Alejandro Garnacho’s staggering overhead kick set Manchester United on course for a comprehensive 3-0 away win on a day when hosts Everton protested against their Premier League points deduction.
Goodison Park was a cauldron as the infuriated Toffees returned to action for the first time since Sean Dyche’s side were docked 10 points for breaching financial rules.
The Premier League felt the full force of Everton fans’ ire before and during a match that went United’s way as goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial complemented Garnacho’s acrobatic stunner.
The 19-year-old’s effort just 113 seconds into Sunday’s match was a jaw-dropping goal-of-the-season contender – a fantastic overhead kick that stunned rocking Goodison.
Everton responded well and came close to levelling before the break, with Kobbie Mainoo, 18, capping a mightily impressive first Premier League start with a key goal-line clearance.
The home fans were angered by some of the officiating and the mood darkened shortly after half-time as Rashford scored his second of the season from a penalty that followed the VAR’s intervention.
Martial was fouled and went on to add his second of the campaign as United won by more than a one-goal margin for the first time in the league this season, with suspended boss Erik ten Hag watching from the stands.
It was a fantastic start to a run of three vital away games for the Red Devils and a frustrating afternoon for wounded Everton.
Boos greeted everything Premier League related on Sunday, with a protest march followed by banners inside the ground as well as thousands of cards featuring the league’s logo above the word ‘corrupt’.
They were held aloft before kick-off as chants against the league filled the air. That protest was repeated in the 10th minute, but by that point the hosts were behind to a United goal that will live long in the memory.
Rashford collected a diagonal pass and played the ball through to Diogo Dalot, whose right-footed cross would have swung away from danger were it not for Garnacho’s ingenuity and flawless technique.
The 19-year-old leapt and hit a perfectly struck overhead kick back across goal, beating Jordan Pickford at full stretch and finding the top right-hand corner.
Garnacho ran into the corner almost in disbelief as much as delight, replicating Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration after a goal his idol would have been more than proud of.
‘Viva Garnacho’ sung the away end as a hectic start continued, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin seeing a low shot saved before Luke Shaw whistled one over.
Things settled, with the only fireworks coming outside the ground, before Everton stepped up in final 15 minutes of the opening period.
Calvert-Lewin had two attempts, the latter a smart strike that forced a fine save out of Andre Onana. The United goalkeeper rose to his feet and got something on Dwight McNeil’s follow-up, with Mainoo brilliantly clearing off the line under pressure.
United had lost their grip on proceedings and were fortunate not to see Abdoulaye Doucoure’s first-time strike hit the net from 15 yards moments later.
Calvert-Lewin glanced over and Idrissa Gueye lashed off target as the Red Devils survived the onslaught and Everton anger turned to the officials.
There were cheers when referee John Brooks showed Martial a yellow card for diving shortly after the second half got under way, but the mood soon swung.
VAR Chris Kavanagh reviewed former United captain Ashley Young’s challenge on the forward and advised Brooks to check the incident on the pitchside monitor.
The referee eventually pointed to the spot and Rashford stepped up to beat England team-mate Jordan Pickford in the 56th minute.
Onana stopped Gueye from pulling one back superbly two minutes later and Doucoure saw a shot blocked as Everton kept knocking at the door.
But Dyche’s men would concede again as the game became stretched.
Shortly after Garnacho hit the side-netting from a tight angle, Martial was slipped in by Bruno Fernandes and coolly lifted the ball past Pickford in the 75th minute.
Vitalii Mykolenko saw a rasping drive hit the underside of the bar and Youssef Chermiti went close before a stoppage-time scramble as Everton sought a consolation that would evade them.
Emotional Thiago Silva confirms Chelsea departure but vows to return 'in another role'
Thiago Silva will leave Chelsea at the end of the campaign, but hopes to return down the line in another role.
Silva, who joined Chelsea as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, has made 151 appearances for the club and helped them win the Champions League, Club World Cup and Super Cup.
The 39-year-old, however, will not be staying at Stamford Bridge for a fifth campaign.
In an emotional interview with the club's media channels, the Brazilian said: "Chelsea means a lot to me. I came here with the intention of only staying for one year and it ended up being four years.
"Not just for me but for my family, too. My sons play for Chelsea so it's a source of great pride to be a member of the Chelsea family.
"I hope my sons can continue with their careers here at this victorious club that many players wish to be a part of.
"I think everything I did here over the four years, I always gave my all but, unfortunately, everything has a start, a middle and an end.
"It's an indescribable love. I can only say thank you."
However, Silva is set on returning to the club once his playing days are over.
He added: "That doesn't mean that this is a definitive end, I have to leave the door open so that in the near future I can return, albeit in another role here.
"Obviously, when I started here, it was during the pandemic, so there weren't any fans in the stadium, but through social media it became something very special to me and then when the fans started coming back, and life was getting back to normal, I started to feel a lot of affection and respect for my story and for my start here.
"So, it is already hard saying goodbye in the most normal of circumstances, but when there is a mutual love, it's even harder. But once a Blue, always a Blue."
Silva has worked under a variety of managers during his time at Chelsea, including Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter, Thomas Tuchel and Frank Lampard, who brought him to the club.
"The way in which I came here, with the support of the club, I got to be a leader of the club having arrived as the new guy," Silva continued.
"It's always difficult to integrate, but bit by bit, I became part of the group and Lampard played a big part in that, so I am grateful to him for that.
"Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I could achieve such great things and win one of the best professional titles, the Champions League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"Goodbyes are for those that leave and don't come back. I intend on coming back one day."
Silva will be hoping to bid farewell to Chelsea on a high note by propelling them to European qualification.
Ederson injury 'doesn't look good', says Guardiola
Pep Guardiola conceded Ederson's injury "doesn't look good" as Manchester City were forced to wait on the severity of the issue.
Ederson had to be taken off at half-time during City's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, a victory that took them back to within a point of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.
The Brazil international needed treatment on an apparent shoulder injury after a collision with Forest defender Willy Boly.
Ederson was seen with his arm in a sling after full-time at the City Ground.
And Guardiola said: "It doesn't look good. We will see [on Monday] with the doctor."
Stefan Ortega again stepped up in Ederson's absence, with City's number two having performed well when called upon this campaign.
Ortega has made seven Premier League appearances this season, making 16 saves from 22 shots on target faced, giving him a save percentage of 72.7.
Ederson, meanwhile, has a save percentage of 67.1, keeping out 53 of the 79 attempts on target he has faced.
Ortega has a slightly better goals prevented figure of 1.6 compared to Ederson's 1.0.
Recruitment crucial if Slot gets Liverpool job, warns Brands
Arne Slot must only settle for the best in the transfer market if he succeeds Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager at the end of the season.
That is the view of PSV president Marcel Brands, who has warned Slot against taking several Eredivisie players with him in comments which might be interpreted as a dig at Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.
Liverpool are reportedly close to reaching an agreement with Feyenoord to appoint Slot, who led the Rotterdam giants to just their second league title this century in 2022-23.
Should Slot get the job, he will be taking over at what could be a time of great upheaval at Anfield.
Star forward Mohamed Salah could follow Klopp through the exit door as he enters the final 12 months of his contract, with renewed interest from the Saudi Pro League likely.
The Egyptian was involved in a public spat with Klopp during Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Ham and has only scored three Premier League goals since going to the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
Asked how Slot should approach taking over during a time of transition, Brands told Goedemorgen Eredivisie: "Don't focus blindly on signing five Dutch players.
"He has to look very carefully at what he needs with his style of football, and only settle for top players."
Brands' comments come as Slot's fellow Dutchman Ten Hag continues to attract fierce criticism amid an underwhelming second campaign at Old Trafford, with Eredivisie recruits Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez having limited impacts this term.
Brands has warned Slot the pressure awaiting him at Anfield will match that Ten Hag has faced at United, saying: "Slot will be working at one of the biggest clubs in England.
"You have to realise that. Liverpool have supporters from all over the world, and the pressure is always there.
"Just like Manchester United, they really are the biggest clubs in England, but it is a fantastic challenge."
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