Man United 3-0 West Ham: Rasmus Hojlund scores AGAIN as Erik ten Hag’s side leapfrog the Hammers into sixth, with Alejandro Garnacho netting a brace for dominant hosts

When Manchester United left the London Stadium following defeat to West Ham in late December, they were without a goal in more than six hours of football and a frustrated Rasmus Hojlund had yet to score in the Premier League five months after a £72million move to Old Trafford.

It was almost the end of the year and the young Dane was substituted inside an hour that day after failing to break his Premier League duck again.

Three days later, though, Hojlund finally got off the mark against Aston Villa on Boxing Day and he hasn’t stopped since.

Here on his 21st birthday, United’s big summer signing continued to come of age as he scored his fourth league goal – five in six if you include the FA Cup – to set Erik ten Hag’s team on course to a third win in a week.

The youngster who couldn’t buy a goal became the youngest player to score in a four straight league games for United.

Rasmus Hojlund kept up his hot streak for Manchester United, scoring in his fourth Premier League game in a row

He netted his side’s first goal before Alejandro Garnacho (centre) netted a brace for his side 

Erik ten Hag’s side leapfrogged West Ham into sixth in the league table with the comfortable win on Sunday

Two more from academy product Alejandro Garnacho on the day United paid tribute to the victims of Munich kept Ten Hag’s side in touch with the top-four and handed West Ham their first defeat of 2024 after six games.

There is a tangible sense of optimism around Old Trafford at the moment as Ten Hag gets bodies back and his team starts to click. The significance of a clean sheet should not be under-estimated either.

The return of Lisandro Martinez has been a huge boost following two operations on a broken foot, and the only blot on this victory was the sight of the Argentine limping off in some distress in the 70th minute after hurting his right knee following a tangle with Vladimir Coufal.

Martinez was replaced by Varane who was the one change to the team that started that dramatic 4-3 win at Wolves on Thursday night. Harry Maguire replaced the Frenchman who is that stage of his career where his knees struggle to cope with three games in a week.

Meanwhile former United boss David Moyes made the decision to leave new signing Kalvin Phillips on the bench following his debut error against Bournemouth in midweek, and that didn’t end well.

‘I just feel it was his first game back,’ said Moyes. ‘He got 70 minutes and hopefully he can make an impact from the bench today.’

The two managers carried wreathes as they led their teams out from the tunnel in memory of the 66th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster on Tuesday.

Both David Moyes and Erik ten Hag laid wreathes in memory of the 66th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster

The game in East London in December was a close affair and this was one started no differently. Andre Onana made a smart reflex save to turn the ball away after Thomas Soucek met James Ward-Prowse’s header and Edson Alvarez managed to get some kind of effort on goal even though Casemiro was hanging off his shoulders.

United countered and Alphonse Areola turned away Bruno Fernandes’ dipping shot from 25 yards moments after needing treatment when he came off worse in a collision with his own defender Kurt Zouma. The Frenchman did not re-appear for the second half with Lukasz Fabianski taking over in goal.

Soucek’s shot on the turn deflected just wide off the ankle of Maguire, who went on to make an exceptional tackle to stop Mohammed Kudus in his tracks.

Martinez was equally tenacious but went over the top in his challenge on Kudus on the edge of the box, and the look of horror on his face had much to do with the fact that he knew it had given Ward-Prowse a clear sight of goal. However, Onana urged his wall to jump while Garnacho took the role of draught excluder, and Casemiro did just by blocking the free-kick with his head.

Andre Onana was in good form for United, and had to save early to prevent an early effort from Thomas Souck

United’s tenacity played a part in Hojlund’s goal in the 23rd minute. Martinez played the ball infield from the left and Zouma headed clear towards Ward-Prowse. Casemiro was in quick to close him down, though, and knock the ball to Hojlund who moved in on goal.

The Dane looked like he was going to shoot with his left foot but fooled Nayed Aguerd by switching to the ball onto his right and whipping it into the opposite corner. It was the mark of a young man in a rich vein of form and confidence.

After Ward-Prowse fired wide from a promising position, Hojlund had the final say in the first half after his clever backheel released Fernandes. He got on the end of the move, but this time placed the ball the wrong side of the near post.

Garnacho was in fine form and fired home both his goals in the second half, the second comes just minutes from time

The Hammers had a great chance to equalise within minutes of the restart when Maguire was far too casual in playing a back-pass to Onana, and Emerson Palmieri took the ball off his toes. The Italian raced through on goal with only Onana to beat but seemed to be caught in two minds and lifted his shot over.

It cost Moyes’ team dear as Garnacho put United two up moments later in the 49th minute. Fernandes spread the ball wide to the Argentina winger on the right, and he cut inside onto his left foot. There were three West Ham players in close proximity but none of them closed him down and Garnacho’s shot took a crucial deflection off the hapless Aguerd on its was past Fabianski.

United were in the ascendancy now and Rashford and Diogo Dalot both went close before Rashford spooned an effort high into the Stretford End much to his own frustration. Dalot then produced a fantastic block to deny Jarrod Bowen after Alvarez’s rakign pass had eluded Maguire to set the striker free.

One worry for United, however, will be losing defender Lisandro Martinez to injury in the second half

Martinez has been impressive for his side since returning from a long-term injury just four matches ago

The sight of Martinez going off will be a big worry for United given the huge impact he has made on this team following a comeback that began just four games ago.

But at least the day ended on a high as Phillips, who cost West Ham a goal when he lost possession just minutes into his debut against Bournemouth, was mugged again in the 84th minute here.

Scott McTominay and Hojlund teamed up to steal the ball off the Manchester City loanee, and McTominay raced upfield. He fed Garnacho who drilled a shot past Fabianski for his second of the game.