Our 3️⃣ points after Man Utd's late, late show earns top four spot | OneFootball

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Joel Sanderson-Murray·22 January 2022

Our 3️⃣ points after Man Utd's late, late show earns top four spot

Article image:Our 3️⃣ points after Man Utd's late, late show earns top four spot

Manchester United moved into the top four of the Premier League after Marcus Rashford scored a 93rd-minute winner to beat West Ham at Old Trafford.

Here is what we made of it.


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Marcus to the rescue

Article image:Our 3️⃣ points after Man Utd's late, late show earns top four spot

Marcus Rashford has been on the receiving end of criticism over his performances in recent weeks, with some areas of social media even challenging the work he does off the pitch and whether that has had an effect.

The 24-year-old has more than answered his detractors with two goals in his last two games, but his last-minute winner on Saturday evening could prove to be priceless.

Rashford sprung off the bench and was there waiting at the back-post to tap home Edinson Cavani’s pass across goal to send Old Trafford to raptures and move United above West Ham into the top four in the process.

It’s the first time they have been in the Champions League qualification spots under interim boss Ralf Rangnick and although his team weren’t great again today, there is now a real foundation to build on and work with.

As for Rashford, one of football’s good guys is the hero tonight, scoring the decisive goal with the last kick of the game in front of the Stretford End – the type of moment he would’ve dreamed off many times.

The United forward should not ‘just stick to football’ but he will be boosted from reminding people just how good he is at it.


VAR drama

But, should Rashford’s goal have stood?

All the talk post-match is about whether Cavani was offside in the build-up to the winner with TV replays not appearing to show whether the referee Jon Moss or VAR had studied the possibility.

The usual ‘offside lines’ that cause so much controversy didn’t seem to be evident on this occasion and it has caused some debate over whether there were actually needed.

The tightest of margins but it’s Manchester United who come away with the three points.


Rice, Rice baby

Article image:Our 3️⃣ points after Man Utd's late, late show earns top four spot

Declan Rice’s future could become one of the sagas of the summer transfer window with speculation linking him with moves to Chelsea and Manchester United not going away.

The 23-year-old put in a performance that certainly would’ve impressed any potential suitors watching him at Old Trafford.

He has developed from a defensive, shielding midfielder into a real all-rounder. Proficient at nicking the ball off an opponent when counter-pressing, driving down the middle of the pitch as well as having the creativity to break lines with his passing.

There have been reports that United are finding it difficult to add new players in January due to worries over whether a new manager may not adopt the same sort of style as interim boss Ralf Rangnick.

Rice is in the kind of form at the moment which suggests he is capable of playing and shining in any type of midfield.