Full-back combination
There was one moment early in this game when the score remained goalless that summed up why there's been a change in Manchester United's full-backs this season.
United played themselves out of trouble on the right and Diogo Dalot took a couple of steps in possession, got his head up to try and find a pass and then swung a crossfield ball straight to his opposite number Tyrell Malacia. From there Malacia advanced up the pitch and another slick move was underway.
In the grand scheme of things it was a low-key moment, given the superb ball Dalot played to open up the pitch for United's goal, but their comfort in possession and quality on the ball are two reasons why Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw have currently lost their places, the former for good.
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Ten Hag wants his full-backs to be comfortable with the ball at their feet and to drift infield as well and these two are clearly a good combination at that. They are both 23 and while another right-back is a likely arrival in winter or next summer, they feel a duo worth investing playing time in this season.
It isn't just their class on the ball that Ten Hag is valuing, although that goes a long way towards it. Malacia's character was on show when he played the second half at Brentford and refused to be cowed by the circumstances. In his three starts since then he has been up for the fight.
Dalot is bringing that to his own game now. When he produced a sliding block on Harvey Barnes in the second half, winning a goal kick with the ball bouncing back of the winger, he roared in delight to his teammates, exchanging a chest-bump with Lisandro Martinez and another congratulatory pat from Raphael Varane.
The changes at full-back sum up the transformation Ten Hag has made at United so far.
Casemiro's class
After a 10-minute cameo on Saturday, it was a surprise that Casemiro wasn't in the starting line-up for United at Leicester City, but his latest influential appearance off the bench must surely herald a first start on Sunday.
The Brazilian came on just before the hour mark with United under some pressure for the first time in the game and he immediately brought some poise and precision to their game.
His first two passes broke the lines and arrived straight at the feet of Christian Eriksen, while his third was fizzed across the pitch and into a dangerous position for Bruno Fernandes.
The 30-year-old has shown his immense quality in just over 40 minutes of football for United and for all the talk of spending £60million on a player with only a few years left, handing him a long contract and a huge salary, it's also pretty clear he can be a key figure for United under Ten Hag.
That first start is surely arriving this weekend and a mouthwatering game will benefit from his quality and experience.
Antony's X-Factor
For all of United's comfort on the ball at the King Power Stadium, they did sometimes lack a cutting edge and creating chances wasn't easy.
They dominated this game and only occasionally looked under pressure, but the game remained in the balance for so long because they couldn't kill Leicester City off.
It was the same front three for the third game in a row and in two of those games Anthony Elanga has been the first to be subbed off. He has put in a shift but it's clear Antony will be taking that right-wing position when he is considered up to speed to start.
The 22-year-old will need time to settle in at Old Trafford, despite the pressure that comes with such a big transfer fee, but his unpredictability in the final third might well benefit this side.
Up for a scrap
It was often a complaint of Ralf Rangnick that United lacked physicality in their game, but they are certainly a more aggressive bunch this season.
That approach is probably stemming from the combative styles of Malacia and Martinez but it looks to be spreading. It was noticeable last night how competitive Varane was with Jamie Vardy when they went up against each other and Dalot was also sharp and aggressive in his defensive work.
Throw Casemiro in and there's suddenly a lot more physicality in this team than last season, as well as a more streetwise edge, and you can see it making a difference.
Litmus test to come
United have now claimed three successive victories for the first time since April 2021 and the turnaround in the space of just under three weeks has been remarkable.
It felt like the season was already looking like a write-off after the 4-0 defeat to Brentford, but nine points from nine and a good end to the transfer window has transformed the mood.
United were bottom after that debacle at Brentford, but three games later they sit fifth in the Premier League and a point ahead of Liverpool and two clear of Chelsea.
The visit of Arsenal to Old Trafford on Sunday feels like another major staging post for this team, but less than two weeks after their top four hopes being written off, United are most certainly in the race this season.
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