Protests before the game, a rocking, furious Goodison Park, and it only took three minutes for Alejandro Garnacho to stun the bear pit with an overhead kick that has drawn comparisons to that Wayne Rooney goal. Read our review of the Everton vs Manchester United match and that stunner that put Manchester United ahead.
WHAT A GOAL ALEJANDRO GARNACHO!!!! 🤯🤯🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/L9h1inY5rT
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 26, 2023
Manchester United 3-0 Everton
Alejandro Garnacho Stunner Guides Red Devils to Victory With Overhead Kick Stunner
A thrilling first half in Merseyside was produced a moment of spectacular glory in just three minutes as Alejandro Garnacho rose to meet Dalot’s cross with a stunning overhead kick that looped over a diving Jordan Pickford across his goal and into the top right corner.
Some fans have claimed on social media that the strike was “much better” than Wayne Rooney’s famous winner in the Manchester derby in February 2011, although many concede it will never be as iconic due to the magnitude of the game.
The Argentinian’s stunner from 15 yards put his side ahead despite the rocking atmosphere created by the home fans, but it wasn’t straightforward for the Red Devils. United created their lowest expected goals rating in the first half of a game all season and saw Everton squander chance after chance as the pressure ramped up.
Kobbie Mainoo was given his first start by Erik ten Hag and helped to keep his side ahead before half-time, clearing off the line to deny Idrissa Gueye a certain tap-in after Onana denied Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Marcus Rashford Penalty Kickstarts His Goal Tally Against Everton
Despite a fairly difficult first half for club starboy Marcus Rashford, he showed great confidence and composure to bury his penalty after an ill-judged challenge from Ashley Young gifted United a 2-0 lead on the 55th-minute mark. The England international was in desperate need of a goal, with only one and one assist before today.
The Toffees looked to have equalised only two minutes later but Andre Onana produced a fantastic diving save to deny Idrissa Gueye a brilliant goal of his own. Despite a few good chances, Everton were unable to claw their way back into the game and were sank by a cool finish from Anthony Martial to seal a victory for the visitors.
Man Utd Victory Comes at Key Moment in the Season
The three points and decent performance will have come as a huge relief to Erik ten Hag’s side, who now face a difficult week of key away fixtures. First, they travel to Galatasaray in perhaps their most important tie of the season as they battle to stay in the UEFA Champions League.
Next, on Saturday, they face a buoyant Newcastle side, who themselves face a crucial away tie against PSG in midweek. The Magpies themselves may have some reason for hope, after a dominant 4-1 victory over Chelsea at St James Park.
Read More: Revealed: The 12 People Who Control The Fate Of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Man Utd Takeover Deal
Positives and Negatives for Erik ten Hag Ahead of Huge UCL Tie
Given the tension around the stadium and the circumstances of the tie against Everton, one could forgive the Dutch manager for coming away with a glowing review of his side’s performance. Indeed, there were some moments of brilliance and in general, their attacking build-up play was some of the best it has been all season.
Youngsters Garnacho and Mainoo produced strong performances, with the latter showing prowess in both the defensive and attacking phases of the match. One journalist questioned how the 18-year-old midfielder looked so much more composed than his highly experienced teammates in possession.
However, there are some improvements that United will need to make fairly quickly. In particular, they were once again displaying nervousness at the back, with Andre Onana strangely poor once again in possession, despite some strong shot-stopping.
Another negative sign arose from some of the decision-making of the forward players. In one particular instance at 2-0 up, United’s front line chose to use their momentum to force the issue and force a quick transitional attack, only to lose the ball with their defence completely exposed and almost conceding seconds later.
Nevertheless, given how the Red Devils started the season, fans can be satisfied that their players rose to the occasion and got the job done in style.
