Manchester United got back on track with a 2-0 victory against Everton, thanks to two first-half penalties. Alejandro Garnacho won both penalties, which were expertly converted by Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford. Despite Everton's efforts, including over 20 shots on goal, they couldn't find the net and suffered their second consecutive defeat. This loss extends Everton's winless streak in the Premier League to 11 matches.
Bet on Manchester United to finish top 4 on Bet365
Notably, Alejandro Garnacho made history by becoming the first player to win two penalties in a single Premier League game since Antonio Rudiger in December 2021, and he's the first Manchester United player to achieve this feat in the competition. As for Everton, their winless run now stands as the longest ongoing streak in the Premier League, with 11 matches without a victory (D5 L6).
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Can Manchester United Make the Top Four?
Erik ten Hag's boys remain sixth but with 47 points they move closer to fourth-placed Aston Villa on 55 with a game in hand. Fifth-placed Tottenham, who host Villa on Sunday, have 50 points and two games in hand. With 47 points in 28 games and 10 games still left to play in the season, Manchester United can still win the English Premier League mathematically, but the 17-point gap between them and Liverpool (1st position in the league) is practically impossible, and that is why Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal are favorites according to Bet365. With the title hope practically gone already, a top-four finish will be the target of Eric ten Hag and you can back the Red Devils to finish top 4 on Bet365.
Bet on Manchester United to finish top 4 on Bet365
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Manchester United Manager Erik ten Hag Post-Match Interview
I was very pleased with the pressing and also the defending of the box. The only thing that could be better is keeping more of the ball, be more calm on the ball, playing more give-and-gos.
When you have a high press, you can't go all the time with long balls because you stretch the pitch and we don't actually want that. But all over, a good performance and good result.
It was a team performance but especially our back four and our goalkeeper in the back and Casemiro in the front. They have done very well.
The way we defended set-plays was very good, really well organised and focused and everyone did their job. From the second phase, they had some opportunities, but overall, I think we did quite well.
They decided on the pitch together. But we have more very good penalty takers in our squad, Bruno is one, Rashy is one, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen as well, plus others.
That's very good when you have that in your squad. When you get [two] at such short notice, two different penalty takers makes it harder for the opposition and the goalkeeper.
it's about him and if he can keep the focus. If he puts the right effort in during a game and during the week, because sometimes for young players it's difficult because they are inexperienced.
As a coaching staff, we have a job to do, but he is able to keep this focus and attitude and he will improve from game to game and that's what we see. We are very pleased with his performance.
With young players, you always have to tell them [to keep focus in the week]. In the week, you win your game and there we have to work very well in training session and meetings, we have to be spot on to get the performance at the weekend.
I love to work with him, just like the other players in the squad. He is a player who needs a challenge, likes a challenge, he's very brave and confident and our job is to push him to higher levels.
But he is doing this. He has a high potential and now we have to get the potential out. You have to work day by day and when you are young, you don't know what it is to play in a high competitive leave, to perform every third day.
You need that experience and you have to perform in every training session to get better because there are so many areas for them to improve.
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Everton Coach Sean Dyche Post-Match Interview
With all due respect to the squads I've had, I've never been here and had that many chances or opportunities. It's very frustrating and we've had a run of that.
We've been performing correctly in so many ways but the scoreline is the stat that's important. That's the bit we're getting on the wrong side of and we've got to continually work on it to change it.
The two penalties are soft. They are penalties, but they're soft from our point of view, just not shuffling your feet quick enough and dealing with the moment, which we've done very well. It's a tough one for me. I'm not going to over question the defensive side of the team because I think it's been strong this season.
I spoke to the players after the game and you've got to get hurt to score a goal sometimes, as Brian Clough used to say. It can't all be glorious goals, you've got to get hurt and that's what I'm not seeing.
We're getting into areas that might be awkward goals or be hungry enough to get hurt to score a goal, and that's got to change. Once you start scoring those, you then start scoring the nice ones and that's the order it needs to be done in.
I'm seeing a team that are committed, they're fit, some of the football today was very pleasing. So it's really frustrating to not see that come to fruition with scoring more goals because they're doing a lot right.
You've got to score goals to finish it all off and that killer mentality is key.
Bet on Manchester United to finish top 4 on Bet365
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Manchester United's Next Game
Looking ahead, Manchester United will host Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday, March 17th. Despite their recent win against Everton, Manchester United are seen as the underdogs with odds of 3.75 by Bet365. It might not be wise to bet on Manchester United to win this game, especially considering Liverpool's strong position as one of the favorites to win the FA Cup, with odds of 4.00 on Bet365 compared to Manchester United's 9.00 odds.
However, if you're considering placing a bet, it's worth looking into options like Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 odds on Bet365 in the Manchester United vs Liverpool FA Cup clash.
Bet on FA Cup with Bet365
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