Man Utd analysis: Ruben Amorim’s rampant Red Devils rip Everton apart

Manchester United moved to within four points of defending champions Manchester City after brushing aside Sean Dyche’s toothless Everton at Old Trafford.

A 4-0 drubbing moved Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils up to ninth place in the Premier League table, with United fans relishing the fact the new manager has seemingly revitalised Marcus Rashford, who netted a brilliant brace - as did Joshua Zirkzee.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Robert Bore casts his eye over the latest performance from a rejuvenated Man Utd outfit…

There’s no place like home

Ruben Amorim made it 23 home league wins on the spin as Manchester United finally let the brakes off with a thumping 4-0 victory against Everton on Sunday.

OK, so 22 of those were for Sporting Lisbon and in another country, but a stat is a stat.

If you're reading that scoreline, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a bit of a procession - but up until Marcus Rashford's 34th-minute opener it had a familiar smell to it with the visitors on top.

But, as they sometimes do, the goal changed the game and United found a bit of swagger.

They had started lively. Kobbie Mainoo celebrated his return from injury with the game's first shot in anger and Amad Diallo's volley was blocked.

Everton started to threaten on the break, especially when Abdoulaye Doucoure waltzed through the United midfield.

Warning sign

Benefitting from being given the ball back by Diogo Dalot, United were almost undone by a dyslexic supermarket - but Beto skewed his shot well wide. However, it was a warning.

The recalled Joshua Zirkzee turned after a quick throw-in and found Amad in space and running onto the ball - but he got his GCSE maths wrong and angled the ball away to safety like he'd measured his shot with a broken protractor.

The game was very open. United were still very open.

Dwight McNeil turned under no real pressure in the centre circle before feeding Beto through the middle - but he was pushed wide before hitting the side netting.

The blue shirts were starting to enjoy themselves with Idrissa Gueye, Doucoure and McNeill crowding the central space and overrunning the midfield.

They looked the better team, hungrier, working harder off the ball.

But low and behold, the opener came just as I was starting to grind my teeth.

Rashford won a corner on the left which Bruno Fernandes angled deep towards the penalty spot - Everton's whole team had retreated inside the six-yard box by the time he struck it - where Rashford was loitering before side-footing home, a deflection from Jarrad Branthwaite making sure Jordan Pickford couldn't get a hand to it in the corner.

It looked to be straight off the training ground so kudos to someone and the Reds were somehow ahead.

Tails were suddenly up and it was 2-0 before the break.

Pickford played out to Doucoure around halfway and Amad snapped at his heels.

Doucoure's pass back to Branthwaite was also seized upon by the young Ivorian and his steal squirted into Fernandes' path, in turn squaring the ball across where Zirkzee got there before his defender to slide the ball home for his first goal since the opening round against Fulham.

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Selection vindication

Perhaps some vindication for Amorim as eyebrows were raised at the absence of Rasmus Hojlund after his midweek heroics in the Thursday Night Cup.

Old Trafford was suddenly purring as the break gave the visitors a much-needed time out.

Now, there's a lot you can do in 20 seconds - ask my other half - and also ask Rashford.

From Everton's kick-off and Pickford’s long punt forward, Casemiro won the header deep in his own half, Fernandes clipped the loose ball into Zirkzee, who instinctively laid it out into the path of Amad on the right who strode goalwards.

Credit Rashford also for his run in behind as Amad slipped a short pass into his path and he fired through Pickford without even looking up.

Devastating from the hosts. And, dare I think it, Rashford looking like the 30-a-season version we once had.

I'll admit, I was quite perplexed. The lack of drama. Reduced fear levels. My mind wandered.

Who do we play next? How many points off the top four?

Arsenal away on Wednesday. Ouch...Then Lisandro Martinez picked up a soft booking that rules him out of the trip to The Emirates. Let's worry about that later, as United weren't finished.

First Amorim rang the changes. Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire on for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui while Casemiro and Fernandes made way for Alejandro Garnacho and Manuel Ugarte.

The United skipper sat with ice on his ankle on the bench - but it seemed more precautionary than anything that may prevent him travelling to London.

The goal. The impressive Amad's tenacity saw him chase down a bewildered Branthwaite yet again, springing clear with the ball from halfway before squaring kindly for Zirkzee to slide past Pickford for four.

There was still time for Andre Onana to pull off his customary 'great save' from Dominic Calvert-Lewin's diving header but that was that really.

In terms of the giddy-ometer, this was a struggling Everton side with a lack of potency up top.

And they were marginally on top before the first goal went in, so let's not get too carried away.

With just one win in 31 league visits to Old Trafford, the fixture could hardly have fallen kinder.

But it will go down in the record books as a home league victory for the new gaffer.

And if he makes it 22 home wins on the spin in the Premier League some time next Autumn, well, let's not go there.

Let's just enjoy the now.

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