MANCHESTER, England — Scott McTominay continued his improbable scoring run and helped Manchester United beat Everton 2-0 in the Premier League on Saturday to solidify their place in the Champions League qualifying spots. But the injury to Marcus Rashford took the excitement out of United’s victory at Old Trafford. The British striker limped off the pitch while groining his right leg.
“We’ll have to wait – it doesn’t look good,” admitted United manager Erik ten Hag.
McTominay has five goals in his last five games, including back-to-back doubles for Scotland against Cyprus and Spain in the recent Euro qualifier. Following Ten Hag’s permission to attack from midfield, McTominay took Jadon Sancho’s pass and fired near the post to beat Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 36th minute. The goal came in a dominant first half for United. Only Pickford’s great play kept the hosts scoreless. An error by Everton captain Seamus Coleman led to United’s second goal in the 71st minute. Rashford capitalized and assisted Anthony Martial with the goal Another positive for United was the addition of Christian Eriksen as a 76th-minute substitute for their first game since January 28 due to injury.
But the injury to Rashford – United’s leading scorer with 28 goals in all competitions – should worry United amid a busy schedule. In addition to the fight to finish among the first four in the league, the team disputes the Europa League and the FA Cup. United host Sevilla in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final on Thursday. Everton started Saturday outside the relegation zone on goal difference. LAMPARD LOSES Frank Lampard began his second spell in charge of Chelsea with a disappointment with a 1-0 loss to relegation-threatened Wolverhampton. Matheus Nunes’ spectacular angled shot in the 31st minute gave Wolves victory at the Molineux to move four points clear of the bottom three. Lampard, a former Chelsea player who managed the team between 2019 and 2021, arrived this week as caretaker manager hoping his knowledge of the club will guide them until the end of the season as the board looks for a full-time replacement for Graham Potter. Chelsea didn’t look any different under Lampard and didn’t threaten up front as they did in Potter’s waning days. The team adds three games in a row without scoring. Lampard’s priority is the Champions League. Chelsea face champions Real Madrid on Wednesday in the first leg of the quarterfinals. Chelsea have virtually no chance of qualifying for the Champions League by position in the Premier League. The team sits 11th, 17 points behind the first four. OTHER GAMES Leicester remain in relegation trouble after losing 1-0 to Bournemouth amid reports that Jesse Marsch will take over as the new manager. Harry Kane scored his 23rd Premier League goal in Tottenham’s 2-1 win over top-four-place Brighton. West Ham celebrate their first away win since August thanks to a Fulham own goal in a 1-0 victory. Newcastle beat Brentford 2-1 and Aston Villa beat Nottingham Forest 2-0.