Manchester United’s new manager, Ruben Amorim, celebrated his first Premier League win in style, as United crushed Everton 4-0. This commanding performance extended Amorim’s unbeaten start at the club to three matches, signaling positive steps under his leadership.
Amorim’s United debut ended in a 1-1 draw at Ipswich last weekend, followed by a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League. The 39-year-old Portuguese manager, who replaced Erik ten Hag in November, had earlier warned fans that United would face challenges before competing for the title again.
The emphatic win against struggling Everton was the most promising result of Amorim’s short tenure. United started slowly but found their rhythm to dominate the match.
Fan Protests and Rising Expectations
Before kick-off, United fans protested the club’s decision to raise ticket prices. Banners reading “Stop Exploiting Loyalty” highlighted their frustration. For Amorim, delivering wins is key to justifying those price hikes, and he’s already showing progress.
Marcus Rashford, who scored Amorim’s first goal as United manager last week, opened the scoring in the 34th minute. His long-range effort deflected off Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and into the net. Seven minutes later, Joshua Zirkzee capitalized on an Everton mistake, converting a pass from Bruno Fernandes to end his 17-game goal drought.
Seconds into the second half, Rashford added his second goal, calmly finishing from an Amad Diallo assist. Zirkzee sealed the victory in the 64th minute, scoring after another defensive error by Everton, again assisted by Diallo.
Chelsea and Villa’s Contrasting Fortunes
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea extended their unbeaten streak to six games with a 3-0 win over struggling Aston Villa. Despite manager Enzo Maresca downplaying title talks, Chelsea’s form suggests they are strong contenders for a Champions League spot.
Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring early, volleying home Marc Cucurella’s cross. Enzo Fernandez doubled the lead with a smart finish, and Cole Palmer completed the rout with a superb late goal.
Meanwhile, Villa’s decline continued, having won just once in the Premier League since their Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich in October.
Seventh-placed Tottenham missed an opportunity to strengthen their top-four hopes after a 1-1 draw against Fulham. Brennan Johnson gave Spurs the lead in the 54th minute, but Tom Cairney equalized for Fulham with a well-placed shot. Cairney was later sent off after VAR upgraded his yellow card to a red for a foul on Dejan Kulusevski, leaving Spurs frustrated.
With Amorim’s Manchester United finding their footing, Chelsea on the rise, and Spurs faltering, the Premier League’s drama continues to unfold. Fans will be eager to see how these stories develop in the coming weeks.
