Mbeumo’s Everton stunner earns Premier League shortlist spot
Bryan Mbeumo’s mazy solo goal at Goodison Park has been shortlisted for the Premier League’s Goal of the Month award for September, offering a rare bright spot in an otherwise mixed start to his second Manchester United campaign.
The 27-year-old picked the ball up on the right wing away at Everton at the beginning of the month, danced through a crowd of home defenders, and curled a left-footed effort beyond Jordan Pickford in the 46th minute. It was the kind of moment United paid handsomely for last summer, and the Premier League has now recognised it among the eight best strikes of the month.
How the goal unfolded
Mbeumo’s finish gave United the lead at Hill Dickinson Stadium, but Tyrique George dragged Everton level in the 83rd minute. Benjamin Sesko then restored the advantage with eight minutes remaining, only for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to produce a stoppage-time stunner in the sixth minute of added time to snatch a 2-2 draw.
Maitland-Niles’s leveller is also among the nominees for September, alongside efforts from Harvey Barnes, Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Dunk, Nicolas Jackson, Emiliano Buendia and Jay Dasilva.
What it means for United
The nomination lands at an odd time for Mbeumo, who has started six of United’s seven games this season in the right-forward role, scoring twice and adding one assist across 546 minutes. He’s also been guilty of missing four big chances, the most of any United player, with his blown equaliser late on against Manchester City at Old Trafford still fresh in the memory as the Reds sit 12th in the table after five league games. Even so, his pace and willingness to run in behind remain a genuine asset, and he was again among the Premier League’s quickest players last season. Supporters weighing up his early-season struggles can find more context in the case for Mbeumo as United’s main attacking option, while his broader ambitions at the club were laid out in a piece on Mbeumo’s role in United’s top-four push.
A strong first year to build on
It’s worth remembering the platform Mbeumo built in his debut campaign after arriving at Old Trafford last summer. He finished with 12 goals and three assists, helping United secure third place in the Premier League, and did so while flourishing both on the right and through the middle. That combination of directness and running power made him one of the more eye-catching additions to United’s attack, and this nomination is a reminder of the quality that earned him the move in the first place.
What happens next
Supporter voting is reported to run until 12:00 BST on Monday 28 September, with the winner expected to be confirmed the following week. Mbeumo also scored once for Cameroon during the international break, giving him some momentum to carry back into a United shirt.
Whether that translates into the kind of scoring form the Reds need as they try to climb the table remains to be seen, as does the outcome of the vote itself.
