[Manchester United 3-0 Everton] Viva Garnacho!
A goal for the ages and veteran performances from youngsters boost United past the Toffees
The kids are alright. Alejandro Garnacho only needed three minutes to prove it on Sunday’s test in Merseyside when he scored what is undoubtedly the Goal of the Year—a bicycle kick reminiscent of Wayne Rooney’s Manchester Derby stunner nearly 13 years ago.
The 19-year-old Argentine displayed poise and expertise far beyond his years to meet Diogo Dalot’s clipped cross, going against his momentum and turning on a dime to retreat for a ball headed to no man’s land fast. Garnacho knew exactly what to do with that ball when it came off Dalot’s foot. He only had a few seconds to launch himself horizontally into the air and put the ball into the top right corner of the goal with every inch of his outstretched right leg.
It was a goal I can’t believe I got to see happen in real-time—one that will be talked about for years to come—one we’ll all tell our kids and grandkids about.
The goal factory opens
More miracles followed as United finally managed to win a Premier League game by more than one goal. Even better: Three goals, which seemed like a world away two weeks ago when the Reds could hardly muster one against Luton Town.
And Marcus Rashford may have his swagger back courtesy of Bruno Fernandes, who graciously let the winger take a VAR-awarded penalty kick (yes, I know) in the 56th minute after Ashley Young tripped up Anthony Martial at the top of the box. It was a penalty with a statement attached to it, a screamer that smashed the top of the netting and gave Jordan Pickford zero chance at stopping.
Even Martial had to get a taste of the scoring in the 75th minute. It was probably written in the stars, as the Frenchman loves a goal against Everton—he has now scored eight against the Toffees in his career.
Kobbie Mainoo’s big day
Even if you can’t remember what you were doing at the ripe age of 18 years and 222 days, you probably were not starting a Premier League match for Manchester United on your professional debut.
Kobbie Mainoo was, and he did it with absolute class.
The hometown kid looked like a seasoned veteran in United’s injury-ridden midfield by controlling the pace, maintaining possession and coming up with an incredible goalline clearance to preserve the clean sheet. His numbers were impressive: two interceptions, one blocked shot and an 86% pass accuracy, to name a few.
With Casemiro, Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen all out of the picture for the coming weeks, Mainoo is the remedy this midfield needs. It’s a lot to carry on a young kid’s shoulders, but Sunday’s performance tells us he can pull heavy weight. Remember the name.
Sunday’s triumph has surely injected United with new life, and it should bode well for form as a difficult December rolls in. Now six points off the top of the table and four points off fourth place, perhaps the crisis days are over.
But first, a Champions League test in Istanbul at Galatasaray awaits on Wednesday. The Reds will be without six injured players plus a suspended Marcus Rashford after that controversial red card in Copenhagen. How fun!