Alejandro Garnacho secured a double, while Rasmus Hojlund continued his impressive scoring form as Manchester United secured a comfortable victory against West Ham in the Premier League.
Hojlund, celebrating his 21st birthday, achieved a notable milestone as the youngest Red Devils player to score in four consecutive games, contributing his fifth goal in the last six matches. This performance propelled Erik ten Hag’s side to their fourth win in five games across all competitions in 2024.
A crucial moment in the match occurred when Garnacho’s strike deflected off Nayef Aguerd, shortly after a surprising miss from Emerson Palmieri on the other end. Despite West Ham’s lively attacking display, they struggled in delivering the final ball.
As the game progressed, West Ham’s efforts dwindled, and Garnacho capitalized on another mistake from Kalvin Phillips, the new Hammers signing. Scott McTominay and Hojlund seized the opportunity, pressuring Phillips and setting up Garnacho for a smart low finish beyond Lukasz Fabianski, who replaced the injured Alphonse Areola at half-time.
The only setback for Manchester United was the injury to Lisandro Martinez, who limped off after attempting to play through a knee problem sustained during a clash with Vladimir Coufal.
Following this victory, Ten Hag’s team climbed from eighth to sixth, surpassing both Brighton and West Ham in the league standings. On the other hand, West Ham continues to struggle, remaining without a win in all competitions in the new calendar year.
