United secured their biggest win of the season thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and an astonishing, world-class bicycle kick from 19-year old Alejandro Garnacho.
an historic opening goal
Beckham vs Wimbledon. Giggs vs Arsenal. Rooney vs City.
There are good goals, great goals, and there are goals that will be replayed and spoken about long after the scorers have hung up their boots.
Garnacho vs Everton is most certainly one of the latter. Practically a shoe-in for goal of the season; the young Argentine opened the scoring at Everton with what is quite possibly the greatest bicycle kick of all time. Rooney, Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo, Bale, Sinclair – you name them; this was better.
Diogo Dalot’s diagonal floated cross was heading away from the Everton goal and looked fairly innocuous, but somehow Garnacho, also running away from goal, managed to get himself in the right position to execute a technically perfect overhead kick back across Jordan Pickford’s goal and into the top corner. A truly world-class finish and United were 1-0 up after 2 minutes.
a flattering scoreline
In honesty, the final scoreline flattered United. Garnacho’s goal quietened the Everton faithful for 20 minutes or so, and their team’s play was equally passive. However, the Toffees grew into the game and the last 20-25 minutes of the first half was all Everton. They really should have equalised, and it was only poor finishing and good goalkeeping that kept United ahead.
United didn’t muster a second shot on goal in the first half and were starting to get overran before the half-time whistle. Sean Dyche would have been ruing the slew of missed opportunities the Toffees created.
United were better in the second half and were rightly awarded a penalty ten minutes into the second half, which captain Bruno Fernandes handed to the Marcus Rashford to smash home. Fernandes was then the provider for Anthony Martial’s deft 75th-minute chip, which killed the game.
A big away win against a difficult, fired-up opponent is always welcome, but it’s hard to argue that United were value for the 3-0 scoreline. Everton had more possession, more corners, 18 shots to United’s 5 and 6 shots on target to United’s 3. Ten Hag will be pleased with the victory and parts of the performance, but will still have areas of concern, particularly in the first half.
Toffees fans protested the 10-point deduction for an FFP breach relating to their new stadium’s construction. Given other seemingly much more serious FFP breaches, who can blame them?
Mainoo excellent, Onana & luke shaw good, rashford average
The game will largely be remembered for one magical moment, but it was the debut of holding midfielder Kobbie Mainoo that will have pleased Erik Ten Hag and the United faithful the most.
The lad is eighteen – yes just eighteen – years old, but plays with the composure and calmness of someone with ten years’ experience in the position. Mainoo was exceptional yesterday in both attack and defence; saving a certain a goal with an athletic off-the-line clearance, filling in at centre half when Harry Maguire rampaged down the right wing, and spraying passes around with a confidence that belies his young age.
Aside from Mainoo there were good performances from Onana, Luke Shaw on his return, and others. Marcus Rashford did bag a penalty and had some good moments, but again gave the ball away too often. Hopefully Marcus is starting to turn a corner, but he certainly hasn’t turned it yet.
Player ratings and MOTM
Onana – 7. Looked really solid yesterday and came up with some big saves. Will be glad to be out of the headlines.
Dalot – 7. A solid defensive performance and looked dangerous at time. Teed up Garnacho’s wonder strike.
Lindelof – 6. A decent performance, although was worried by Calvert-Lewin and the rest of the Everton frontline on occasion.
Maguire – 7. Made some crucial blocks and interceptions, dominant in the air for the most part and composed on the ball. The Harry Maguire bounceback is in full swing.
Luke Shaw – 8. A really good performance on his return from injury. Solid defensively and composed on the ball – great to have him back.
McTominay – 5. Didn’t do a great deal and was largely overshadowed by the excellent Mainoo. Has bright moments but we’re yet to be convinced he is the right long-term option here.
Mainoo – 8. A wonderful debut from such a young man, and quite possibly a superstar in the making. United must get Kobbie Mainoo’s development right both on and off the pitch – it feels like he could be a critical piece in United’s rebuild.
Rashford – 6. Better than some recent performances but still doesn’t look to be the player of last season. Took his penalty very well and will be pleased to be on the scoresheet.
Fernandes – 7. A generally quiet performance but as is so often the case with Bruno, his passes lead to both the first and second goals.
Garnacho – 8 & MOTM. Scored one of the all-time classic Premier League goals and silenced a raucous Goodison Park on 2 minutes. Looked dangerous combining with Luke Shaw and Rashford at times.
Martial – 7. Won the penalty and scored a delightful third, but was otherwise quiet. Like other United players, isn’t really contributing as much or as often as we’d like in games.
Subs:
Pellistri – 6. Involved in the third goal and worked hard in defence too.
Ambrabat – 6. Solid but looked nowhere near the standard set by the excellent Mainoo.
Wan-Bissaka – 7. Tackling was superb and he shored up the backline well, helping us see out the result.
Mejbri – N/A. A 5-minute cameo but to see him get some minutes.
Another must-win away game
United travel to Galatasaray in mid-week, for a game that will almost certainly determine if our Champions League hopes are kept alive. Lose and we’re out, draw and it’s out of our hands on the last day. Effectively – we need to win.
Erik Ten Hag will be pleased by parts of what he saw against Everton, and he has a stronger side to pick from than in recent weeks. A big performance and positive result in Turkey would really help to galvanise United’s season and get us back on track.
