Manchester United showcased their best performance of the season as they thrashed Everton 4-0 at Old Trafford, marking a dream Premier League home debut for new manager Ruben Amorim.
Goals from Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee, who each scored twice, sealed the emphatic victory, lifting United to ninth place and within four points of the Champions League spots.
Amorim, who joined United from Sporting Lisbon, has already begun to leave his mark. Despite a disappointing 1-1 draw against Ipswich in his first game and a narrow Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt, this display demonstrated the attacking intent and energy fans have been craving.
United’s performance was filled with pace, precision, and confidence, earning Amorim chants of support from the home crowd in the closing stages.
Rashford, now in red-hot form, opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a deflected shot off Jarrad Branthwaite, who endured a torrid evening.
Moments later, Amad Diallo dispossessed Branthwaite, setting up Zirkzee for his first goal since the opening day of the season.
Diallo and Rashford combined again just seconds into the second half, with Rashford’s blistering pace and calm finish beating Jordan Pickford. Zirkzee capped off the scoring with a composed strike after another assist from the impressive Diallo.
The atmosphere inside Old Trafford was electric, contrasting sharply with the pre-match protests. Fans voiced their frustrations over the club’s owners, Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers, following a controversial decision to raise ticket prices mid-season. Despite this, the dominant performance on the pitch provided much-needed relief and hope for supporters.
The win also underlined Everton’s struggles, leaving them just two points above the relegation zone. Their upcoming fixtures include tough games against Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City, making their survival fight even harder.
For United, the focus now shifts to a challenging midweek clash against Arsenal at the Emirates, a test that will further reveal how far Amorim’s transformation of the team has progressed.
