Manchester United have continued to struggle to score goals this season, with just 30 netted in 26 Premier League games.
In the end Manchester United were fortunate to leave Goodison Park with a point at the weekend, following a controversial reversed penalty call.
United did do well to turn a 2-0 deficit around, with Ruben Amorim managing to turn the game around with his substitutions.
Alejandro Garnacho was the key change, which in turn allowed Bruno Fernandes to drop deeper and pick out his runs, and this helped to drive United forward and ultimately claim a point.
Garnacho was a bright spot after coming on, and former star Rio Ferdinand believes he needs to be a starter.
Alejandro Garnacho needs to start
Alejandro Garnacho gave Manchester United a burst of energy with his direct running and extra pace. We have seen this time and time again.
Garnacho had similarly helped United to turn the game around against Leicester City in the FA Cup, when United came from 1-0 down to win 2-1.
But in between, Garnacho started against Tottenham and blazed the team’s best chance over the bar in the 1-0 defeat, amid one pundit suggesting he had lost his spark.
It was understandable he was dropped. But after seeing his impact against Everton, former star Rio Ferdinand wants to see him back as a starter, and take the rough with the smooth.
Speaking via his YouTube channel, Ferdinand called for Garnacho’s positivity to be rewarded.
He said: “You can talk about quality, but at least he’s getting in there. At least he’s got the balls to get in the box and create havoc.
“It’s not something scientific, there’s no science behind it, the more times you get in the box the more opportunities you’ve got to score goals. He has to play for me.”
Garnacho has the joint 10th most dribbles into the penalty box in the Premier League, per FBRef, and has received the joint 8th highest number of ‘progressive passes’.
Garnacho goal output could be down to confidence
Alejandro Garnacho has scored eight goals this season. Only one has come under Ruben Amorim, and that was in the Europa League against Bodo/Glimt at the end of November.
His barren streak under Amorim points to a lack of confidence, but as Ferdinand points out, he keeps on fighting.
Still only 20-years-old, being asked to carry United’s attack is not easy, with the pressure wearing heavy on Rasmus Hojlund too.
Discussing Hojlund, Ferdinand added: “He’s obviously lacking a lot of confidence. He’s young as well, I’m not trying to make excuses, he’s not helped by the fact there’s no one of experience up there [with him].”