Cristiano Ronaldo beats Liverpool and Chelsea stars to Premier League’s Player of the Month award

Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a stellar first month back with Manchester United in September, scoring five goals in six in all competitions on his return to the club.

The Portugal international lit up Old Trafford for his second debut, bagging a brace in the Red Devils’ 4-1 victory over Newcastle United before scoring in consecutive games against Young Boys and West Ham, followed by a last gasp winner at home to Spanish side Villarreal.

Ronaldo’s brilliant start to life back in England was certainly never going to go unnoticed and the former Real Madrid forward was nominated for the Player of the Month award.

The 35-year-old was announced as the winner this morning, beating Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Joao Cancelo (Man City), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle) and Ismaila Sarr (Watford).

The announcement was met with frustration by Liverpool fans who believe their Egyptian winger is strongly deserving of the award after scoring - like Ronaldo - three Premier League goals in September and putting on some breathtaking performances for the Reds.

The award is Ronaldo’s fifth across his two spells with Manchester United and his first in over 13 years - previously winning in November 2006, December 2006, January 2008 and March 2008.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be hoping he can replicate last month’s goal tally for October, however will face a tough battle with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side set to take on Leicester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur after the international break.

Despite a successful September for Ronaldo, the Manchester club have struggled to pick up points in recent weeks - most recently drawing against Everton and losing out to Aston Villa, while also enduring disappointing defeats to Young Boys and West Ham in the Europa League and Carabao Cup respectively.

The forward has continued to show that he still has the ability and the fitness to compete in the Premier League and will also feature for his country against Qatar and Luxembourg before his return to England next weekend.