Manchester United rubbed salt into Everton’s wounds as Alejandro Garnacho’s stunning overhead kick helped the Red Devils to a 3-0 win that left the Toffees rooted in the Engliah Premier League relegation zone.
Everton’s first match since receiving a 10-point deduction for breaches of financial rules was met with a furious response at Goodison Park as the home support held up thousands of placards labeling the Premier League “corrupt,”
Yet the match was only three minutes old when Garnacho produced a sublime piece of skill that will go down as one of the great Premier League goals.
Photo: Reuters
The 19-year-old Argentine sprang to meet Diogo Dalot’s hanging cross flush on the volley and fire into Jordan Pickford’s top left-hand corner.
“I cannot believe it. To be honest I just turned around and thought: ‘Oh my God,’” Garnacho said.
That moment of magic was out of keeping with another patchy United performance, but Marcus Rashford’s penalty and Anthony Martial’s strike ensured manager Erik ten Hag’s men have now won five of their last six league games.
“It was a fantastic goal. [The] season is still many games to play, but probably already the goal of the season,” Ten Hag said. “We knew beforehand it was going to be difficult, but we enjoy those challenges.”
United climb up to sixth in the table and within six points of leaders Arsenal despite a troubled season.
The visitors had to cope with a febrile atmosphere as the Everton support took out their frustrations on the authorities for being handed the most severe sporting sanction in Premier League history.
After two seasons battling relegation, Sean Dyche’s men looked to have pulled clear of trouble thanks to a fine recent run of form, but they are now off the bottom of the table only on goal difference and five points adrift of safety.
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