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Manchester United faced Everton at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, aiming to win Ruben Amorim’s first Premier League match at home.
Andre Onana kept his place in goal and Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui remained as the back three from Thursday night.
Diogo Dalot started at left wing back and Amad Diallo won back his place to take up the right wing back spot.
Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo returned to the midfield two while Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford started in front of them.
Despite his heroics midweek, Rasmus Hojlund dropped to the bench and the heavily out-of-form Joshua Zirkzee took his place, looking to kick start his United career.
Here are three things we learnt from the match.
Joshua Zirkzee has found his role
Since his debut goal against Fulham way back in August, Zirkzee has struggled massively in a United shirt.
With Rasmus Hojlund’s return to form against Bodo/Glimt and incessant speculation that Amorim will aim to sign a striker in the summer, if not in January, Zirkzee’s days have looked numbered at Old Trafford.
It has even been reported that the 23 year old wants to leave the club due to his poor start.
Nonetheless, he was given a start against Everton and started the game in fine form. He dropped into pockets of space wonderfully and knitted together the play expertly.
He played an impressive ball to Amad Diallo who uncharacteristically took a wild swing with the goal at his mercy.
Zirkzee’s hard work was finally rewarded when Bruno Fernandes unselfishly squared the ball for the big Dutchman to smash home in front of a joyous Stretford End.
He added to his total in the second half with a calm finish to round off a fine display, certainly his best in a United shirt.
The Dutchman will hope that he can take confidence from this performance and really begin to make a name for himself in a United shirt that has weighed heavily on him so far.
Marcus Rashford continues streak against Everton
The England international has not been himself since the 2022/2023 season but he has found a new lease of life under Amorim.
His fortuitous opener was his second goal in two Premier League games under the new Portuguese head coach.
What’s more, it kept up a fine run of form against the Toffees as he has now scored in his last three appearances against the side from Goodison Park.
The 27 year old added to his total within the first minute of the second half. He now has seven goals in all competitions and is already only one behind last season’s paltry total as he continues to try and rebuild his Old Trafford career.
Amorim has vowed to bring Rashford back to his best form and while it is still early days, the signs certainly look promising.
An identity is forming under Amorim
On the whole, United fans are a sensible lot and will know that there is a long road ahead before the club reaches the levels everyone expects them to be at.
During the Everton match there were some poor reminders of what has been going wrong this season, as they were cut through too easily by one of the lowest scoring sides in the league.
However, just like on Thursday night, there was hard work and pressing that was rarely seen under Erik ten Hag.
Amad’s fantastic pressing played a key role in the second and fourth goals and the club showed their potential for exciting football with a wonderfully constructed counter attack to bag their third of the match.
There was also some lovely wing play and a greater solidity to the defensive back three that will please Amorim.
Bigger tests await though this month, starting with Arsenal on Wednesday night, but there certainly feels like there is something brewing at Old Trafford.
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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