That’s four Premier League wins in a row for United. Through Marcus Rashford’s 100th career goal, Man United defeated West Ham 1-0 to go back into 5th place and gain more ground in the Top-4 race.
This was a huge ‘banana skin’ game for Manchester United. With both Chelsea and Liverpool dropping points yesterday and the gap from 6th place (where United started the day) to 4th place only 4 points, the opportunity to get into the Top-4 for the first time this season couldn’t have been any better. And that’s why this was such a ‘banana skin’ game.
Even though West Ham has had a relatively poor start to the season (they currently sit in 13th place), they had the quality in midfield and in the attack to cause huge problems for any team.
The midfield partnership of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek always has the potential to score a few goals and crush a few bones with firm tackles, while Michail Antonio and Gianluca Scamacca are monsters up top. If United lost to them today, it really wouldn’t have been too surprising.
Thankfully, they didn’t as Marcus Rashford saved the day with his driving header.
Just before halftime, Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen linked up a one-two on the sidelines, which allowed Eriksen to sneak in behind the West Ham defense and whip in a teasing cross. Rashford, who ran into the box completely unmanned, leaped over Thilo Kehrer, and powered a header past Lucas Fabianski to give United the 1-0 lead.
This resurgence of Marcus Rashford has completely taken me by surprise as I though Rashford was finished a few months ago.
Under Rangnick, Rashford looked sluggish, uninterested, and was more often than not left out of the first team for players like Anthony Elanga and Jesse Lingard. I thought that Rashford was either fed up with United and all of the scrutiny that has surrounded the team since Ole’s final season or his many injuries had finally got the better of him which caused him to look so bad. The writing was on the wall for the guy.
Yet, whatever it was, it seems Erik ten Hag has snaped Rashford back into his 2020 form as he’s been United’s best forward this season by a mile. And it’s great to see Rashford looking like the star we all know he can be again.
Anyway, West Ham did actually get some great looks on David de Gea’s net, especially later on as West Ham really pressed for an equalizer, but the Spaniard held firm and kept his clean sheet streak alive at four straight games.
Now, I don’t know if Erik ten Hag will want a new goalkeeper this summer, but if de Gea keeps putting in great performances like he did today, then I don’t see why he can’t stay as the #1. Yes, he had a poor start to the season, but de Gea has made up for it and then some with his recent performances.
Speaking of great performances, the midfield trio of Casemiro-Christian Eriksen-Bruno Fernandes is proving to be one of the best in the Premier League. Again, Casemiro stifled the West Ham attack practically by himself, while Bruno and Eriksen linked up in the attacking third and were directly involved in the game-winning goal.
There is a real balance in this midfield that the combinations with Paul Pogba, Fred, Scott Mctominay, etc. never had with, which will only continue to grow stronger and help United reach the pinnacle of the Premier League again.
But, United will have to settle with trying to get into the Top-4 for now as this win has put them back into 5th place and on 23 points, which just leaves them trailing 4th place Newcastle by 1 point. We’ll see if United can finally get into the Top-4 next Sunday against Aston Villa.
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