BENJAMIN SESKO came to the rescue of one adoring fan after he splashed out on a Manchester United shirt bearing his name.
Except it was not his correct name, so Sesko got in touch with the United store and ordered a replacement for the supporter.
The striker is beginning to endear himself to the Red Devils faithful.
He notched his first Old Trafford goal against Sunderland in the last match before the international break – a week after he got off the mark with a goal against Brentford.
Sesko will be hoping for more of the same at Anfield on Sunday, where an interesting battle could resurface.
Cunha v Kerkez
Matheus Cunha received a four-match ban for punching, kicking and headbutting Milos Kerkez during Wolves’s FA Cup defeat to Bournemouth last season.
Left-back Kerkez, of course, made the £40million switch from the Vitality Stadium to Liverpool this summer, while Cunha joined United in June.
In March, Cunha lashed out at Kerkez three times – fighting and kicking out at him before aiming a headbutt when the Hungary full-back got back to his feet.
Referee Sam Barrott eventually issued a red card but a furious Cunha had to be escorted and pushed down the tunnel in the final minute of extra-time.
The FA investigated the fifth-round incident and charged Cunha £50,000.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
The Brazilian had started the game on the other flank and scored in the 1-1 draw before the Cherries won 5-4 on penalties, without Cunha available to take a spot-kick.
The two will come head-to-head again for the first time since the chaotic incident on Sunday.
Social boycott
Amad Diallo got himself into a spot of bother with a harmless, if naive, Instagram post with Alejandro Garnacho last month but United players have largely avoided any social media mither in recent years.
Perhaps the club’s scaremongering tactics have worked. One busybody former staff member instructed a current player’s family members to unfollow a media personality they were friends with.
If only they were as draconian when Phil Jones posted a photo of the Busby Babes on the 58th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, replete with his short-lived ‘PJ4’ insignia.
Or when Jesse Lingard whipped out his phone when the team bus was attacked at West Ham.
Home time
United have not stunk the place out in any of their home games this season and garlic was applied to the Old Trafford pitch again during the October internationals.
The vegetable is applied to prevent parasites from damaging the roots.
The vampire repellent might be needed at the Cardiff City Stadium, where a rat scurried around the pitch during Wales versus Belgium on Monday.
The Old Trafford pitch should be as spotless as a snooker baize over the coming weeks.
The stadium will host only one game over a seven-week period – the visit of Brighton next Saturday.
Sesko to the rescue
Benjamin Sesko came to the rescue when he sent a replacement shirt to a fan in Slovenia.
Football supporter Jaka was left distraught when he opened a parcel to find Sesko’s name had been spelt incorrectly.
The fan posted his misfortune on X, stating that he bought his new No30 jersey from the official United online store.
The diacritic symbols in Sesko’s surname had been turned upside down, with both down arrows facing up.
However, when the United striker spotted this faux pas, he decided to fix the mistake himself.
The lucky fan took to X to reveal that Sesko, who has two Prem goals this season, had sent him a new shirt and signed it!
Jaka wrote: “Everything has been sorted now thanks to Sesko and his team. A small mistake from the store, but a big gesture to make up for it.”
Mainoo’s camp
Kobbie Mainoo is in the international wilderness after struggling to break into Ruben Amorim’s starting XI.
Mainoo started the Euros final in midfield as a teenager and enjoyed an impressive tournament on the back of scoring in the FA Cup final victory over Man City.
But it’s growing harder to see him earning a spot in the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, with England boss Thomas Tuchel wanting “consistency” in domestic duties.
His sole cap since the final against Spain came in September 2024 when he played 77 minutes of a Nations League win over Republic of Ireland, while injuries curtailed the second half of last season.
The 20-year-old asked to leave United on loan in the summer window but that request was knocked back and any similar attempts to depart in January are likely to fall on deaf ears.
During the October break, Mainoo has made no secret of the fact he has been working hard on his strength and conditioning during his down time.
He has been put through his paces at a fitness centre and sports complex in the Spanish town of Estepona, sharing the results on social media.
One of his training pals was kicking a ball about with a ‘Mainoo’ England top in a gym.
The midfielder will likely again have a watching brief at Anfield this weekend.
Jet lag
Casemiro played 180 minutes for Brazil during the international break while resuming his role as captain.
And Brazil played their two friendlies on the opposite side of the world in South Korea and Japan.
Casemiro’s two rounds of 90 minutes saw Carlo Ancelotti’s side beat South Korea 5-0, before succumbing to a 3-2 defeat to the Japanese, who were a surprise package at Qatar 2022.
United will be hoping that the brutal time difference won’t throw Casemiro off his game.
Amorim might opt to rotate the 33-year-old out against Liverpool, with Manuel Ugarte starting in the defeat to City after the September recess.
Matheus Cunha also played 128 minutes for Brazil, so he could also miss out on the XI, with Mason Mount in strong form.
Goalkeeper derby debuts
Alisson tore his hamstring in the 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray and is expected to be out until mid-November.
The Brazilian star kept Crystal Palace at bay in Liverpool’s first loss of the season, keeping out untold chances at Selhurst Park.
Although Liverpool have a strong back-up keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, Alisson adds another layer of confidence to Arne Slot’s defence.
Meanwhile, Senne Lammens – who won his club debut against Sunderland last time out – is set to come face-to-face with Anfield’s brutal bearpit.
Lammens impressed in his first Prem game two weeks ago, but keeping the champions out will be a different beast.
For 50 years, the Kop end has had a tradition of applauding opposition keepers as they run out toward that stand, usually before the second half.
They even clap United goalkeepers.
