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

They perched on an advertising hoarding in front of the Stretford End, brothers in arms smiling from ear to ear. Alejandro Garnacho flanked on either side by Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo.

On the day that Old Trafford paid tribute to those who perished at Munich in a tragedy that ripped the heart out of the Busby Babes 66 years ago tomorrow (tues), the image could hardly have been more significant for this football club. There is a spirit of youth coursing through the veins of United once again.

Garnacho, 19, had just put Erik ten Hag’s side 2-0 ahead early in the second half against West Ham with the first of his two goals here.

Hojlund celebrated his 21st birthday by firing the opening goal, becoming the youngest United player to score in four Premier League games in a row.

Mainoo, who succeeded Garnacho as United’s young player of the year last summer, continues to perform way beyond his 18 years. He was given a standing ovation when he came off in the 64th minute after starting in three wins in a week.

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

Garnacho described the celebration as ‘an inspiration’, and it provided a photo opportunity that quickly grabbed the attention of Ten Hag.

‘The picture covered a lot, I think, of the three youngsters celebrating together,’ said the United manager.

‘It’s not about one player, it’s about a team. That’s what I have seen today. It looked like a team: 11 defending, 11 attacking. The celebration I liked it. It is showing we do it together.’

There was a suggestion that it was a cheeky dig at Mohammed Kudus for his celebration after punishing Mainoo’s error to score when West Ham beat United at the London Stadium in December.

United left the capital that day without a goal in more than six hours of football, and Hojlund was hooked inside an hour having once again failed to break his Premier League duck five months after a £72millon move from Atalanta.

He was on target against Aston Villa three days later and hasn’t stopped scoring since. Including the FA Cup, this was his fifth in six games.

‘I’ve always believed in myself,’ said Hojlund, who launched into a guitar celebration of his own after scoring. ‘I got my birthday present in the morning and now I got an even bigger one so I’m happy!’

The credit for this win belongs to more than three young men, however. As Ten Hag said, United played as a team. They attacked with verve and defended with tenacity.

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

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

Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez have been crucial in binding this group together after returning from long-term injuries.

You cannot over-estimate their influence or the impact of losing Martinez again if his knee injury is as bad as it looked after he buckled under the weight of Vladimir Coufal in the second half.

Harry Maguire stopped Kudus in tracks with an excellent tackle in the first half. Diogo Dalot’s block on Jarrod Bowen was celebrated like a goal.

Emerson Palmieri also failed to beat Andre Onana one-on-one after nicking the ball off Maguire’s toes as the Hammers suffered their first defeat in six games in 2024.

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

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

David Moyes suggested West Ham played even better than in the win over United six weeks ago, and this may have turned out differently had referee Andy Madley taken action against Casemiro for ‘cupping’ Edson Alvarez from behind with both arms at an early corner. ‘That’s rugby,’ said Moyes.

However, Nayef Aguerd won’t have fond memories of this game, and Kalvin Phillips’ difficult start on loan from Manchester City continues.

Aguerd was sent the wrong way by Hojlund in the 23rdminute after Casemiro won the ball off James Ward-Prowse.

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

Garnacho made Emerson pay for his miss moments after half-time when he scored United’s second in the 49th minute.

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

Bruno 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.

Garnacho’s shot took a crucial deflection off the hapless Aguerd on its was past Lukasz Fabianski, who had replaced a groggy Alphonse Areola at the interval. Cue that celebration on the ad hoardings.

Phillips had his pocket picked when Bournemouth scored on his debut in midweek, but this was more of a mugging as Scott McTominay and Hojlund took the ball off him in the 84th minute. McTominay surged upfield and fed Garnacho to drill home the third.

‘You can see the belief is growing,’ said Ten Hag. You certainly can.