Man United Player ratings Against Everton

Rashford and Zirkzee Shine as Manchester United Thrash Everton 4-0

Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee silenced their critics with impressive performances, each scoring a brace in Manchester United’s dominant 4-0 victory over Everton on Sunday.

The duo had faced intense scrutiny for their recent underwhelming displays, but they responded in style, showcasing their potential to new manager Ruben Amorim. Zirkzee’s clinical finishing and Rashford’s rejuvenated form will have undoubtedly pleased Amorim, who secured his first Premier League win as Manchester United boss.

Manchester United Overcome Slow Start to Thrash Everton

Despite a sluggish and at times worrying beginning, Manchester United eventually found their rhythm to convincingly defeat Everton 4-0. The Portuguese coach, Ruben Amorim, will have been concerned by his team’s initial struggles, as Everton managed to breach their defense, only to falter in the final third.

The game’s turning point arrived in the 34th minute, courtesy of a fortunate deflection. Bruno Fernandes’ corner found Marcus Rashford on the edge of the box, whose shot was inadvertently deflected in by Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. Ironically, Branthwaite, a reported transfer target for Manchester United, had started the game impressively but soon found himself at the center of a disastrous sequence of events.

Amad Diallo’s interception of Branthwaite’s possession led to a swift counter-attack, culminating in Joshua Zirkzee’s second goal of the season. Zirkzee’s composed finish was a testament to his growing confidence, and it marked the beginning of a dominant display by Manchester United.

United had the game dead and buried 22 seconds into the second half. Everton’s kick-off made it all the way back to Jordan Pickford, whose punt up field was won by United and a quick burst forward ended with Amad feeding Rashford through to poke it into the net. The England international has now scored in both of Amorim’s league matches in charge and struck twice in the same Premier League match for the first time since February 2023.

The home side didn’t stop there, though. Amad was crucial once again in driving into Everton’s half, and it was he who won the ball back and made his way into the box before squaring for a simple Zirkzee finish.

Here’s how the Manchester United player ratings

Goalkeeper

Andre Onana (6/10): Made crucial interventions with a couple of strong saves, ensuring a clean sheet for Manchester United.

Defence

Noussair Mazraoui (6/10): Delivered a solid defensive performance, utilizing the ball effectively and making a positive impact.

Matthijs de Ligt (7/10): Produced a commanding display, making vital stops and showcasing sound distribution.

Lisandro Martinez (7/10): Demonstrated quick reflexes, neutralising several promising Everton attacks. However, a costly booking will rule him out of Wednesday’s clash against Arsenal.

Midfield

Amad Diallo (8/10): Proved to be a dynamic threat, spearheading United’s pressing game with precision and timing. His two assists showcased his exceptional vision and passing ability. Best performer in the game.

Kobbie Mainoo (7/10): Demonstrated maturity in midfield, distributing the ball sensibly and appearing comfortable in his first game since early October. However, a yellow card means he’ll miss the upcoming Arsenal clash.

Casemiro (6/10): While making some crucial tackles, Casemiro struggled with his passing accuracy and often ceded space, leaving room for improvement in his overall performance.

Attack

Bruno Fernandes (8/10):

Smart passes and dangerous deliveries saw him nab two assists.

Joshua Zirkzee (7/10):

Did pretty well today and got into the right place to score much-needed goals.

Marcus Rashford (8/10):

Was challenged to “want it” by Amorim in midweek and showed that he’s fired up. Lucky with his first goal but the run and finish for his second were class.

Substitutes

Harry Maguire (6/10):

Still allowed Everton to get through after replacing De Ligt, but not a bad 30 minutes.

Luke Shaw (6/10):

A decent run out as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.

Alejandro Garnacho (6/10):

Managed one shot but it was blocked, fine on the ball overall.

Manuel Ugarte (6/10):

Good with his passing but didn’t see a lot of the ball.

Mason Mount (N/A):

Only on for the last 10 minutes.