A stunning Alejandro Garnacho overhead kick set Manchester United on their way to a 3-0 Premier League victory over Everton on Sunday afternoon.
Garnacho's incredible effort silenced the buoyant Everton protestors in the stands, and the Toffees will end the weekend still in 19th after United scored twice in the second half.
Sean Dyche won't be too disheartened by his side's performance, but the hosts were made to pay for their final third inefficiency. United, on the contrary, made the most of very little to secure three crucial points.
How the game unfolded
Erik ten Hag would've emphasised heavily upon the opening exchanges given the cauldron his players were walking into, and Garnacho offered United the ultimate silencer.
His Puskas-worthy overhead kick with barely two minutes on the clock stunned Goodison Park as their side fell behind, although the planned protests went ahead without a hitch.
After taking the lead, United did a fine job of taming the hosts by retaining possession in their own third. However, once Everton had gotten over Garnacho's heroics, they started to impose themselves on the frail visitors. The Toffees turned it on around the 30-minute mark and missed countless chances before the break.
United's threat going the other way was nonexistent amid Everton's barrage, but they retained their 1-0 lead going into half-time.
Despite sleepwalking into the interval, the visitors then found themselves 2-0 ahead before the hour after Marcus Rashford converted emphatically from the penalty spot. Anthony Martial was initially booked for a dive, but Ashley Young was eventually penalised for his trip following VAR intervention.
From there, it was a long way back for the hosts, even against a United backline that gradually deepened. Andre Onana remained stout between the sticks and Everton started to wilt. The Red Devils' victory was confirmed 15 minutes from time when Martial rounded off a swift transition with a deft dink over Jordan Pickford.
Everton player ratings (4-4-1-1)
GK: Jordan Pickford - 5/10 - Not even Roy Keane thought Pickford could've gotten anywhere near Garnacho's effort. Overall, there was little he could've done to prevent United's victory.
RB: Ashley Young - 5/10 - Booked in the first half and gave away a penalty at the start of the second, this certainly wasn't the veteran's best work.
CB: James Tarkowski - 6/10 - Found it hard to defend the gaping voids Everton left after falling 2-0 behind, but Tarkowski had previously had little to do.
CB: Jarrad Branthwaite - 6/10 - Similar to Tarkowski. Branthwaite was an observer for the opening hour and rarely called into action.
LB: Vitaly Mykolenko - 6/10 - Wasn't troubled by Rashford in the opening period amid a fairly serene showing. Tried to have an impact going forward late on.
RM: Jack Harrison - 5/10 - A quiet outing for Harrison, who rarely found himself in positions to cause havoc.
CM: Idrissa Gueye - 7/10 - Impressive during Everton's bright spell in the first half, but missed a great chance to equalise.
CM: James Garner - 5/10 - Having impressed before the international break, Garner would've wanted to impose himself more than he did against his former employers.
LM: Dwight McNeil - 6/10 - Tried to drift infield and offer a reference point between the lines, but he only provided a threat with a couple of crosses in the opening period.
AM: Abdoulaye Doucoure - 6/10 - Another Toffee who missed an excellent first-half chance, Doucoure supported Dominic Calvert-Lewin ably but wasn't a major influence.
ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 7/10 - A nuisance throughout and a more than serviceable focal point, but Calvert-Lewin was far from clinical in front of goal.
Substitutes
SUB: Nathan Patterson (72' for Young) - 5/10
SUB: Arnaut Danjuma (72' for McNeil) - 4/10
SUB: Youssef Chermiti (82' for Calvert-Lewin) - 6/10
SUB: Lewis Dobbin (90' for Doucoure) - N/A
Subs not used: Joao Virginia (GK), Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey, Seamus Coleman, Mackenzie Hunt
Manager
Sean Dyche - 6/10 - The manager played into the Goodison Park atmosphere and set his side up to press high up the pitch which brought about success in the opening period. Garnacho's miraculous finish meant they were on the back foot from the outset, but they created more than enough in the first half to win this game outright.
Man Utd player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Andre Onana - 7/10 - While Everton's efforts weren't often of the highest quality, Onana nonetheless stood strong amid the barrage.
RB: Diogo Dalot - 7/10 - Stuck to his task well down the right-hand side and offered a threat with his deliveries in the final third.
CB: Harry Maguire - 7/10 - Maguire's resurgence continues. The defender produced a convincing defensive display on Sunday.
CB: Victor Lindelof - 5/10 - Did not enjoy the direct battle with Calvert-Lewin, particularly in the first half.
LB: Luke Shaw - 7/10 - This was a steady return to action for Shaw, who was stout defensively. The left-back was typically crafty in the build-up as well. A big boost.
CM: Kobbie Mainoo - 8/10 - United supporters have been longing for Mainoo's introduction following his injury setback, and it's easy to understand why. The young midfielder was superb; taking responsibility in the build-up and constantly seeking to progress possession. He was industrious without the ball, too, making a pivotal goal-line clearance in the opening period.
CM: Scott McTominay - 5/10 - Outshone by his young midfield partner, the game seemed to pass the Scot by at times.
RM: Marcus Rashford - 5/10 - Genuinely awful outside of his excellent penalty. Struggled to retain possession throughout, but did liven up on the counter late on.
AM: Bruno Fernandes - 7/10 - Grew into the contest after the restart. Fernandes was United's connector in transition, and his pass for Martial which led to his side's third was devastating.
LM: Alejandro Garnacho - 7/10 - It was one of the best goals you're ever going to see and an undoubted Puskas contender. Just superb. He won't care that he did very little after that majestic finish.
ST: Anthony Martial - 7/10 - Struggled to get involved early on, but he had a big say in United's victory having won a penalty and scoring their third with a subtle finish.
Substitutes
SUB: Sofyan Amrabat (72' for Mainoo) - 6/10
SUB: Facundo Pellistri (72' for Garnacho) - 5/10
SUB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (76' for Shaw) - 6/10
SUB: Hannibal Mejbri (85' for Martial) - 5/10
Subs not used: Altay Bayindir (GK), Sergio Reguilon, Raphael Varane, Donny van de Beek, Hannibal Mejbri, Joe Hugill
Manager
Erik ten Hag - 7/10 - While they were helped by Garnacho's heroics, Ten Hag's side managed the Goodison Park faithful well early on, but the boss, who was up in the stands serving a touchline ban, would've been concerned at the start of the second-half given how United dazed through the final 30 minutes of the opening period. Nevertheless, his side were efficient and stout in a hostile environment to continue their productive domestic run.
Player of the match: Kobbie Mainoo (Man Utd)
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This article was originally published on 90min as Everton 0-3 Man Utd: Player ratings as Garnacho stunner sets up Red Devils win.
