The Premier League Hall of Fame has become a permanent feature of the competition’s modern story. For a player to be eligible for a place in the Premier League’s Hall of Fame, they must have made 250 appearances in the division since its 1992 inauguration or achieved one of the following:

The list of inductees reads like a roll call of defining figures. The Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer has just a single league title to his name, but he’ll likely remain a record-holder unless Harry Kane opts to make a comeback post-Bayern Munich. Shearer’s greatest collective success came with Blackburn Rovers, but he’s immortalised on Tyneside.

Many regard Henry as the greatest Premier League player there’s been. The dazzling French forward has the collective accolades and individual achievements to supply a compelling case. Cantona was utterly unique. Man Utd took a flyer on Cantona at the start of the Premier League era, but the Frenchman proved to be the making of the Red Devils’ 90s dynasty.

Roy Keane is presented as arguably the greatest captain the League has ever seen, while Lampard remains the highest scoring midfielder in the competition, with over 600 Premier League appearances and three league titles with Chelsea. Bergkamp is remembered for sustained runs of brilliance that propelled Arsenal to league titles.

Beckham’s off-field prominence often overshadowed his on-field quality, but he was one of the stars of Premier League football in the 90s. Rooney’s arrival felt inevitable and he was a constant thorn for many opponents at the Theatre of Dreams. Vieira was an early Wenger recruit and the leader of Arsenal teams that conquered the country on multiple occasions.

Drogba’s 254 Premier League appearances all came for Chelsea, where he won four league titles. Kompany won Premier League Player of the Season during Man City’s dramatic 2011–12 success. Schmeichel redefined goalkeeping for his era. Scholes, part of the Class of ’92, evolved into a classy deep-lying performer. Ian Wright struck 113 Premier League goals and claimed a title in 1997–98.

Managers are represented too. Ferguson spent 26 years at United and inspired 13 league titles. Wenger managed a record 828 games and remains the only ‘Invincible’ manager in Premier League history.

Defenders and goalkeepers feature prominently: Adams, Čech, Ferdinand and Ashley Cole are all included for their defining contributions. The Hall of Fame collects these careers to explain why each figure matters to the competition’s history.

Bryan Mbeumo has described the way Ruben Amorim runs Manchester United as similar to the approach he knew under Thomas Frank, while conceding that his introduction to Old Trafford has been difficult.

The summer recruit has had an unpredictable opening to life at United. He scored his first goal for the club in a humiliating Carabao Cup second-round exit to fourth-tier Grimsby Town. The Cameroon international was on target again in the club’s only win of the season against Burnley, a result belatedly secured with a stoppage-time penalty from Bruno Fernandes.

“It’s been tough,” Mbeumo told Manchester United’s YouTube channel while playing a game of chess. “I was expecting a lot from here because it’s a big club. It’s a big everything.

“I’m really happy with what happened to me here, the teammates, the staff, everyone in Carrington are lovely people,” Mbeumo continued. “You really want to come in and work here every day, which is really good. When I first arrive somewhere I don’t really know, I don’t like to be loud or show myself a lot [be outgoing].”

Amorim, the former Sporting CP manager, played a central role in persuading the forward to move to United, and his public praise for Mbeumo appears to be reciprocated. Mbeumo drew a direct line between Amorim and Frank, the coach who guided his development at Brentford before taking over at Tottenham.

“I think I’ve found some similarities because he always tries to do it in a fun way, and I think this is really important because it makes your life more enjoyable,” he studiously noted.

Challenges remain for both player and club. United face a demanding period in the schedule, travelling to the Etihad Stadium for the first Manchester derby of the season before hosting reigning world champions Chelsea the following weekend. How Mbeumo adapts under Amorim in the coming weeks will be watched closely.

Manchester City arrived at the September international break six points behind Liverpool despite a summer of heavy recruitment. The club completed seven signings and finished the window with a total spend of £179.5 million.

Goalkeeper depth increased markedly. Marcus Bettinelli joined as emergency cover, James Trafford returned to the Etihad, and Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived on deadline day. Donnarumma has immediately risen to the top of the pecking order. The former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper is not a trademark Guardiola stopper and certainly lacks the same quality of distribution as the recently departed Ederson, but he remains one of the world’s leading goalkeepers. For just £30.3 million ($40.9 million), he should easily prove one of the bargains of the summer anywhere in world football.

At right back Guardiola has alternated between Matheus Nunes and homegrown Rico Lewis. Nunes’ transformation into an all-action right back has not been particularly inspiring, and Lewis offers greater attacking support to City’s build-up play. Lewis is not yet an elite right back, but the 20-year-old’s potential makes him the favoured choice this season.

Rúben Dias signing a contract extension until 2029 was one of City’s best pieces of business. Dias’ quality and leadership remain unquestioned as he seeks to help re-energise a fragile defence. Joško Gvardiol, who has spent much of his City career at left back, is an orthodox central defender whose physical authority makes him a natural partner for Dias.

Rayan Aït-Nouri’s arrival plugs a longstanding left-back problem. The 24-year-old wing back brings attacking instincts honed at Wolverhampton Wanderers and should adapt to Guardiola’s methods.

In midfield Rodri has returned to full match fitness after his Club World Cup setback and made his first Premier League start in almost a year in the defeat to Brighton, immediately offering composure. Tijjani Reijnders impressed at the Club World Cup and on his Premier League debut at Molineux with a goal and an assist. Reijnders can set the tempo from deep and pop up in dangerous areas.

Phil Foden has shown flashes this season. Form is temporary, but class is permanent.

Rayan Cherki arrived from Lyon for £34 million ($41.1 million) and scored on his Premier League debut but will be sidelined for the next two months with a devastating injury. Omar Marmoush offers wide quality after filling in as a central striker last season. Up front Erling Haaland remains the focal point, having still found the net three times in the Premier League this term after a 34-goal return in all competitions last season.