United take full advantage of Brighton's 'presents'

There was a time when talk of winning three in a row at Old Trafford referred to the hat-trick of league titles Sir Alex Ferguson secured in successive seasons, whether between 1999 and 2001 or 2007 and 2009.

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Ruben Amorim’s three consecutive Premier League wins amount to matches, not trophies. But for a manager who waited 11 months for back-to-back victories, this is progress nonetheless.

So, too, a league table that shows Manchester United in fourth, and above Liverpool. For a club who have spent almost all of the last year in the lower half of the standings, it made a welcome change. And if the last 20 minutes, when United threatened to give up a three-goal lead and a position of utter dominance, was scarcely proof they will remain in the upper echelons, there should be genuine encouragement from both the display of the team and the identity of the United scorers.

Amorim said he drew more satisfaction than from beating Liverpool because it was a more complete performance. For the first time, the Portuguese saw two of his recruits strike in the same game. For good measure, a third, Benjamin Sesko, recorded an assist. For Bryan Mbeumo, a first brace of his United career felt like confirmation that he has settled in well. For Matheus Cunha, a first goal may have been more significant. His wait to get off the mark will not stretch into Garry Birtles or Diego Forlan territory.