Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim earned his first Premier League win with a 4-0 rout of Everton, while troubled Manchester City will try to revive their fading title hopes in a blockbuster clash against leaders Liverpool later on Sunday.
Fifth-placed City will kick-off at Anfield in the unusual position of being outside the top four after Chelsea climbed to third place with a 3-0 win against spluttering Aston Villa.
While fans across the world eagerly awaited the Liverpool’s showdown with City, Amorim stole the spotlight in Sunday’s early games by extending his unbeaten start with United to three matches.
United were held to a 1-1 draw at Ipswich in his first Premier League game last Sunday, before the Portuguese boss earned his maiden win with United in a 3-2 success against Bodo/Glimt at Old Trafford in the Europa League on Thursday.
The 39-year-old, who arrived from Sporting Lisbon to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag in November, has warned United would “suffer for a long period” before they can expect to challenge for the title.
This was the most encouraging result of Amorim’s brief time at United as they recovered from a slow start to dispatch lowly Everton.
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United fans had gathered on the Old Trafford forecourt before kick-off to protest the clubs’ decision to increase ticket prices, displaying a banner with the slogan “Stop Exploiting Loyalty”.
If ninth-placed United are to justify those increases, they need a winning team and Amorim is taking steps in the right direction.
Marcus Rashford had scored the first goal of Amorim’s reign after just two minutes at Ipswich and he was on target again in the 34th minute against Everton.
Rashford’s drive from the edge of the area took a deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite before flashing into the net.
United struck again seven minutes later as Amorim’s decision to select Zirkzee to lead the attack instead of Rasmus Hojlund.
Branthwaite lost possession to Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes teed up Joshua Zirkzee to convert with ease.
The much-maligned Netherlands striker’s second goal since his close-season move from Bologna ended a 17-game drought dating back to August.
Rashford underlined United’s superiority just 20 seconds after the interval as he applied a cool finish to Diallo’s incisive pass for his seventh goal this season.
Zirkee struck again in the 64th minute with a composed strike from the influential Diallo’s assist after shambolic Everton defending.
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