Cunha to follow long line of United signings

The outstanding Brazil international scored the opener, direct from a corner, when Wolves beat us 2-0 at Molineux on Boxing Day.

It was part of a stunning Man-of-the-Match display by the forward, who needs to complete his visa and registration to be confirmed as our first summer signing.

Andy Cole was the first player to sign since 1992, on the back of netting against the Reds, and he did it home and away for Newcastle United, in their first season back in the top-flight in 1993/94.

Coley's telepathic strike partner, Dwight Yorke, also managed this, in the 3-1 opening-day defeat at Aston Villa in 1995 that sparked Alan Hansen's famous comment that you will never win anything with kids, and Teddy Sheringham was on the mark in a 4-1 win for Tottenham Hotspur in the following January, to ensure three of the fabled four strikers from the Treble-winning campaign had previously been the scourge of Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Michael Owen netted in two different games for Liverpool, a 1-1 draw in April 1998 and twice in a 3-1 victory for the Merseysiders in November 2001, before ultimately ending up at the Theatre of Dreams via Real Madrid and Newcastle United. In between those fixtures, Louis Saha advertised his skills to Ferguson with a two-goal display in United's 3-2 success against Fulham in August 2001.

It was a few years until another opponent fell into this category, Alan Smith crashing home a headed equaliser at Old Trafford for Leeds United, in advance of stunning, and infuriating, the Elland Road faithful by crossing the Pennines in the following summer of 2004.

Robin van Persie helped Arsenal beat Sir Alex's men 2-1 in 2007 and also found the net at M16 four years later, albeit in the thumping 8-2 thrashing by the rampant Reds, when he also had a penalty saved by David De Gea. Carlos Tevez bagged the only goal on the final day in Manchester in 2007, keeping West Ham United up as we celebrated another title, and, the following year, snatched a late equaliser at White Hart Lane to cancel out an effort by Dimitar Berbatov.

The only man to score in three Premier League games against United before joining the club is Marouane Fellaini. The big Belgian notched in a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park, the painful 4-4 during the 2011/12 title race and the opening match of the following campaign, heading the winner on Merseyside.

Ashley Young converted a penalty in a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in the Midlands in November 2010, while Juan Mata scored home and away against the Reds during the 2012/13 season, including a winner for the Blues at the Theatre of Dreams.

Another ex-Chelsea man, Romelu Lukaku, is the only player to claim a Premier League hat-trick against us before donning the red shirt, with his treble coming during a loan spell at West Brom. The goals helped the Baggies come from behind to draw a crazy game 5-5 in Sir Alex's final fixture as a manager.

Christian Eriksen managed to net in two separate Spurs versus United clashes, including a first-minute strike at Wembley in a 2-0 win for the north Londoners.

Alexis Sanchez hit a double for Arsenal in 3-0 Gunners triumph in October 2015, before a short stay in Manchester, but the last on the list, before Cunha, is Harry Maguire. The defender salvaged a point for Leicester City with an injury-time effort, two days before Christmas 2017.

Data courtesy of mufcinfo.com.