In a scintillating display at Goodison Park on Sunday, Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, just 19 years old, stole the spotlight with a breathtaking overhead kick in the third minute, setting the tone for a commanding 3-0 triumph over a beleaguered Everton side that had already been docked 10 points.
Garnacho’s acrobatic prowess came to the fore as he met Diogo Dalot’s precise cross, launching the ball into the opposite corner past Everton’s stranded goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford. The Argentine’s celebration, a Cristiano Ronaldo-style pirouette, added a touch of flair to an already sensational moment.
Drawing comparisons to Wayne Rooney’s iconic goal in the 2011 Manchester derby, Garnacho’s strike left both fans and teammates in awe. United captain Bruno Fernandes expressed his admiration, stating, “Superb – something amazing and I have no words to describe it. It is out of this world. Special from a special kid.”
Marcus Rashford further extended United’s lead in the 56th minute with a well-executed penalty, awarded after VAR ruled that Anthony Martial had been tripped by Ashley Young. Fernandes, displaying confidence in Rashford, handed him the responsibility for the spot kick, emphasizing the need for the English forward to regain his scoring touch.
“Marcus needed a bit of confidence, he needed his goal – he is an excellent penalty taker,” remarked Fernandes. “I was sure he could score that penalty, and Marcus did it perfectly.”
The victory was sealed in the 75th minute when Martial capitalized on Fernandes’s pass, delicately dinking the ball over Pickford for an effortless goal. The result catapulted United to sixth place in the Premier League standings with 24 points from 13 games, showcasing their resurgence after a challenging start to the season.
Manager Erik ten Hag’s side has now won five of their last six games, with their performances since the start of October ranking as a league-best in terms of wins and points earned. Conversely, Sean Dyche’s Everton, grappling with a points deduction for financial rule breaches, finds themselves second-bottom with only four points.
Despite Everton’s commendable efforts, including a flurry of shots in the first half, they were unable to breach United’s defense consistently. United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, made key saves, including a notable stop from Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s shot, while Kobbie Mainoo’s sliding clearance off the line maintained the clean sheet.
Speaking about Everton’s performance, Dyche noted, “A lot of the performance was right. In the first half, (United) had a great finish, it changed the feel of the early part of the game. Then we got a grip on the game. We had chances but couldn’t take them.”
The game also witnessed Everton fans protesting against the points deduction, transforming Goodison Park into a sea of pink with signs that read “Corrupt.” Dyche acknowledged the impact of the deduction, stating, “Ten points taken away from anyone will change their season. Until the appeals process goes through, we have to play away from the noise.”
