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Birthday boy Hojlund hits the nail on the head for Manchester United

Reuters|Published

Rasmus Hojlund (left) of Manchester United, celebrates with teammates Alejandro Garnacho (centre) and Kobbie Mainoo (right) during the English Premier League match against West Ham United in Manchester, Britain, on 4 February 2024. Picture: EPA, ADAM VAUGHAN

Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho netted twice after Rasmus Hojlund scored on his 21st birthday as the Old Trafford side beat West Ham United 3-0 to climb above the visitors into sixth place in the Premier League on Sunday.

On the heels of a 4-3 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Thursday, Erik ten Hag’s team now has 38 points after 23 games, eight adrift of fourth spot. The Hammers are seventh with 36.

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“I have said it before in the last couple of months, the future for Manchester United is very bright,” Ten Hag told Sky Sports.

“We have some real high potential, we can play fluid football, speed it up as we need and defend well. The goals today showed young players with high potential.

“Every game they are growing and improving and adapting to a higher level. When they enjoy their football the confidence comes and you can see the belief is growing.”

Hojlund scored in the 23rd minute when Casemiro prodded the ball forward after West Ham failed to clear a high ball. The Dane knocked the ball past a couple of defenders before firing home from the centre of the box into the bottom corner.

“It was very good. It’s always special to play on your birthday but today of course with the win, yeah,” Hojlund said.

“A month ago there was a lot of talk about us (Hojlund and Garnacho) not scoring enough goals but we are both young and growing every day. You can see the connection between us.”

Hojlund, who did not score his first league goal until December 26, became the youngest player in the Old Trafford team’s history to score in four consecutive Premier League appearances.

Garnacho, 19, doubled the lead in the 49th after his shot from the corner of the box took a big deflection to send substitute goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski the wrong way. The Argentine netted his second in the 84th after Kalvin Phillips lost the ball and Scott McTominay pounced, finding Garnacho in the box.

His first goal came seconds after arguably West Ham’s best chance when an error from Harry Maguire saw Emerson left on his own but the Brazilian fired his shot well over the bar.

Ten Hag’s team have now scored 11 goals in their last three games – including a 4-2 win at Newport County in the FA Cup fourth round – after 10 goals in their previous 10 games.

A hat-trick from Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha, meanwhile, again exposed Chelsea’s defensive frailties as the visitors came from behind to record a 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Chelsea, who lost 4-1 at Liverpool in midweek, went ahead in the 20th minute through Cole Palmer. But two minutes later Joao Gomes found Brazilian compatriot Cunha whose shot took a big deflection off Chelsea defender Thiago Silva.

Wolves’ second just before half-time hit Axel Disasi and was given as an own goal with Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic wrong-footed.

Cunha made it 3-1 midway through the second half, after Pedro Neto caught Chelsea on the break, and scored his third from the spot in the 82nd after being brought down by defender Malo Gusto. Brazilian Silva scored a consolation header with four minutes of normal time remaining but by then many home supporters were already leaving the stadium.

Elsewhere, a fantastic strike from Callum Hudson-Odoi earned struggling Nottingham Forest a welcome point in a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.

Reuters

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