Garnacho brilliance keeps United’s slim Champions League hopes alive

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They love a winger in these parts and watching Everton’s players tying themselves in knots trying and failing to suppress a snaking Alejandro Garnacho was the highlight from this for Manchester United supporters.
The teenage Argentine has started every game for United since a derby defeat to Manchester City in late October and this was another of those afternoons when he rewarded his manager’s trust by taking the fight to opponents.
Garnacho won both of the first half penalties, converted by Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, that ultimately decided a game that was more delicately balanced than the scoreline might suggest.
The moment Alejandro Garnacho won a penalty for Man Utd!Do you think it was the correct decision…? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Kg4cWQVZY7
United looked dangerous when Fernandes was releasing Garnacho in behind and throwing Everton on to the back foot in the first half but this was another of those performances that raised more questions than answers about Erik ten Hag’s side.
Defeat extended Everton’s winless streak in the Premier League to 11 matches and their lack of cutting edge was a familiar source of frustration for manager Sean Dyche because they created enough chances to have made life much more uncomfortable for United.
Ten Hag tried to brush aside concerns about the encouragement United are giving opponents, with Everton the fifth side in six games to have had at least 20 shots against his team and the 10th in the competition this term, by arguing they are “low quality chances”.
But it did not feel like that against Everton, who had their first clear sight of goal after just three minutes when Dwight McNeil whipped a superb cross into the path of Amadou Onana just outside the six yard box.
Any meaningful touch and the Everton midfielder would have asked serious questions of Andre Onana in the United goal but the chance almost seemed to take him by surprise and United were granted a reprieve. Onana also blasted over from an inviting position after United’s goalkeeper saved acrobatically from James Garner and Lewis Dobbin also blew an excellent chance in the second period.
“I’ve been here before with teams and I don’t remember having that many chances and creating so many opportunities,” Dyche said. “We had about 45 quality entries into their box, they had around 15 and we lose 2-0. You have to be willing to get hurt to score a goal. We have to get that devilment to find the moment that kills.”
What Dyche would give for a Garnacho. Everton’s defending for those two penalties may have been a little reckless but Garnacho invites panic and mistakes. He struggled badly in last Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City, even if he was not alone, and if the manager had better options available to him then maybe that was a game where Ten Hag might instead have considered using the youngster as an impact substitute. 
But this marked a return to form. James Tarkowski was the first to fall victim to Garnacho’s quick feet, swiping away his left leg as the United winger checked inside. Fernandes made no mistake from the spot.
Bruno Fernandes comes desperately close with a free-kick! 🫣Brilliant save from Jordan Pickford! 🧤 pic.twitter.com/YxOaOYOlS8
There was even better to follow from Garnacho when he surged forward from the inside right channel and skipped past Garner and Onana like they weren’t there. Garnacho had Everton’s defence just where he wanted them as he careered into the penalty area where poor Ben Godfrey stuck at a hopeful leg and sent the Argentine tumbling.
It was another easy decision for referee Simon Hooper to make. On this occasion, it was Rashford who stepped up from 12 yards after Fernandes handed over penalty taking duties to his team-mate and the England forward did not waste the opportunity.
Marcus Rashford makes it 2-0 from the spot! 💥 pic.twitter.com/Kq8cVO81zd
After back-to-back league defeats to Fulham and City, victory kept United in the conversation for Champions League qualification although they may well need England to be granted a fifth, additional spot to be competing in Europe’s premier club competition next term. Ten Hag will hope he gets Rasmus Hojlund back from injury soon but the strides Garnacho is taking augur well, even if the manager urged the 19-year-old not to lose his focus.
“I love to work with Garnacho but also with many other players to challenge them,” Ten Hag said. “He needs a challenge, likes a challenge, he’s very brave and confident and our job is to push him to higher levels. He is doing this, he has high potential and is getting that potential out. He has to work day to day. When you are young you don’t know what it is to perform every three days. There are so many areas to improve and you need a lot of skills to be the best.”
On the victory…
“Every game is a must-win so he must be happy.” 
On the performance of Garnacho…
“He’s progressing very we well his contribution was huge and effective was well…They were well-deserved penalties.”
On what he was happy with and what his side can improve on…
“In areas yes [I was happy], in our counter attacks, we had good breaks and could have scored three or four… in our build up we could be more composed on the ball.”
On letting Everton have lots of chances…
“We defended very well, they were low-quality chances…all over we defended well.”
On his overall emotion..
“We had one bad result against Fulham and we have to keep the pressure on the teams above us. We are back and keep pressure on them and will see what happens.”
…what to make of that match regards the rest of the season for both sides. Neither impressed, both lacked fizz in the final third and it wasn’t a match to remember. 
The worry for United is that they’re too far back from fourth (currently eight points) and lack consistency to somehow end up in the Champions League spots. 
The worry for Everton is that they lack belief in attack and cannot buy a win. I suspect United won’t make top four and Everton will just stay up.  
Speaking on TNT Sport, the United legend said…
United were better in the second half than the first half, there was more control. They deserved to win but it wasn’t a great game.
That second half was a bit of a non-event. It was lacking in energy and action and once United had the two-goal lead they probably knew that it was enough against a blunt Everton. 
There’s a bit (emphasis on the ‘bit’) of last-minute drama as Rashford is through in the box and is brought down. Hooper, for the third time this afternoon, points to the sport BUT Rashford was offside..
There will be four added minutes – definitely not enough for Everton to score twice…
More changes that, you strongly suspect, will not make one jot of difference. 
For Everton: Mykolenko is replaced by Chermiti.For United: Evans is off for Kambwala.
Changes for United. Mainoo off for Amrabat and Garacho, a bright spot for the hosts, makes way for Antony…
Kobbie Mainoo has to walk around the perimeter of the pitch to get back to the bench after being subbed. Standing ovation from the United fans and a reminder that Gareth Southgate will pick his next England squad on Thursday to face Brazil and Belgium. Mainoo has played for the Under-19s for far and is likely to get a call-up to the Under-21s. 
Another decent-enough chance for Everton, this one from a corner, delivered from the right. It finds the head of DCL whose attempt is right down the throat of Onana in the United goal. When your luck is going for you that goes either side of the keeper, when it’s not…
I am going to call it now – this game is all but done. We could play for another millennia and Everton won’t score.*
*Part prediction, part hoping I’ve jinxed it and prompted a goal-laden final 10-15 mins…
Another chance goes begging for Everton and once that sums up their day season. 
A deep cross comes in from the left, Godfrey does well to head it across the six-yard box, Dobbin hits a shot-cum-cross and DCL, at the back post cannot get the touch, that would surely have sent it into the back of the net, on it. 
All the energy has seemingly gone from Everton – in the first half they were pressing with vigour and now it’s with a whimper. Dyche makes another change and it’s United old boy Young (at Old Trafford for nearly nine years) who comes on for Garner. 
Not much to write about on the pitch so will use this post to let you know that Hollywood A-lister (well, at least former A-lister…) Gary Oldman is in the stands. The actor is apparently a big United fan. That’s the actor born in saff east Landon, New Cross to be precise…
This game is meandering to the close, the Everton subs haven’t made any difference. 
United are looking ever more comfortable with every passing minute – it’s not been a good performance, but a two-goal cushion allows them a bit of calm their performance hasn’t warranted. 
They’ve also been help by a noticeable drop in the energy of Everton’s press. 
Pressure from United, Feranandes is lurking with intent in the box and he finds the dictionary definition of ‘a pocket of space’ and fires in a low shot that Pickford gets a good hand to, turning it round the post for a corner. 
From the resulting set piece there results what can only be described as BUNDLES, a million players around the ball (which you cannot see) in the area a la hosts of primary school playgrounds of yesteryear, delightful! Ultimately the ball comes to a grateful Pickford in the Everton goal. 
It’s a triple change for the visitors…
Gomes, DCL and Dobbin are on for Doucoure, Beto and Harrison. 
Everton could do with some super subs in the next 30 minutes….
Fernandes plays a low ball from the left that is just beyond the outstretched leg of Garnacho…
Meanwhile, changes are afoot for Everton. 
 
Another chance for Everton and it seems they’re shot-shy. McNeil and then Beto partake in a bit of ‘after you Claude’ on the edge of the area before it falls for Doucoure whose shot is saved at the near post by Onana. 
Everton need the next goal and, as an armchair coach (the easiest form of coaching…) you fancy that Dyche has to mix things up a bit. Two experienced heads in DCL and Young, the former United man, are on the bench…
Everton have to attack and United aren’t playing a high tempo simply because, at the moment, they don’t need to. They are looking comfortable. Fernandes plays in Garnacho and he, this time, decides to have a shot on goal, but not on target as it goes over the bar. 
Another good chance for Everton. The ball is played in from the left, Tarkowski gets on the end of it before the ball drops to Onana, his shot blocked by the thigh of McTominay. Another half (possibly better than half) chance gone begging for the visitors. 
I think ‘frustrating’ is the word that will resonate with most Everton fans…
A quietish start to the second period. That will suit the hosts far more than Everton who need a goal sooner rather than later. If they can find the back of the net then you fancy there will be more than one or two nerves in the United XI…
As I type the visitors attack down the right through Godfrey. But as so often with them this match AND this season the final ball is poor and both United defence and goalkeeper are not put under anything remotely like pressure. 
They’re back under way at Old Trafford, there are no changes to note but you fancy Dominic Calvert Lewin will be on for Everton soon…
Marcus Rashford has now scored his last 13 non-shootout penalties. This one was with a stuttered run up to have a look at which way Jordan Pickford would dive. Since missing in the Euro final shootout he has scored three penalties, and they have all been against Everton. 
2 – Alejandro Garnacho is the first ever @ManUtd player to win two penalties in the same Premier League game, while it’s also the first time the Red Devils have had two different penalty scorers in the first half of a PL game. Spotty. #MUNEVE pic.twitter.com/KPDzcz64Fh
The half finishes with a good chance for McNeil, his shot blocked. It’s a reminder that if you ignore the scoreline then Everton have been the better side. They, like United, have lacked cutting edge BUT the hosts have been gifted two penalties and that is basically all there is between two nervy sides. 
The player of the half Garnacho again dances into the box having been played in by a lovely ball. He does everything right bar shoot and Everton live to see another day minute..
United have seen a bit more of the ball these past five minutes and this attack sees Lindelof, of all people, have a crack from 30 yards. As you’d expect from a defender who doesn’t score, his attempt does not really trouble Pickford who saves with absolute ease. 
United are clear on the right in the form of the game’s only livewire so far, Garnacho. The Argentine gets to the byline and pulls it back, it hits Branthwaite’s arm and, as you’d expect with a partisan home crowd, the Old Trafford faithful all call for another penalty. Hooper, however, is having none of it and VAR backs him up. 
For all my banging on about Everton lacking cutting edge, but apart from Garnacho’s persistent and directness which won both the penalties, United too have been blunt in attack. They are in the final third here and they fail to force a save out of Pickford.
Corner for Everton – they deserve something here…but, as with the previous three set pieces, they create nothing here. FOr a side that thrives on set pieces that part of their game has been poor so far. 
Everton have shot themselves in both feet with two very large guns today. They have been the better side but have been unable to capitalise on their dominance, and to compound that have given away two penalties – United have refused to look both gift horses in the mouth and are two up because of it. 
Man Utd 2 Everton 0 
This time it’s Rashford who’ll take it and despite the different taker the result is the same. Rashford going to Pickford’s right and making no mistake. 
Marcus Rashford makes it 2-0 from the spot! 💥 pic.twitter.com/Kq8cVO81zd
And it’s that man Garnacho again…the Argentine picks the ball up 30 yards out and drives, if I was being more poetic I’d say dances, into the box. Godfrey is clumsy and Hooper is given little choice but to again point to the spot…
The first 30 minutes of this match sort of sums up the weird paradox of Ten Hag’s United. He wants control but the side seemingly only relies on counter attacks…
Great goal-saving tackle from Branthwaite after McTominay gets in behind the Everton defence and plays in a low ball to the near post to Mainoo. But the much-heralded defender gets in ahead of the United man. The flag was up, however, but that shouldn’t detract from the fine piece of defending. 
Great save from Pickford – it’s a free-kick for United, Fernandes is 25 yards out and does brilliantly to get power and dip (Christmas come early!) forcing the England shotstopper into a fine save. Had that gone in that would have been very unfair on them…
I am now going to update the ‘Everton are seeing more of the ball and playing well’ line to ‘Everton are outplaying United’. They are on the front foot as Garner tries his luck from 25 yards, Onana makes a save, but the ball comes out to his namesake and the Everton midfielder’s attempt is off target. 
Oh, how the visitors could do with a goalscorer and/or composure when it matters…
Everton are playing the ball around well, they are patient and getting into the final third, BUT, as with so often for them this season, they have lacked cutting edge either with the final pass or the attempt on goal. They win another corner here and again put the hosts under pressure. 
They are a goal to the good, but this isn’t a great performance from United. Everton are seeing more of the ball now and another worrying thing is that Casemiro seems to be intent on breaking the world record for giving the ball away…
Better from Everton, they find Harrison, who has a peach of a left boot, infield and he has a dig from all of 25 yards. It’s high and wide, but that’s not the first time the visitors have created a decent half chance. They need more of those. 
United have seen more of the ball since the goal than in the entire 12 minutes before it…momentum and confidence, such lovely and, at time, intangible, things…
Bruno Fernandes gives Man Utd the lead from the spot! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/gv8ME8Za6G
Andy Burnham spoke to the media pre-match about Manchester United’s stadium and regeneration plans. As he left he asked if anyone in the room gave his beloved Everton a chance today… 11 minutes in and they are trailing to Bruno’s penalty. Garnacho may have played for the trip by Tarkowski but it was a penalty. 
United weren’t really in the match until that penalty – and, to state the obvious, that’s just what the hosts needed and the last thing Everton could have done with…the visitors tend not to do well when a goal down…
Man Utd 1 Everton 0
Pickford guesses the right way but Fernandes is too accurate and buries it into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. 
Easy decision this…Garnacho cuts in off the left, gets into the box and his quick feet outfoxes Tarkowski who brings the Argentine down. A collectors item as no once even really bothers to protest the decision of Simon Hooper…wow!
Lively start at Old Trafford as a long ball over the top gets Rashford in on goal but the Everton defence, the form of Harrison, do enough to put off the England man and there are high-fives all around. 
Everton have another good attack after Casemiro, not for the first time today, loses the ball. Beto plays in Onana whose cross is well intercepted by his namesake in the United goal. 
The visitors are not letting United breathe and if you’re an Everton fan you are doubtless hoping they capitalise on this energetic start. 
It’s been a lively start from Everton, they are pressing high and not letting United relax on the ball. No shock there, it’s how Dyche wants his teams to play, in the faces of the opposition. 
Everton haven’t won since December 16…but thanks to a decent KC have had four points back and they’ve won the first set piece, a corner. They won the ball high got bodies into the United half and earned the corner. Can they make this count? Nope, the evergreen Evans heads the ball clear.
BUT the ball comes back to the visitors and eventually the ball in delivered into the box and it’s a good chance for Onana and Godfrey but, both unmarked, neither can get an attempt in on goal and United breathe a sigh of relief.
They’re under way at Old Trafford, the hosts are in their famous red and Everton their equally notable royal blue. You suspect the both sides will be after a fast start to set the tone for the rest of the match. Here we go…
And we’re moments away from kick-off. 
Said it before and will doubtless say it many times before the 90 minutes are up, this is a must-not-lose match for both sides. And, to be fair, both need the three points…
I am going to remind those United fans for whom it’s all a bit too doom and gloom at the moment, that before the recent back-to-back defeats to City and Fulham they had won four on the bounce. Not only that but they played well and looked to be in good form, the sort of form that made Ten Hag’s position seem solid last season. 
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Staring XI: Onana, Dalot, Varane, Evans, Lindelof, Mainoo, Casemiro, McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho, Rashford.Substitutes: Bayindir, Amrabat, Eriksen, Diallo, Antony, Kambwala, Collyer, Ogunneye, Mee. 
Staring XI: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Harrison, Onana, Garner, McNeil, Doucoure, Beto.Substitutes: Patterson, Keane, Calvert-Lewin, Virginia, Young, Andre Gomes, Coleman, Chermiti, Dobbin.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).
Today’s Toffees! #MUNEVE pic.twitter.com/CJn7LWr4ZN
Your Reds to face Everton ✊#MUFC || #MUNEVE
Who doesn’t love bemoaning old Lady Luck? Something doesn’t go your way, well, shrug your shoulders and simply blurt out ‘not my fault, guv!’ It’s simple and oh so seductive, and so it’s no shock to see the tactic dealt out in football every week. Lost a match? Blame the referee/VAR/injuries/the weather/grass being too long/opposition ‘parking the bus’ (delete according to which way the wind is blowing…).
Erik ten Hag is no stranger to this strategy and only this week got it out of his locker when claiming he would have won 75 of his first 100 matches as Manchester United manager had luck gone his way.
“Imagine we had many more players available and not setbacks and injuries, we could easy have 75 wins and that tells the bright future of this team,” the Dutchman said. “When you compare it with other managers, other teams, or previous managers in this big club you can see there is a bright future. It is a good balance in ages in this squad.
“Young players, middle-aged players, imagine when they are available, could easily have won from 100 games 75. It is a big difference with the stats you mentioned.”
Ten Hag’s winning record is a not-to-be-sniffed-at 61 per cent, so why the insistence that he’d have done much better but for Lady Luck? Well, it betrays the fact he knows he’s under pressure. Two defeats on the bounce to Fulham and City mean that United are 11 points off a top-four spot, and with the new regime of Sir Jim Ratcliffe seemingly looking to shake things up at Old Trafford the Dutch manager knows he has to get results fast if he’s to stay at the club.
Starting today at home to Everton, another team in dire need of points, Ten Hag not only needs the win but to also give the impression he’s a man who is in control of the club and the right person to lead it beyond this campaign. Any more allusions to Lady Luck and his time may well soon be up.
Stay here for all the team news, pre-match analysis and action, with kick-off set for 12.30.