Manchester United extended their unbeaten run to eight games across all competitions after beating West Ham United 1-0 at Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford’s 38th minute bullet header from a Christian Eriksen cross proved the difference between the two sides who played in Europe on Thursday night.
Here are five things we learned from Manchester United West Ham
100 up for Marcus Rashford
On his 318th appearance for the Red Devils, United’s number 10 reached the hundred club by scoring a towering header.
The England international took his tally for the season up to seven and ensured he reached the milestone a day before turning 25.
With England manager Gareth Southgate in attendance at Old Trafford, Rashford will be hoping he’s done enough to earn a Three Lions recall ahead of next month’s World Cup.
Light at centre-back
With Victor Lindelof ruled out with illness and Raphael Varane not available for the Reds until after the World Cup, Erik ten Hag had no choice but to start club captain Harry Maguire.
United’s number five hadn’t started a Premer League game since the chastening 4-0 defeat at Brentford on 13 August.
With no Varane or Lindelof, Ten Hag didn’t have a centre-back on the bench.
Penny for Jadon Sancho’s thoughts
United’s number 25 was the only one of England’s quartet not to start the game against the Irons.
With Antony ruled out due to injury, it was Anthony Elanga not Sancho who started out on United’s right-hand side.
With Southgate not being able to see Sancho in action, it’s looking pretty nailed on that the former Borussia Dortmund man will be watching the biggest tournament in football from home.
Momentum building
It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but it’s the type of battling win that will radiate confidence throughout the dressing room.
The win against the Hammers moves us up above Chelsea into fifth place and eight points behind leaders Arsenal.
With our game in hand, we can move level on points with third-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Diogo Dalot puts on a defensive header masterclass
Time and time again, West Ham crossed the ball into the United penalty area from the left, but United’s number 20 was there to take the pressure off.
It was textbook defending from the young Portuguese and his concentration never wavered, and he stood up to the test West Ham’s physical strikers posed.
Dalot’s importance in the United side is growing and he’s becoming a real leader.
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