Alejandro Garnacho in disbelief after stunner silences Goodison revolt
Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho (right) celebrates. Photo credit: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
A BREATHTAKING moment of individual skill from Alejandro Garnacho quietened a Goodison revolt against the Premier League and helped maintain Manchester United’s recent recovery.
It was, arguably, Erik ten Hag’s best performance of the season and also provided his opposite number Sean Dyche with a reminder of just how dire is his team’s situation, following their recent 10-point deduction under the league’s profit and sustainability rules.
A contentious Marcus Rashford penalty and Anthony Martial’s first league goal of the season added to Garnacho’s third minute opener and ensured United won a game by more than a single goal for the first time this season.
But, by the time Everton supporters made their most impressive and committed protest against recent events, via a noisy demo ten minutes into the game, their team were already behind.
The opening goal came after a little over two minutes and featured a finish that will certainly feature in goal of the season discussions for the remainder of this campaign.
Defender Victor Lindelof started the move, with a sweeping, cross-field pass for Rashford who moved Diogo Dalot down to the right-hand by-line with a quick pass.
The full-back’s cross picked out Garnacho, 15 yards out at a wide angle, and he connected with an outrageous overhead volley that flew into the top corner of the home goal.
"I cannot believe it,” said Garnacho, reflecting the general mood. “To be honest I just turned around and thought 'oh my god'. One of the best I have scored - I am happy."
The opening quickly diluted what had been a febrile pre-match build-up and early hostility, aimed more at the Premier League, following their recent punishment of Everton, than towards United.
Supporters’ groups handed out placards, bearing the word “corrupt” alongside a Premier League badge, which were frequently displayed, especially after ten minutes with that particular protest representing one minute for every point Everton have been docked.
The Premier League anthem before kick-off was drowned out by a chorus of boos and, despite the poor start, their team at least responded to the occasion before the interval.
In fact, the major surprise by half-time was that United still held their one-goal advantage, after Everton squandered a string of openings late in the first period.
Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin started the procession with a header straight at Andre Onana before the keeper saved well from the striker and Dwight McNeil’s follow-up shot was cleared off the line by Kobbie Mainoo.
The teenage midfielder, making his first league start for United, was producing an impressive debut but Everton pressed on, with Abdoulaye Doucouré pulling a shot wide, Calvert-Lewin heading over again and Idrissa Gueye missing horribly.
The long catalogue of misses was made to look all the more costly after 56 minutes when Rashford doubled United’s lead in controversial fashion, after Ashley Young was initially shown a yellow card for simulation.
The striker went down after contact from Ashley Young and, following a VAR check and look at his monitor, referee John Brooks reversed his decision and awarded the spot kick.
Rashford, who had not taken a Premier League penalty for over three years, was given responsibility by regular taker Bruno Fernandes and converted in impressive fashion with the captain later revealing he had handed his team-mate the ball in an effort to help improve his low confidence in front of goal.
“He needed that a lot,” said ten Hag. “You see also how great captain Bruno is. He assessed his team-mate needed that goal. He has the confidence in Rashy, who is a good penalty taker. As a team you need that leadership that you back each other.” Gueye forced a good save out of Onana soon after, as Everton sought a route backed into the contest and the two goalscorers might have wrapped up the result on 71 minutes when Rashford sprinted down the left and crossed for Garnacho to volley a difficult chance into the side-netting.
There was no such mistake after 75 minutes when substitute Facundo Pellistri played a pass to Fernandes whose clever ball put Martial clean through on goal for a neat, chipped finish.
The remaining minutes could have brought goals at both ends, notably two minutes from time when Fernandes and Rashford broke clear on the counter but the latter’s attempt to return a pass was intercepted by James Tarkowski.
For Everton, a miserable afternoon and worrying situation, was summed up by yet more misses - Vitalii Mykolenko clipped the bar, Youssef Chermiti shot just wide and Jack Harrison should have scored from close range but was denied by Onana.
"A lot of the performance was right, a pretty decent performance from our point of view,” said Dyche. “Our mentality will serve us well this season.
“But ten points taken away from anyone will change their season. Until the appeals process goes through we have to play away the noise."
Pickford 6; Young 5 (Patterson 73, 5), Tarkowski 6, Branthwaite 7, Mykolenko 6; Harrison 5, Garner 6, Gueye 6, McNeil 5 (Danjuma 73, 5); Doucoure 6 (Dobbin 89); Calvert-Lewin 8 (Chermiti 82).
Keane, Virginia, Godfrey, Coleman, Hunt.
Onana 7; Dalot 6, Lindelof 7, Maguire 6, Shaw 6 (Wan-Bissaka 76, 5); McTominay 6, Mainoo 9; Rashford 7, Fernandes 6, Garnacho 8; Martial 7 (Mejbri 84).
Bayindir, Reguilon, Varane, van de Beek, Hugill.
J Brooks 6.
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