4 shots, 1 key pass, 5 touches inside the box: United star enjoying new role, impressive on and off the ball vs Everton

Manchester United clinically dispatched Everton 4-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday to mark Ruben Amorim’s first Premier League home game with a win.

The Red Devils are now up to ninth in the table, just four points off fourth and back-to-back wins will give the players a lot of confidence ahead of the tough test against Arsenal next.

Goals have been a problem for the hosts this season and before this game, they were the third lowest scorers in the division with Amorim asked questions about the same.

The players answered in style against the Toffees with both Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee netting a brace apiece with the United academy graduate impressing both on and off the ball for a change.

Rashford back among the goals

The Mancunian now has three goals under Amorim, and he is beginning to show signs of enjoying this new role. That showed in his second of the game, with Amad Diallo sliding a ball into him inside the box, which he duly dispatched.

He was playing further away from goal under Erik ten Hag, something Amorim has remedied immediately. Rashford had scored only once in the league under the the Dutchman.

Marcus Rashford’s game by numbers vs. Everton:

78% pass accuracy
28 total touches
5 touches in the box
4 shots
2 defensive actions
2 crosses
3 shots
2 goals

Back on the scoresheet. 👏 pic.twitter.com/l0jDc4bGc6

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 1, 2024

And while staying upfront might not suit him, he is beginning to understand the role much better. He had 28 touches of the ball (stats via sofascore) but more importantly, five of those were in the box where he can truly be dangerous.

The Englishman’s first was a smart side-footed volley from a corner that was creeping in but took a nasty deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite to completely fool Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal in the end.

Off the ball work impressive

The confidence was showing as he took four shots throughout the game with both his efforts on target leading to a goal. The England international also made one key pass.

The Portuguese tactician had demanded intensity from his players and Rashford certainly obliged with the 27-year-old seen pressing even after the scoreline read 4-0 to the hosts.

He made two defensive actions, winning a ground duel and making a tackle and his effort will have pleased the boss who kept him on for the full 90 minutes, not a common sight in the recent past.

Now he needs to keep his head down and keep working hard. Critics have been vociferous but he can do his answering on the pitch under a new coach whose idea is starting to take shape quite beautifully.

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