Fresh from being crowned the 2026 PFA Players’ Player of the Year, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes produced a statement performance, scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist as the Red Devils came from behind to beat Ipswich Town 5-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The victory gave Michael Carrick’s side their first Premier League points of the season after they suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat away to newly promoted Hull City on the opening weekend.

United were once again made to work from behind, but their response was emphatic.

Ipswich started the brighter of the two sides and took the lead in the 29th minute through Leif Davis. Ghana international Abdul Fatawu Issahaku created the opening, taking on Luke Shaw before delivering a precise cross into the area for Davis to finish.

United struggled to impose themselves during the early stages, but they were handed a route back into the contest shortly before the break when Marcelino Núñez slipped while attempting to deal with the ball. Matheus Cunha pounced on the mistake before finding Fernandes, who calmly finished to restore parity in the 40th minute.

The equaliser changed the mood around Old Trafford, with United growing in confidence as the first half drew to a close.

Ipswich, who were also promoted from the Championship last season, had competed strongly but were about to face a completely different United after the interval.

Fernandes, meanwhile, was already building on a remarkable week. The Portuguese midfielder was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year on Tuesday after setting a Premier League record with 21 assists during the 2025/26 campaign. The award was voted for by his fellow professionals.

United Take Control After the Break

The Red Devils emerged from the dressing room with greater intensity and quickly turned the match in their favour. Their second goal arrived in the 56th minute when Harry Maguire’s effort deflected off Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves and into the net for an own goal.

There was some controversy surrounding the goal after Maguire appeared to handle the ball before his shot, but VAR confirmed the goal. Under the laws of the game, an accidental handball by a player is not punishable when that player is not the immediate goalscorer.

Fernandes then doubled his personal tally from the penalty spot in the 61st minute after Cunha was brought down inside the area following another swift United counter-attack. The midfielder sent goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen the wrong way to put United 3-1 ahead.

Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo celebrate their win over Ipswich Town

The captain completed his hat-trick seven minutes later, turning a deflected effort into the fourth goal and becoming the first player to score a Premier League hat-trick this season. It was also his second Premier League hat-trick for Manchester United.

Fernandes was not finished. Having already scored three, he turned provider in the 82nd minute, sending Bryan Mbeumo through before the Cameroon international produced a composed lob over Scherpen to make it 5-1.

Ipswich managed a consolation in stoppage time when substitute Chuba Akpom found the net, but it did little to alter the outcome as United completed a commanding comeback.

The result also ended a long wait for United supporters. Their five goals marked the first time the club had scored five in a Premier League home game since their 5-1 victory over Leeds United on August 14, 2021, a match in which Fernandes also scored a hat-trick.

For Carrick, the performance offered an emphatic response to the setback at Hull and showed the attacking potential within his side. United finished with 31 shots and an expected-goals figure of 4.57, underlining the extent of their dominance after the interval.

Ipswich, managed by Gary O’Neil, will take encouragement from the way they troubled United for much of the first half, particularly through Fatawu and Davis. However, their defensive errors after the break proved costly.

But the night belonged unmistakably to Fernandes. Only days after receiving the biggest individual recognition of his career from his fellow professionals, the captain delivered another performance that demonstrated why he remains central to the club’s ambitions.