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 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 labelling the Premier League “corrupt”.
But 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.
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’,” said Garnacho.
That moment of magic was out of keeping with another patchy United performance, but Marcus Rashford’s penalty and Anthony Martial’s strike ensured 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,” said Ten Hag.
“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.
Everton were left to rue a series of missed chances after Garnacho stunned the raucous home support early on.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin twice failed to make the most of excellent headed chances.
Mainoo shines
Teenager Kobbie Mainoo shone on his first Premier League start for United and only a goalline clearance from the midfielder denied Dwight McNeil an equaliser after Andre Onana parried Calvert-Lewin’s initial effort.
Abdoulaye Doucoure then slotted another glorious opportunity wide as Everton failed to press home their dominance before the break.
And the feeling among the home support that the world is against them was not helped when VAR intervened early in the second period to award United a controversial penalty.
Referee John Brooks had initially booked Martial for diving as he went down in the box under a challenge from Ashley Young.
The contact appeared minimal for VAR to get involved, but Brooks overturned his decision after viewing a replay.
“The VAR thing this year, it’s been all over the place. It’s the simplest thing but it seems to be mayhem all the time,” said Dyche.
“You’re 2-0 down all of a sudden from a nothing moment, one you think has gone for you.”
Bruno Fernandes handed responsibility from the spot to Rashford and the England international took the chance to smash home his first club goal since September 3.
“Marcus needed a bit of confidence, he needed his goal,” said Fernandes.
“He is an excellent penalty taker. I was sure he could score that penalty and Marcus did it perfectly.”
Martial was making a rare start in the absence of the injured Rasmus Hojlund and rounded off United’s biggest league win of the season with a cool finish from Fernandes’ through ball 15 minutes from time.
Watkins fires Villa into fourth as Spurs pay tribute to Venables
Earlier on Sunday, Ollie Watkins fired Aston Villa into fourth place in the Premier League as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Tottenham on a day the hosts paid tribute to former boss Terry Venables.
Unai Emery’s side trailed to Giovani Lo Celso’s first goal of the season in the first half in north London.
But Pau Torres equalised just before the break and Watkins’ 12th goal this term wrapped up an impressive result for revitalised Villa.
Villa moved above Tottenham into fourth, with Ange Postecoglou’s team falling two points behind them in fifth after a third successive defeat stalled their early-season momentum.
Tottenham have squandered the lead in all three of their defeats, but Postecoglou could point to the injuries that have robbed him of several key players including James Maddison.
“The outcome is disappointing but I thought the players did a fantastic job, playing the football we want,” Postecoglou said.
“On any other day we win that game. It’s fine margins. If we keep playing like that when we get everyone back we will be a pretty good side.”
Villa’s resilient third away win in their last 11 league games underlined the improvements made by Emery since he replaced the sacked Steven Gerrard last season.
Sitting just two points behind leaders Arsenal, Villa have won four of their last five league games to spark genuine hopes of a top four challenge.
“It was an amazing match. Both teams created chances. We were efficient and clinical in our attacking. I enjoyed it but I lost my energy!” Emery said.
“Of course we can get confidence when we are winning matches like today. We are willing to fight. I tell the players ‘enjoy our position but we are not content’.”
As a innovative former manager of England, Barcelona and Tottenham, where he won the FA Cup in 1991, Venables would have appreciated the attacking quality of both teams on the day he passed away aged 80.
With both teams wearing black armbands, a picture of Venables was displayed on each of the big screens during a minute of applause in celebration of his life before kick-off.
Tottenham were on top in the opening stages and Dejan Kulusevski blasted against the post after showing nimble footwork to prise open the Villa defence.
Postecoglou’s men were back on the offensive as Bryan Gil was denied by a fine save from Emiliano Martinez.
Their enterprising play reaped a deserved reward in the 22nd minute when Villa could only clear a corner to the edge of the area, where Lo Celso hammered a powerful strike that deflected in off Carlos.
Clinical Watkins
Villa thought they had mustered an immediate response as Watkins glanced his header past Guglielmo Vicario from Lucas Digne’s cross.
But, after a VAR check of almost three minutes, the goal was disallowed for a tight offside against Watkins.
Kulusevski was inches away from doubling Tottenham’s lead with a curler before Son Heung-min’s goal was chalked off for another offside.
For all their dashing play in attack, Tottenham were vulnerable at the back and Villa took advantage in first half stoppage-time.
Douglas Luiz’s free-kick found Torres unmarked 10 yards out and the Spanish defender thumped his header past Vicario, with the goal surviving another extended VAR check.
Villa were nearly gifted the lead early in the second half when Vicario allowed Leon Bailey’s shot to squirm under him before gratefully grabbing the ball after it rebounded off the post.
Emery’s men exposed the flaws in Tottenham’s defence again to take the lead in the 61st minute.
A neat move climaxed with Watkins playing a one-two with Youri Tielemans to open up the creaky Tottenham rearguard before the England striker guided a clinical finish into the far corner from 12 yards.
Martinez made excellent stops to repel efforts from Brennan Johnson and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg before Son’s strike was disallowed for offside to cap a frustrating afternoon for Tottenham.
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