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Premier League legend and ex-England striker Alan Shearer (Picture: Getty)
Alan Shearer singled out ‘absolutely fantastic’ Amad Diallo for praise after Manchester United thumped Everton to hand new boss Ruben Amorim his first Premier League victory.
United could only draw 1-1 with newly-promoted Ipswich Town in Amorim’s first game in charge but put four past struggling Everton at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford opened the scoring on 34 minutes before Joshua Zirkzee doubled Manchester United’s advantage just before half-time.
Rashford scored his third goal in two Premier League games under Amorim just after the break before Zirkzee added United’s fourth on the hour mark.
Two of the goals came from Diallo assists and Shearer was hugely impressed by the 22-year-old winger, describing his performance as ‘brilliant’.
Diallo impressed in the second-half of last season and is becoming a key member of the Old Trafford squad, featuring in 11 of United’s 13 league games this term.
‘Amad Diallo was absolutely outstanding on the right-hand side,’ Shearer said when asked about Manchester United’s performance on The Rest is Football podcast.
Manchester United FC v Everton FC - Premier League
Manchester United’s Amad Diallo in action against Everton (Picture: Getty)
‘He was fantastic, player of the match, a constant threat. His work-rate, his attitude, his understanding of what his manager wants from him in that position is brilliant.
‘Everton got in so many good positions in the first 20 minutes but their final ball wasn’t there. Then once United got the first one Everton sort of caved in.
‘It was a good performance in the end from Manchester United. Other than the first 20 minutes they were very good.’
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Shearer was also impressed with Rashford and urged the England forward to produce that level of performance on a consistent basis under Amorim.
‘What we’ve seen from him over the last few weeks, we’ve got to see that most weeks now,’ the ex-England striker added.
‘He got that goal against Ipswich and was good today. He needs to do it on a regular basis.’
Manchester United FC v Everton FC - Premier League
United beat Everton 4-0 at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United’s 4-0 victory sent them into the top-half of the Premier League, just four points outside the Champions League places.
Following the win, Amorim said: ‘It was far from a perfect performance. We have to improve, you can feel that in the game.
‘After 15 minutes, Everton controlled the game and it was difficult for us and we were losing the second balls.
‘I felt that the players could solve some problems that we had as a team because of the quality that they have, but it was far from a perfect performance.
‘But it was a really good result and a tough match.’
Asked to rate Diallo’s impressive performance, Amorim added: ‘He is really big in talent, but small in size.
‘He did a great job but he also has to improve. He is in a great moment. Ruud van Nistelrooy helped him a lot in his games in charge and now he is helping me.’
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