Manchester United got a much-needed victory in Saturday's early kick-off, with a 2-0 win over Everton keeping their slim hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League alive.
A disastrous home defeat to Fulham two weeks ago was followed by a decisive defeat in last week's Manchester derby, leaving them 11 points adrift of the top four.
With fourth- and fifth-placed Aston Villa and Tottenham facing off on Sunday, dropped points ahead are guaranteed, so a victory for United was essential to at the very least keep in touch with the Champions League race.
Alejandro Garnacho was the star man for Erik Ten Hag's United, consistently threatening the Everton backline throughout. He won two penalties in the first half with darting runs into the box, and the two goals which came from those were ultimately the difference.
Rather unusually, the two spot-kicks were taken by two different players. Bruno Fernandes dispatched the first before handing the ball over to Marcus Rashford, who scored the second from the spot.
It was a tactic we have not seen too often in the Premier League and, appearing on TNT Sports on Saturday, United legend Wayne Rooney said he was not impressed.
READ HERE: Disappointing Update With Latest Bolter For Ireland Manager Job
READ HERE: Ireland WNT Schedule Has Handed FAI A Golden Opportunity To Shake Things Up
Rooney perplexed by Manchester United's multiple penalty-takers
Manchester United's all-time leading goalscorer, Rooney was on punditry duty as two of his former clubs faced off at Old Trafford. A ruthless penalty taker during his playing career, the Englishman was asked at half-time for his opinion on the decision to switch up penalty takers mid-game.
Rooney said that he was not a fan of the in-game change - and also said he would rather see Rashford on permanent penalty duties.
I know he takes the second penalty but I'd just love to see Marcus take responsibility and say, 'I'm taking the penalty.' When you're a goalscorer, you want to take every opportunity to score.
Marcus is a really good penalty taker. When you're a goalscorer, every opportunity Marcus should be saying it to Bruno...I know Bruno is the captain but...
They should have one. I don't think you should have two penalty-takers. When we played, it was either Cristiano, or Ruud van Nistelrooy, you'd have one penalty-taker. It was myself later on.
I just want Marcus to score goals, maybe I'm a bit biased!
Since arriving at Manchester United four years ago, Bruno Fernandes has scored a league-high 17 penalties, perhaps explaining why he remains the first-choice spot-kick taker despite the proficiency of Rashford from the spot. After the game, man of the match Alejandro Garnacho explained that the decision to change takers for the second penalty was made by captain Fernandes.
Bruno Fernandes is now Man United's all-time leading scorer from penalties! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/zqO4IOMTRE
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 9, 2024
An infamous incident during Wayne Rooney's playing career saw Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson left fuming after a similar on-field call went wrong.
With Rooney off the field and Ronaldo having left the club, a late penalty against Fulham looked set to be taken by stalwart Ryan Giggs. Portuguese winger Nani, however, felt confident and asked to take the kick, with United 2-1 up in the closing stages. He would miss the penalty and Fulham earned a last-gasp 2-2 draw.
Tasked with giving Ferguson a lift home that day, Nani said years later that the manager did not speak to him for the entire journey, so livid was he.
Manchester United have a mouthwatering FA Cup tie next up, as they welcome old rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford on St. Patrick's Day.
SEE ALSO: "The Buck Stops With Me" - Dublin Derby Defeat Leaves Declan Devine Despondent
