest
Bryan Mbeumo, signed from Brentford, has played every minute, scored twice, and is second on penalties, corners and free kicks. Matheus Cunha is listed as a MIDFIELDER in FPL this season — five points a goal and a clean-sheet point — and has a goal and two assists at the same price as Mbeumo with a fraction of his ownership.
Kobbie Mainoo is the budget route into the midfield and carries a knock. Benjamin Šeško has not started a league game and has a shin injury; Marcus Rashford has started four but has not scored and is also flagged. Senne Lammens, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are the most-owned United defenders, and none of them is a pick until the clean sheets arrive.
United’s next five and how many to own
After the international break United play Tottenham (H), Leeds (A), Bournemouth (H), Chelsea (A) and Aston Villa (H). The FPL difficulty ratings put the Spurs game at 2 and only the trip to Chelsea at 4.
One or two United attackers is the sensible exposure: Fernandes for the set pieces, plus Mbeumo or Cunha. Leave the defence alone until it keeps a clean sheet. The live table on this page carries each player’s price, ownership and flag.