Manchester United emphatically announced their arrival under new manager Ruben Amorim with a resounding 4-0 victory over Everton at Old Trafford. The commanding performance, a stark contrast to their 1-1 draw against Ipswich last weekend, showcased a revitalized Red Devils squad brimming with confidence and attacking prowess.
The match witnessed a dazzling display of attacking football, spearheaded by the prolific Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee, who both bagged impressive braces. Rashford opened the scoring in the 34th minute, expertly converting a Bruno Fernandes corner that took a fortunate deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite. Zirkzee, making his first Premier League start since September, quickly followed suit, capitalizing on a loose ball in the Everton box, expertly finishing another Fernandes assist to double the lead just seven minutes later.
Everton, despite some early bright moments with Beto missing a couple of golden opportunities, crumbled under the relentless pressure from the home side. The second half saw more of the same, with Manchester United’s dominance continuing unabated. Only 20 seconds into the second half, more defensive lapses allowed Amad Diallo to set up Rashford for his second goal, a stylish finish that further deflated Everton’s spirits.
Amad continued his impressive performance, showcasing his skill and determination by dispossessing James Tarkowski before setting up Zirkzee for his second goal of the afternoon. Zirkzee’s cool finish was the final nail in the coffin, sparking joyous celebrations at Old Trafford. Manchester United’s clinical finishing, scoring four goals from just five shots on target, highlighted their efficiency and ruthless finishing in front of goal.
The comprehensive victory catapults Manchester United up to ninth in the Premier League table, offering a significant boost to their season. In contrast, the defeat leaves Everton deeply troubled, with the Toffees now without a win in five league games and clinging to 15th place, only two points above the relegation zone. The pressure is mounting on Everton manager Sean Dyche to turn around their fortunes as they face a desperate battle to avoid the drop.
For manager Amorim, the resounding victory marks an overwhelmingly positive start to his home Premier League tenure, following their mid-week Europa League triumph. The impressive performance provides a major confidence boost, setting the stage for a potentially exciting new era at Old Trafford. The match showcased not only the individual brilliance of Rashford and Zirkzee but also the growing synergy within the team under their new manager. This resounding success serves as a strong statement of intent as they look to climb the Premier League table in the coming weeks.