Benjamin Sesko’s striking form and Senne Lammens’s decisive goalkeeping have pushed Manchester United into a strong position to reclaim a Champions League place after a two-year absence. Across two recent matches — a stoppage-time equaliser at West Ham on 10 February and a 1-0 win at Everton — the 22-year-old forward and the 23-year-old goalkeeper delivered match-defining contributions that left United fourth in the Premier League. The results have turned internal targets from Europa League aspirations toward realistic Champions League qualification. Manager Michael Carrick and pundits alike now see momentum shifting in United’s favour as the run continues.
Key Takeaways
- Benjamin Sesko has scored eight goals this season, with six of those coming in his last seven appearances, transforming him into United’s most productive forward option off the bench.
- Sesko’s stoppage-time volley earned a point at West Ham on 10 February and his 71st-minute run-and-finish sealed a 1-0 win at Everton, demonstrating stamina and composure.
- Senne Lammens, 23, recorded several crucial saves at Everton, including a key block from Michael Keane and confident handling of crosses, helping preserve the clean sheet.
- United sit fourth in the Premier League, three points behind Aston Villa and three clear of Chelsea and Liverpool, with a 10-game unbeaten run in the competition.
- Sesko joined from RB Leipzig for £73.7m in August 2025 but scored only twice under Ruben Amorim before his recent scoring surge.
- United opted against signing Emi Martínez on the summer deadline day and instead backed Lammens, who cost around £18.1m and had only one full senior season in Belgium.
Background
Manchester United began the season with conservative European expectations; the club internally modelled finances and targets around a Europa League place as the most realistic outcome. The dismissal of Ruben Amorim in early January and a brief interim spell under Darren Fletcher coincided with Benjamin Sesko’s sudden scoring uptick, which altered the dressing-room dynamic and external expectations. Recruitment decisions in the summer — most notably rejecting a late move for Emi Martínez and instead signing Senne Lammens — signalled a preference for younger, long-term assets rather than an experienced stopgap.
United’s wider context includes the absence of European midweek fixtures for the remainder of the season, which leaves the squad fresher than rivals such as Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool. That scheduling advantage, combined with a sustained unbeaten Premier League run, improved their probability of securing a Champions League berth. Off the pitch, director of football Jason Wilcox reportedly addressed the squad about the revised aim of reaching Europe’s top competition after Amorim’s exit, making the objective a shared internal target.
Main Event
On 10 February at West Ham, Sesko came off the bench and produced a stoppage-time volley to salvage a draw, a finish Carrick described as demonstrating growing confidence and instinct. A few days later at Everton, Sesko’s 71st-minute effort — an 70-yard burst after laying off to Matheus Cunha and then a composed finish from Bryan Mbeumo’s pass — earned all three points and underscored his physical and technical progress. Those interventions shifted points that would otherwise have been dropped, directly influencing United’s league position.
At the other end, Senne Lammens played a pivotal role in preserving the victory. He denied a powerful attempt from Michael Keane with a reflex save and managed high-pressure set pieces effectively, dealing with several corners and crosses under his crossbar. Everton’s manager highlighted Lammens’s performance as the standout display of the night, crediting him with calming United’s defence and nullifying sustained pressure.
Carrick has managed the situation by balancing squad harmony and form; while some supporters argue Sesko merits a regular starting place, Carrick emphasised the depth of his forward options and praised how the Slovenian delivers when called upon. The manager also drew attention to Lammens’s temperament, likening his calming presence to the qualities expected of a dependable goalkeeper without forcing direct comparisons to club legends.
Analysis & Implications
Sesko’s recent scoring run changes United’s tactical options. His effectiveness as an impact substitute — or potential starter — offers Carrick a dynamic outlet capable of decisive, late-game contributions. That versatility is valuable in a season where margins for Champions League qualification are narrow and fixture congestion affects both form and fitness. If maintained, Sesko’s scoring rate could reduce reliance on rotation-prone senior forwards and influence transfer planning ahead of the next window.
Lammens’s emergence reduces one area of uncertainty for United. A reliable goalkeeper who handles crosses and high-pressure moments well provides the defensive stability required over a long run-in. Given his relative youth and modest transfer fee, Lammens could become a long-term asset rather than a short-term stopgap, freeing budgetary room for other reinforcements while offering a foundation for squad continuity.
Strategically, United’s lack of European fixtures for the season’s remainder is a double-edged sword: it removes midweek fatigue and travel but also denies competitive minutes to squad players. For United, the immediate implication is an increased probability of securing top-four mathematically, yet the club must still manage injuries and maintain form through the final months. Longer term, securing Champions League football would materially improve revenues and recruitment options, influencing contract negotiations and the club’s summer market posture.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Sesko | Lammens | Club run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 22 | 23 | — |
| Transfer fee | £73.7m (Aug 2025) | £18.1m | — |
| Goals this season | 8 (6 in last 7 games) | — | 10 Premier League games unbeaten |
| Prior scoring under Amorim | 2 | — | Previous comparable unbeaten run: 14 (Jan–May 2021) |
The table highlights how recent form and investment contrast: a high-cost forward whose productivity blossomed late and a lower-cost young goalkeeper whose performances have already repaid faith. United’s current 10-game unbeaten streak is their best since the 14-game run in 2021, underlining the empirical basis for optimism in the club’s push for the top four.
Reactions & Quotes
“He is growing as a player… he has taken some huge ones recently,”
Michael Carrick, Manchester United head coach (post-match comments)
“Sesko has gone over 80 yards and then finishes… you still see the energy to really celebrate,”
Jamie Carragher, Sky Sports pundit
“Their goalie was brilliant tonight… the save he made from Michael and the way he dealt with corner kicks,”
David Moyes, Everton manager (match reaction)
Each comment came in context: Carrick reflecting on player development and selection, Carragher praising the athleticism and timing of the Everton goal, and Moyes acknowledging Lammens’s influence on the match outcome.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Benjamin Sesko will be regularly named in the starting XI under Carrick remains undecided and will depend on form, fitness and tactical choice rather than recent scoring alone.
- Comparisons between Senne Lammens and past club greats are illustrative; a direct equivalence has not been established and may be premature.
- Champions League qualification is likely given current form but is not mathematically secured; competing clubs’ fixtures and outcomes will determine the final standings.
Bottom Line
Benjamin Sesko’s recent scoring spree and Senne Lammens’s match-saving goalkeeping have materially improved Manchester United’s prospects of returning to the Champions League. Their performances have converted marginal points into momentum and strengthened Carrick’s position as head coach. The club’s choice to back younger signings over short-term experienced replacements appears vindicated so far, but sustaining form and navigating the remaining fixtures will be decisive.
For supporters and decision-makers, the immediate priorities are maintaining squad fitness, managing selection to balance minutes and form, and continuing the development trajectory of these young players. If United can preserve this level across the run-in, Champions League qualification would shift from hopeful target to likely outcome, with attendant financial and sporting implications heading into the summer.
Sources
- BBC Sport — (UK news outlet: match report and analysis)
- Sky Sports — (UK broadcaster: pundit commentary and highlights)
- Manchester United — (Official club site: club statements and profiles)