‘That was an awesome start’
Alejandro Garnacho’s Puskas Award hopeful goal was the highlight of Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Everton, fresh from their 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules, was inspired early at a lively Goodison and the better team over 45 minutes aside from Garnacho’s spectacular goal — a surefire candidate for the Puskas Award as best goal of the year.
Garnacho went airborne while going away from goal to score an outrageous overhead kick, and he was joined on the score sheet by a pair of second-half goals. Marcus Rashford converted an Anthony Martial-won penalty before Martial scored late off a Bruno Fernandes feed.
Manchester United moves back into sixth place on 24 points after its third-straight Premier League win, four points off the top four. Everton’s four points are five off safety.
Make no mistake, this was bad early for Manchester United. Part of that isn’t a surprise given United’s recent lack of aesthetics and the cauldron that’s been Everton the last couple of weeks, but this 3-0 was far from a 90-minute show.
We say that because it’s important to note the growth of United over the duration of this game, and because the scoresheet will show Garnacho’s scintillating goal came in the fourth minute. But that 1-0 halftime lead deserves some light put on it, as Sean Dyche’s aggrieved Everton had 1.01 xG and 10 shot attempts to United’s 0.09 and two.
But the Red Devils got much better after the break, albeit not to their historical standards. Ten Hag’s men produced a strong 1.97 xG in the second 45 minutes, generating three or four big chances while conceding very little to Everton aside from a lively Vitaliy Mykolenko.
Luke Shaw’s return to the back four was welcome, and the back four of Shaw, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Diogo Dalot was quite good. Kobbie Mainoo’s first start went very well as the midfielder was all over the pitch, and the attackers all played a part in at least one goal.
Few will be saying United is back, but there are signs of life from a solid away win. Those all can dissipate if things go poorly versus Gala and Newcastle, which they sure can, but right now there are reasons for hope.
Man United heads back to a beleaguered Champions League campaign that demands a win at Galatasaray on Tuesday. The Red Devils then go to Newcastle for a 10am ET Saturday kickoff.
Everton heads to Nottingham Forest at 12:30pm ET Saturday.
Everton vs Manchester United final score: 0-3
Goal: Garnacho (4′), Rashford (pen, 56′), Martial (75′)
By: Symoh Thewizard
