Marcus Rashford suffers brutal injury blow as Man Utd beat Everton to boost top-four hopes

Manchester United ground out a 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday to tighten their grip on a top-four finish this season. Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial were among the goals to down a gutsy Toffees side, and Express Sport takes you through four things we learned from the Premier League encounter…

Rashford in brutal injury blow

Marcus Rashford has been United’s main man this season with 28 goals in all competitions, so Ten Hag will have been understandably concerned when he pulled up clutching his groin in the latter stages of Saturday’s win. 

As the Red Devils’ main source of potency at the top end of the pitch, his influence could prove crucial as United chase a top-four finish and more silverware before the end of the campaign. Fans now face a nervous wait to discover the extent of the injury. 

Ten Hag masterstroke pays dividends

The United boss made a gusty decision earlier this season by distancing Jadon Sancho from the first-team squad. The former Borussia Dortmund star trained alone for a number of weeks as Ten Hag took him out of the spotlight, having started life slowly since signing for the Red Devils in a £73million deal. 

That decision looks set to pay off as Sancho put in one of his finest United performances on Saturday. Composed on the ball and alert to clever passes around the box, Ten Hag has allowed the Englishman to play to his strengths and it was Sancho’s pass that set up Scott McTominay to open the scoring.

Pickford passes audition

Although Everton were worthy of the defeat at Old Trafford, it was a spirited and gusty display from Sean Dyche’s side, who immediately took the fight to United and spurned a number of early opportunities. 

Toffees stopper Jordan Pickford shipped two goals by the full-time whistle but it could have been plenty more, with Everton’s high line leaving them exposed throughout the game. Pickford is rumoured to be of interest to United, who are expected to replace David De Gea this summer, and his performance this weekend will have earned him even more admirers behind the scenes.

Sir Alex Ferguson proven right

Legendary former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson recently stated, in no uncertain terms, that he does not see Marcus Rashford as a central striker. That didn’t stop Ten Hag from trying it anyway against Everton, with the Red Devils youth product taking the solitary spot up top while Wout Weghorst and Anthony Martial waited on the bench. 

Although it was far from a dismal performance, Rashford was without the same cutting edge that fans have become accustomed to when starting on the left flank. Unsurprisingly, the 25-year-old’s main contribution came when he was shifted back out wide, where he laid the ball off for Martial to double the hosts’ lead.