Manchester United 2-0 Everton: Two first-half penalties sees Red Devils close in on Champions League spots
Manchester United defeated Everton 2-0 on Saturday thanks to penalties from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, their first Premier League victory in three games and one that will undoubtedly rekindle their top-four hopes.
Erik ten Hag's team remains sixth, but with 47 points, they have closed the gap on fourth-placed Aston Villa, who have 55 points and a game in hand. Tottenham, in fifth place, hosts Villa on Sunday with 50 points and two games in hand.
"Every game we have to win, so every game is a must-need," Ten Hag said. "We could have scored three or four goals not just the two penalties. We could have been calmer and more composed on the ball."
Everton, led by Sean Dyche, are 16th with 25 points, five points above the drop zone, having gone winless in 11 consecutive league games.
Both penalties came as a result of clumsy tackles in the box on Alejandro Garnacho, and both were against the run of play, with Everton dominating for long stretches against a United midfield that frequently gave the ball away.
"We have to win every single game," Garnacho told TNT Sports. "The manager wants me to go one V one, to shoot, to dribble. I won two penalties. It's important."
"It's like a dream with my age. A full Old Trafford stadium chanting my name is incredible. I am very proud and happy," he said.
Fernandes scored the first penalty in the 12th minute, and United's captain then gave the ball the to Rashford for the second in the 36th minute.
"We both kick the penalties. I asked Marcus if he wanted to take and he said he was confident," Fernandes said. "I felt I had my one, Rashy could get his goal from the penalty."
Rashford stutter-stepped before sending goalkeeper Jordan Pickford the wrong way.
Fernandes became the club's all-time penalty kick scorer with 29 conversions, surpassing former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy's 28.
The Portuguese international nearly added a second goal with a beautiful free kick in the first half that Pickford had to leap high to save.
Garnacho almost scored when Fernandes played him in in the second half, but the 19-year-old shot just over the crossbar.
Everton had 23 shots to United's 15, but they squandered their opportunities with poor finishing, including a fantastic late chance in which Lewis Dobbin sent a pass across goal that a sliding Dominic Calvert-Lewin was just a step too slow to connect with.
United had just suffered consecutive league defeats to Fulham and Manchester City, ending a four-game winning streak.
"It was important. We had one bad result against Fulham in this calendar year," Ten Hag said. "We had to put this right and keep the pressure on the teams above us. There are many games to play. Now we are back. We will keep pressure on them and see what happens."
United were missing several key players, including Rasmus Hojlund, who had scored in six straight games before suffering a muscle injury that has kept him out since scoring twice in United's 2-1 victory over Luton Town on February 18.
Everton are now one draw or loss away from equaling their Premier League record for consecutive games without a win (12 in 1994).
"Very frustrating as you can imagine, and we've had a run where we've been performing correctly in so many ways, (but) the scoreline is what's important and that's what we get on the wrong side of," Dyche said.
SportsLigue