Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund both ended long goal droughts against Leicester City
Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho both ended long goal droughts as they scored to help Manchester United beat Leicester City 3-0 at the King Power Stadium.
Hojlund struck in the first half when latching on to a Bruno Fernandes pass and finishing clinically with his right foot, finding the back of the net for the first time since December 12 in the process.
Garnacho broke his own lengthy duck in the second half. Fernandes was the creator again as Garnacho ended a 24-game run without a goal and the captain continued his own dazzling run of form by adding a third with an excellent finish from 20 yards.
The only negative on another positive night for United was a serious injury to 18-year-old centre-back Ayden Heaven, who had an excellent first half but was taken off on a stretcher just after the break.
Garnacho and Hojlund
United spend most of their pre-match warm-up now practising real game situations, and part of that at the King Power Stadium was setting up a small square pitch with the five defenders playing against the five attackers.
Space was at a premium as the attacking group tried to find a way of playing the 12 yards or so from one end to the other, with the centre-backs and wing-backs trying to stop them.
The most eye-catching move saw Garnacho run across the defence and flick a lovely pass through a tiny gap to Hojlund, who had timed his run perfectly. He dribbled the ball to the end of the cones.
It turned out to be an instructive moment. The two didn't assist each other, but their creativity was a sign of the confidence both were feeling. Both then went on to end long goal droughts in what could prove to be a big night in United's season.
Throw-in threat
United have started sending more long throws into the box, and it's clearly something they are working on at Carrington. Carlos Fernandes now comes into the technical area every time they get in a position to launch one into the mixer.
That happened twice inside the opening 20 minutes on Diogo Dalot's flank, and Dalot seems to have the best arms for a long throw at the club. The first one was flicked on for Hojlund to hook a shot wide, and the second earned a corner, so it is becoming an attacking weapon.
This side are starting to carry more of a goal threat in open play as well, but if they can add another string or two to their bow from set-pieces, then it will increase their chances of success.
Defensive enjoyment
United cruised through this game, but there were still the odd moments of concern and times when some determined defending was required. The unfortunate Heaven did his job in the first half, and Matthijs de Ligt picked up the baton after the break.
De Ligt's sliding block denied Facundo Buonanotte a certain goal with 15 minutes to go and the Dutch centre-back leapt to his feet, part celebrating his intervention and part criticising teammates for letting Jamie Vardy into the area too easily.
It was the kind of commitment and character Amorim wanted to see in his team, and it was impressive that De Ligt was happy to call out colleagues at the same time.
Mount's ball work
The United subs made their way back down the King Power tunnel about 15 minutes before kick-off. All bar Mason Mount that is, who hung around for another minute or so drilling long-range passes to a coach who had stayed out.
Mount was the last to return to the dressing room by some distance and clearly wanted to spend a little more time with the ball at his feet. He only returned to training this week, and this was his first involvement in a matchday squad for three months.
He was building up some momentum under Amorim at that point and looks a natural fit for the No.10 role in this 3-4-2-1 system. He has plenty to offer between now and the end of the season and Amorim was talking him up again before this fixture. He didn’t get on against the Foxes but his time will come.
Heaven's misfortune
There was a comforting slap on the cheek for Heaven from Amorim as he was taken down the tunnel on a stretcher at the King Power Stadium, having suffered a horrible injury in the early stages of the second half.
Heaven had excelled once again in the first 45 minutes, producing two outstanding blocks and then twice defending strongly against Patson Daka in a matter of minutes. The second time he saw the ball out for a goal kick, he raised his arms to the away end in front of him.
It was a sign of the character of the 18-year-old, and he was the talk of the press room at half-time, but his evening would last for only a few more minutes. He was immediately in distress after a back-post challenge and was tended to by medics from both clubs as well as the St John Ambulance.
Even though he was off the pitch, the game clearly couldn't restart, but that didn't stop some Leicester fans from booing him for time-wasting. They booed again when the St John's medics carried him across the pitch and the fastest route to the tunnel, in an astonishing show of insensitivity.