Manchester United 2-0 Everton: Marcus Rashford on target as Man Utd boost top-four hopes
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Updated 09/03/2024 at 19:45 GMT
Two first-half penalties were enough for Manchester United to collect a 2-0 win against Everton in the Premier League at Old Trafford. Alejandro Garnacho won both penalties. Bruno Fernandes scored the first, with 12 minutes on the clock before Marcus Rashford doubled the advantage on 36 minutes. The result leaves United three points behind Spurs in fifth and eight shy of Aston Villa in fourth.
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Everton paid the penalty at Old Trafford as Manchester United converted two first-half spot kicks in a comfortable 2-0 victory that condemned the visitors to an 11th Premier League match without a win.
Erik ten Hag's side bounced back strongly from their 3-1 defeat at derby rivals Manchester City last week with Bruno Fernandes (12') and Marcus Rashford (36') converting penalties as United closed the gap on fifth-placed Tottenham to three points.
Sean Dyche's Everton enjoyed plenty of possession without providing any sort of clinical edge, and were their own worst enemies as James Tarkowski felled Alejandro Garnacho to concede the first penalty before Ben Godfrey did likewise with another ill-advised challenge on the livewire United winger.
The visitors have only won once at Old Trafford in 31 outings in the league and remain fifth bottom of the table, five points clear of third-from-bottom Luton, who have played two games fewer.
United next host fierce rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals next Sunday, while Everton have a three-week break to regroup before they chase an elusive first league win of the year at Bournemouth on March 30.
Talking Point: Can United make a push for the top four?
Erik ten Hag's side clearly still believe they can reel in Tottenham and Aston Villa to finish in the UEFA Champions League spots, but is it a realistic aim?
"I think Manchester United have to chalk off the wins, and hope the teams above them start dropping points," said former United defender Rio Ferdinand on TNT Sports ahead of Villa's meeting with Spurs on Sunday afternoon.
"United have unfortunately put themselves in this position, and are going to have to rely on other people to have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League."
Ferdinand's former United team-mate Wayne Rooney believes they face an uphill struggle because they are too open in matches after apparently facing 134 shots in their past six games.
"I don't think Manchester United will make the top four," Rooney said. "They almost have to win every game, and they are very inconsistent. I don't see them winning every game.
"I think it is going to be very difficult. It is too easy for teams to get opportunities against them."
Player of the Match: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
Garnacho scored the goal of the season against Everton with a glorious overhead kick at Goodison Park in a 3-0 United win, and again provided the telling moments at Old Trafford by earning his side two penalties in the first half that provided the platform for a comfortable home victory.
"I think it is really important to win the game," said the Argentina winger on TNT Sports after helping his side close to within eight points of fourth-placed Aston Villa. "We want to be in the (UEFA) Champions League, so we are very happy. Now every game is a final. We are Manchester United. We have to win every single game."
Player Ratings
Manchester United: Onana 7, Dalot 7, Varane 7, Evans 7, Lindelof 7, Casemiro 7, Mainoo 7, Garnacho 8, McTominay 7, Bruno Fernandes 8, Rashford 8 Subs: Amrabat 6, Antony 6, Kambwala 6
Everton: Pickford 8, Godfrey 6, Tarkowski 6, Branthwaite 7, Mykolenko 6, Harrison 6, Onana 6, Garner 6, McNeil 6, Doucoure 6, Beto 6 Subs: Calvert-Lewin 6, Young 6, Gomes 6, Dobbin 6, Chermiti 6
Match Highlights
11' PENALTY TO UNITED! James Tarkowski with a poorly timed tackle on Alejandro Garnacho as he turned inside. Clear penalty and the referee Simon Hooper points to the spot. But was there an offside in the build-up? And the answer is no. Bruno Fernandes to take the spot-kick.
12' GOAL! (FERNANDES) UNITED 1-0 EVERTON Bruno Fernandes plants the penalty low to the left of Jordan Pickford. Everton keeper guessed right, but too much power on the finish and it is a 1-0 lead to United. Probably against the run of play.
34' ANOTHER PENALTY TO UNITED! Garnacho showing all sorts of delightful dribbling skills at pace before being felled by Ben Godfrey inside the box. United with chance to move two up from the spot.
36' GOAL! (RASHFORD) MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 EVERTON Up steps Rashford this time to send Pickford the wrong way from the spot. Keeper went left as the ball flew to his right. And United are 2-0 up at home. A cool finish.
45+4' GARNACHO ALMOST IN FOR THE THIRD Jarrad Branthwaite doing superbly well to hold up Garnacho as he prepared to pull the trigger before Dwight McNeil sees a shot blocked inside the United area. And that is the end of the first period. A 2-0 lead for United.
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