Rasmus Hojlund marked his 21st 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day by scoring in a fourth straight Premier League game as Manchester United ran out 3-0 winners over West Ham at Old Trafford. Alejandro Garnacho also bagged a brace as the visitors were left to rue a succession of missed chances. United climb above their opponents into sixth in the Premier League table, six points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham.
Alejandro Garnacho scored twice as Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 victory over West Ham at Old Trafford.
The Hammers had more play in the opposing third than the hosts but could not make it pay, while United in contrast were clinical.
Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring midway through the first half after Casemiro outhustled James Ward-Prowse to nudge the ball into his path. The Denmark international weaved outside of Nayef Aguerd before drilling low into the corner to score in a fourth straight Premier League game.
Emerson wasted a good chance for the Hammers three minutes after the restart. It proved costly as within 60 seconds the hosts had doubled their lead, with Garnacho cutting inside the Italian before hitting a shot which deflected off Aguerd and leaving Lukasz Fabianski with no chance.
The Hammers’ best chance of getting back into the game was stifled when Diogo Dalot made a fine sliding challenge to deny Jarrod Bowen, and they fell further behind soon afterwards.
Kalvin Phillips continued his poor start to his loan move, losing the ball in midfield to fellow substitute Scott McTominay, who slid a ball for Garnacho to guide into the net.
The only negative on a fine day for Erik Ten Hag’s side was seeing Lisandro Martinez, who has missed much of the season with a foot injury, limp off with a knee complaint in the second half.
The win lifts the Red Devils above West Ham into sixth position in the Premier League table.
Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United celebrates with Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United after scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on February 4.
No football club has been as associated with a triumvirate like Manchester United, with the Holy Trinity of Bobby Charlton, Dennis Law and George Best known around the world. They were also powered to a third European Cup success with the trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez which, though short-lived, was as dangerous a trio as the Premier League has seen.
While not wishing to put such grandiose expectations on them, seeing Hojliund (21 years old), Garnacho (19) and Kobbie Mainoo (18) sit together on the hoardings – seemingly mocking opponent Mohammed Kudus’ favoured celebration – will make United feel maybe they have three young players who can propel them to better days.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – ALEJANDRO GARNACHO (MANCHESTER UNITED)
United fans enjoyed the contributions of Argentine stars Gabriel Heinze and the aforementioned Tevez for a few seasons, but you get the feeling Garnacho will have a more storied career than any of his countrymen at Old Trafford – including the luckless Martinez.
In a match where the difference in the sides was the potency of the forwards in either sides, the award needs to go to one of United’s attacking stars and Garnacho edged Hojlund courtesy of his goals and sense of panic he created whenever he ran at the Hammers defence.
Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United celebrates scoring their second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on February 04, 2024 in Manchester, England.
PLAYER RATINGS
Man Utd: Onana 7; Dalot 7, Maguire 6, Martinez 7, Shaw 7; Mainoo 6, Casemiro 7; Garnacho 8, Fernandes 7, Rashford 6; Hojlund 7. Subs: McTominay 6, Varane 6, Lindelof 6, Antony 6
West Ham: Areola 6; Johnson 6, Zouma 5, Aguerd 6; Coufal 6, Soucek 6, Alvarez 7, Emerson 6; Kudus 6, Ward-Prowse 6; Bowen 5. Subs: Fabianski 6, Phillips 6, Cornet 6.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
12′ GOOD STOP FROM ONANA! Ward-Prowse’s corner causes havoc and Soucek’s header is deflected off Casemiro but the United keeper sees the ball all the way and parries clear.
23′ GOAL! Man Utd 1-0 West Ham (Hojlund): Hojlund smashes low and hard into Areola’s right hand corner. Casemiro showed great desire to win a ball ahead of Ward-Prowse and then Hojlund weaved outside Aguerd before drilling home.
48′ EMERSON HAD SO MUCH TIME… Maguire dallied on the ball and Emerson took the ball into the area, wanting to set up a team-mate, but ended up shooting with the ball out of his control and it flew wildly wide.
49′ GOAL! Man Utd 2-0 West Ham (Garnacho): Garnacho turns inside Emerson and then strikes at goal and it deflects off Aguerd leaving Fabianski with no chance.
70′ GREAT CHALLENGE FROM DALOT! Bowen got behind Maguire and was through on goal but maybe dallied a bit making his mind up and Dalot showed great desire to come across and block his shot.
84′ GOAL! Man Utd 3-0 West Ham (Garnacho): Phillips loses the ball to McTominay in midfield and he runs towards the penalty area before slipping a ball to Garnacho who slides home
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