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During the end-of-season awards ceremony, the top goal may be attributed to a display of Alejandro Garnacho’s impressive skill and be at the expense of Everton. However, it was not in the most recent match: in their November game on Merseyside, there was an exceptional overhead kick that should be etched in our memories for years to come.
However, there are various strategies for achieving victory in matches, and Garnacho discovered a new approach to defeating Everton. Following his impressive performance, there were also noteworthy statistics: he became the first Manchester United player to earn two penalties in a Premier League match, and the first one to achieve this feat for any club since Antonio Rudiger in 2021.
Garnacho made another unique occurrence happen: for the first time in the division, two different players from United scored penalty kicks in the first half of a match. Everton knows firsthand the skill of the teenager as a dribbler and also witnessed Bruno Fernandes generously allowing Marcus Rashford to take and score a penalty kick, just as he had done at Goodison Park. This situation repeated itself and Erik ten Hag had reason to be pleased as he has faced Everton five times and emerged victorious each time.
Ben Godfrey and James Tarkowski tripped Garnacho.
However, for Everton, there was a slight variation in a few recurring problems. Sanctions of a different nature have been a prominent aspect of their season, as they initially received a 10-point deduction which was later lowered to six.
The authorities have penalised them in other ways. It has been a regular grievance of Sean Dyche that Everton had to wait until March to get a spot kick – which Beto promptly missed against West Ham – and now, no side has conceded more. United have benefited from three of those seven, even if Everton had no grounds for complaint at Old Trafford, their clumsiness the cause when confronted by Garnacho’s speed and skill.
James Tarkowski was the first culprit, tripping Garnacho as he turned. Ben Godfrey felt still more culpable, upending the Argentinian when in full flight.
Reworded: Fernandes accomplished a rare feat with his goal, considering his success at Manchester United and willingness to shoot. This was his first goal in 17 league matches, spanning over four months. This may have played a role in Rashford taking the second penalty, as he had recently ended his dry spell at Goodison Park and has since scored in two consecutive league games and a total of five goals in 2024. It seems his struggles in the first half of the season may have contributed to this improvement.
Rashford rejoices as Fernandes awards him with Manchester United’s second penalty.
Although Fernandes was filling in for Rasmus Hojlund in the forward position, he and the other two forwards still managed to score. However, it was Garnacho who truly excelled. Despite being subpar in the Manchester derby, he was unstoppable and difficult to catch, even having a few opportunities that were created by Fernandes. Pickford stopped him from scoring a second goal, blocking his free kick.
Despite the half-time score indicating a comfortable lead for United, it can be argued that they were actually being outplayed at home by a team facing relegation. This does not bode well for United. They struggled with ball possession and even allowed the opposing team, managed by Sean Dyche, to hold 49% of possession at Old Trafford. Additionally, United’s tendency to allow their opponents to take a large number of shots continued as Everton had a total of 23 shots. However, as expected, they were unable to convert any of these opportunities into goals.
Everton has the potential to translate their effective game strategy into solid opportunities.
If profligacy has been a problem for Everton, it has been exacerbated. Dyche has become a convert to the world of xG because Everton’s total of expected goals is far higher than their number of actual goals. Everton were the more positive and purposeful from the off.
There were numerous missed chances throughout the game, starting with Amadou Onana who was not marked in the second minute. Dwight McNeil also had two close shots that narrowly missed the target. Abdoulaye Doucoure had multiple opportunities as well. A sliding Dominic Calvert-Lewin was unable to convert Lewis Dobbin’s cross. The substitute, who has now gone 22 games without scoring, had a shorter dry spell than that of Antony, the Manchester United player who came on for Garnacho and received a standing ovation, but also was unable to end his own scoring drought.
The Brazilian’s performance was insignificant compared to the decisive one by the Argentinian Garnacho. As seen in previous victories, United may not have been dominant on the pitch but they have players with enough skill to impact the outcome of the game. Despite suffering from consecutive defeats in the Premier League, this win keeps United’s slim chances of qualifying for the Champions League alive. On the other hand, Everton’s winless streak in the league now extends to 11 games and with a three-week break, it means they have not earned three points in a match for three months.
The possibility of being relegated is still a worry, but United may have reason to believe they will avoid it. They currently hold the record for the most Premier League wins against Everton with 41, surpassing any other club. The last two victories, achieved in different ways, can be credited to Garnacho’s skills.
Source: independent.co.uk
