Manchester United 4-0 Norwich City: 5 Things We Learned

Manchester United emerged victorious at Old Trafford for the first time in 2020 as they secured a convincing 4-0 win over Norwich City.

The game was a befitting display of a team trying to finish in the top four swatting aside the bottom-placed side in the Premier League. Marcus Rashford netted two goals, one of them from a penalty, while Anthony Martial and substitute Mason Greenwood provided the final two in the second-half.

 

1. Marcus Rashford – A Game of Milestones

It was the 200^th appearance as a Manchester United player for Marcus Rashford and he sure did mark it in style.

The swagger with which he has been functioning as of late was more so in evidence at Old Trafford. His opener was netted with ease and by the time the goal was in the back of the net from his second penalty, the spot-kick tally was already up to 5 goals.

The youth academy graduate has ow netted 10 Premier League goals at Old Trafford, which is the highest tally of home goals scored in the League. This also brings his total goals so far this campaign to a convincing 18, setting the path for an early-career highlight.

The possibility of an injury which forced Solskjaer to sub him off may be a worrying one though.

 

2. Juan Mata – The Special Spaniard

Mata was impeccable in his display tonight, assisting both of the goals from open play. His crosses were a delight to observe and in particular, he maintained himself as a nuisance to the Norwich City midfield and backline by covering the vast majority of the pitch.

This creative movement is precisely what most of the no.10s at Old Trafford have been lacking this campaign. However, Mata’s lack of consistency and age will mean that this is not the solution to United’s problems yet.

 

3. Norwich City Doomed?

With yet another damning result, it is all but assured that the Canaries will spend the next season in the Championship. However, the quality on display from some of their players like Cantwell and Buendia will mean that some Premier Leauge clubs will certainly be eager to lap them up in the summer.

Interestingly, the approach from their manager Daniel Farke is questionable. Irrespective of who the opponent is, the gaffer instructs an expansive ethos of football to be in display rather than relying on scrappy goals and cleansheets.

As pleasing as that may be, it may cost relegation to the club if not altered soon.

 

4. Mason Greenwood – The Super Sub

Greenwood has been the unexpected delight of this campaign. The 18-year-old scored with ease upon coming from the bench. This has been the 3^rd instance so far this season that the academy graduate has been able to do that.

This paints a striker after Solskjaer’s own heart. His displays in other competitions have been likewise promising and he could easily better Rashford’s then career-best tally of last season at this rate.

 

5. David De Gea’s Cleansheet At Last

David De Gea has clearly struggled to keep cleanshets so far this campaign, with United’s loaned goalkeeper Dean Henderson maintaining a higher tally in the Premier League this season.

However, the perfect scoreline that he helped maintain tonight was the first time that Old Trafford has seen a cleansheet since the win over Leicester City way back in September.

This needs to continue and at a more consistent rate for a player of De Gea’s caliber.