MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 04: Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United celebrates with Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United after scoring his teams second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on February 04, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Manchester United 3-0 West Ham United
Manchester United made it back-to-back wins in the Premier League after drubbing West Ham United 3-0 on Saturday afternoon at Old Trafford.
Man United made only change following their win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, as Harry Maguire was recalled in place of Raphael Varane while Sofiane Amrabat featured, on the bench, for the first time since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco.
Rasmus Hojlund broke the deadlock for Erik ten Hag’s troops midway into the first stanza with a strike from the edge of the box.
Alejandro Garnacho doubled the lead for Man United early in the second stanza with a deflected shot after he was teed up by Bruno Fernandes.
Garnacho put the game to bed for the Red Devils and completed his brace eight minutes before time with a composed finish in the box after a through ball by Scott McTominay.
Chelsea 2-4 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Chelsea suffered their second consecutive heavy defeat after going down 4-2 against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were boosted by the return of Christopher Nkunku, alongside a recall for Malo Gusto, as the two changes following their humiliating defeat against Liverpool.
The London outfit also had Nicolas Jackson on the bench after he returned from Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
Cole Palmer opened the scoring for Mauricio Pochettino’s charges on 19 minutes with a close-range finish after a through ball by Moises Caicedo.
However, Matheus Cunha quickly equalised for Wolves three minutes later with a deflected shot in the box.
The visitors were fortunate again just before the interval after they went ahead thanks to an own goal by Axel Disasi, who deflected a shot into his own net.
Cunha gave Gary O’Neil’s men a two-goal lead just after the hour-mark and completed his brace with a strike in the box after he was left unmarked.
Wolves were out of sight with eight minutes to go after Cunha made it 4-1 and completed his hat-trick with a strike from the penalty spot after Gusto committed a foul in the box.
Thiago Silva gave Chelsea some hope after he reduced the deficit to 2-4 four minutes later with a header from a corner but it was too little too late.
Bournemouth 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest remained in danger of being dragged to the relegation zone after playing to a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon at Vitality Stadium.
Justin Kluivert got the opener for the Cherries with only five minutes on the clock after he latched onto a flick on in the box from a corner.
However, Callum Hudson-Odoi levelled matters for Nottingham on the stroke of half-time after he dribbled his way through on goal and fired a strike that went in off the post.
Bournemouth were reduced to ten men in the dying minutes after Philip Billing was red-carded but they held on to the share of the spoils.
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This United is coming to the United we use to know, and are yearning for. Kudos.
As for Chelsea, I can’t tell what the problem is this season. With the amount of money spent, one expects them to be doing well, but the reverse is the case.