Manchester United continued their strong run of form against West Ham at Old Trafford to climb to fifth in the Premier League.
Marcus Rashford’s 100th Manchester United goal gave the Red Devils a hard-fought 1-0 Premier League win over West Ham on Sunday.
Manchester United handed Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire rare league starts, but Rashford grabbed the headlines when he set up his milestone with a superb header in the 38th minute.
West Ham looked uninspired for long periods before finding David De Gea in strong form as they applied some pressure later on, with the United keeper making three vital saves.
The win lifts Erik ten Hag’s side above Chelsea to fifth in the Premier League table, one point behind fourth-placed Newcastle United with a game in hand.
Ronaldo sent a long-range effort into the arms of Lukasz Fabianski as United dominated the early exchanges before Rashford cut inside and sent a deflected shot into the roof of the net.
West Ham weathered that early storm before escaping when Anthony Elanga mishit a volley from just six yards after 36 minutes.
However, United took the lead from the next attack when Rashford curled a superb header past Fabianski after meeting Christian Eriksen’s hanging cross.
Ronaldo should have done better with his left foot after Rashford’s return pass as United continued to press after half-time before David de Gea tipped Michail Antonio’s wild strike over the bar.
De Gea then made a brilliant reflex save from Kurt Zouma’s header to block Declan Rice from close range after Maguire had blocked Jarrod Bowen, before substitute Fred nodded in at the right post at the other end – just short of a goal that was not expensive. .
United handed Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire rare league starts, but Rashford grabbed the headlines when he set up his milestone with a superb header in the 38th minute.
West Ham looked uninspired for long periods before finding David De Gea in strong form as they applied some pressure later on, with the United keeper making three vital saves.
The win lifts Erik ten Hag’s side above Chelsea to fifth in the Premier League table, one point behind fourth-placed Newcastle United with a game in hand.
Ronaldo sent a long-range effort into the arms of Lukasz Fabianski as United dominated the early exchanges before Rashford cut inside and sent a deflected shot into the roof of the net.
West Ham weathered that early storm before escaping when Anthony Elanga mishit a volley from just six yards after 36 minutes.
However, United took the lead from the next attack when Rashford curled a superb header past Fabianski after meeting Christian Eriksen’s hanging cross.
Ronaldo should have done better with his left foot after Rashford’s return pass as United continued to press after half-time before David de Gea tipped Michail Antonio’s wild strike over the bar.
De Gea then made a brilliant reflex save from Kurt Zouma’s header to block Declan Rice from close range after Maguire had blocked Jarrod Bowen, before substitute Fred nodded in at the right post at the other end – just short of a goal that was not expensive.
Manchester United vs West Ham player ratings – Premier League
1. Man Utd (4-2-3-1)
GK: David de Gea – 7/10 – Finally called into action late on, but answered all questions. Fantastic save to deny Zouma.
RB: Diogo Dalot – 8/10 – Incredibly concentrated defensive performance to keep West Ham out at the back post. Mature.
CB: Harry Maguire – 6/10 – Hadn’t dusted off the cobwebs that come with a spell on the sidelines. Improved somewhat after the break, though.
CB: Lisandro Martinez – 8/10 – Positioned himself excellently to snuff out danger. Always looking for a forward pass, too. Absolutely superb again.
LB: Luke Shaw – 5/10 – Not his most assured display. Looked a little out of sorts at times.
CM: Casemiro – 7/10 – Another classy, complete performance from the Brazilian, who becomes more integral with each passing week.
CM: Christian Eriksen – 7/10 – So, so slick with his range of pass. Makes United tick and put the ball on a silver platter for Rashford.
RW: Anthony Elanga – 4/10 – An underwhelming return to the starting XI for the Sweden international. Very quiet.
AM: Bruno Fernandes – 7/10 – Linked up tremendously with Eriksen for United’s opener.
LW: Marcus Rashford – 8/10 – An intense Rashford is a seriously, seriously impressive Rashford. His second header in as many games was also his 100th goal for the club – the perfect early birthday present.
ST: Cristiano Ronaldo – 5/10 – As usual, incredibly quiet when not awkwardly coming short for a touch or trying to poach inside the penalty area. Two chances on the hour mark that you’d expect him to score; neither went in.
SUB: Scott McTominay (61′ for Elanga) – 5/10 – Gave United more industry when defending inside their box.
SUB: Fred (79′ for Eriksen) – 5/10 – Didn’t help to control the midfield; bad. But then went down the other end and hit the post; good. A textbook Fred cameo.
Manager: Erik ten Hag – 8/10 – Not the best performance from his side on the pitch, but another three points with players rotated. United look more and more like a Ten Hag-influenced team with each passing week.
2. West Ham (4-2-3-1)
GK: Lukasz Fabianski – N/A – Didn’t emerge for the second half after struggling with an injury earlier on.
RB: Thilo Kehrer – 6/10 – Not afraid to try his luck venturing forward, but fell asleep as United pulled ahead. Stretched the game well later on.
CB: Craig Dawson – 5/10 – No calamites, but the game passed him by.
CB: Kurt Zouma – 5/10 – Booed by the home side every time the ball came to him. That’s about all there is to report.
LB: Aaron Cresswell – 6/10 – Kept Elanga very quiet, but didn’t steal headlines himself.
CM: Tomas Soucek – 4/10 – Didn’t see anywhere near enough of the ball.
CM: Declan Rice – 5/10 – Tried to get West Ham forward at the base of midfield, but didn’t have much luck.
RW: Jarrod Bowen – 4/10 – Didn’t make the most of Shaw looking shaky, and absolutely had to score at the death. Got to hit it cleaner.
AM: Flynn Downes – 5/10 – Looked lost trying to play as the advanced midfielder for West Ham. Probably suits a deeper position.
LW: Said Benrahma – 7/10 – Rinsed Casemiro with a sublime roulette early doors and had other United players looking nervous. West Ham’s bright spark in transition.
ST: Gianluca Scamacca – 5/10 – Starved of service by his colleagues. Frustrations showed with a risky high foot.
SUB: Alphonse Areola (45′ for Fabianski) – 6/10 – Wasn’t tested all too often after coming on.
SUB: Michail Antonio (57′ for Scamacca) – 6/10 – Moved away from defenders more regularly, but suffered the same fate as the man he replaced.
SUB: Pablo Fornals (77′ for Downes) – N/A
Manager: David Moyes – 4/10 – Moyes’ poor record at Old Trafford goes on. Punished for not trying to take risks. His side could’ve snatched something with United not at 100%, but they were set up too conservatively.
