Manchester United beat Everton 4-0 at Old Trafford to secure their first Premier League win under new head coach Ruben Amorim.

Two goals each from Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee gave the hosts a comfortable win, which puts them in the top half of the table after 13 games. Amorim made several changes to his line-up following the 3-2 defeat to Bodo/Glimt here in the Europa League on Thursday and it proved to be wise as United ran out easy winners.

There were also protests by fans before the game against the club’s recently announced increase in ticket prices, which included chants directed at minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Here our authors analyze the key moments of the game.

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Amorim’s rotation pays off handsomely

A notable difference between Amorim and his predecessor Erik ten Hag lies in their approach to rotation. While former Ajax coach Ten Hag opted to use many of the same players week after week to build player chemistry and “automatisms”, the new man has opted to rotate his options to improve player fitness receive.

The new signing from Lisbon’s Sporting CP made six changes to the starting XI that defeated Glimt in midweek. Zirkzee came into the attack for Rasmus Hojlund, the 23-year-old Dutch international making his first start since the 3-0 home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at the end of September. Rashford, Diogo Dalot, Amad, Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro also joined the team.

On paper, it was a lineup that should have been too much for an Everton side that doesn’t pose much of an attacking threat. However, United were out of rhythm and in the wrong color for most of the first half. In the first 20 minutes, Amorim alternated between two characters on the touchline; One of frustration at how Everton were able to regain possession, and one of contemplation, often kneeling down to figure out the passing angles (similar to how Marcelo Bielsa or Mauricio Pochettino operate during games).

Everton’s counterpart Sean Dyche appeared to have picked up tips from Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna on how to hinder United following their 1-1 draw with United at Portman Road last weekend. The Goodison Park side clogged up the midfield, making it difficult for Amorim’s men to progress through the middle. Dalot and Amad struggled to surpass their respective spotters and get into the final third.

Despite all this, United managed to gain a foothold in the game in the 34th minute when, following a corner, Bruno Fernandes found Rashford in free space on the edge of the penalty area. Rashford’s shot appeared to be on target and he is credited with the goal, but Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite’s big toe provided certainty and fired the ball into the goal.

The goal calmed nerves and allowed United – who have been a confident team for some time – to establish dominance.

Amorim’s rotation approach ultimately proved to be a good one, but needed some help at first.

Carl Anka

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Zirkzee finally scores again…twice!

What to make of Circzee? The Dutchman is a curious attacking player, built like a traditional center forward and goalscorer, but who prefers to go deep and link play. He has never been a prolific goalscorer, but the return of a goal in his last 18 games for United (he scored in the first game of the season) worried some fans.

What would Amorim do with a low-confidence striker who doesn’t score goals?

The answer appeared to lie in the players the new coach brought into the team as part of the £42.5 million ($54.1 million) summer purchase. Rashford and Fernandes were deployed as the two No.10s ahead of Zirkzee, which made a lot of sense as they are two players who enjoy getting behind the defense.

The Dutchman dropped deep several times and pushed an opponent away while his teammates continued to push forward. Added to this was the strong threat posed by Amad as a right-back, and Zirkzee had more opportunities to play in the lines in front of him.

These teammates responded by subbing the 23-year-old when he entered the penalty area late. United’s second goal came as Amad urged Branthwaite to lose possession while Everton tried to build up from behind. Fernandes pounced on the ball and ran into the box before pushing it back to a grateful Zirkzee.

The fourth goal of the game also came when Amad stole the ball from an opposing central defender, this time James Tarkowski, before advancing into the penalty area and denying Zirkzee again.

The goals brought welcome relief for a player who had struggled to adapt to the increased pace and scrutiny of life in the Premier League after moving from Bologna to Italy’s Serie A. Zirkzee’s passing – previously his strength – had gone awry in the early weeks of his first United season and he appeared slow to release the ball in the final third.

However, a good goal can do wonders for a striker and Zirkzee spent much of today’s second half rediscovering the tricks and tricks that attracted attention during his time at Bologna. He may not replace Hojlund in Amorim’s strongest XI, but he has shown that he can offer the team some goal threat.

Carl Anka

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That was the Amad show

While Rashford and Zirkzee scored two goals each, the Man of the Match award went to Amad. The Ivorian was exemplary as a right-back, a creative force when in possession and a professional nuisance when out. United’s second and fourth goals came from him pushing and harassing the Everton defenders for the ball.

And for United’s third goal – scored 20 seconds into the second half – Zirkzee released the 22-year-old on the right before Amad Rashford came on to provide the final touch.

It’s clear that United’s strikers enjoy playing with Amad. After being reintroduced to the starting XI under recent interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, Fernandes spent several games feeding him the ball and was excited to see what the youngster could conjure up in the final third.

Amorim’s decision to deploy Amad as a full-back rather than a number 10 raised questions among some, but despite his size he has managed to remain an attacking threat by weaving through tight spaces with the ball and making the right things happen more often than not.

Amad’s football intelligence can occasionally surprise his teammates. While many United strikers rush towards goal or lose the ball trying to beat three defenders at once, he appreciates the value of slowing down.

Shortly after United scored their third goal, Rashford sprinted towards Amad at full speed, hoping to provide an overlapping run and start another quick counterattack. But as the England striker got closer, he held out his hand in a “slow down” gesture and tried to get the ball back into midfield.

A small playmaker who makes the strikers around him better on both sides of the ball, Amad could play a key role for Amorim in the coming weeks and months.

Carl Anka

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The protest before the game spoils an otherwise perfect day

This was United’s first appearance in the Premier League since announcing the price increase at Old Trafford mid-season, with all tickets costing £66 ($84) for the remainder of the campaign and concession prices being abolished.

Around 300 fans gathered at the Trinity statue outside the stadium an hour before kick-off to protest against the change under a banner reading “Stop Exploiting Loyalty” as part of a campaign run alongside fans of Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton to protest.

And interestingly, new co-owner Ratcliffe was as much a target of their ire as the Glazer family, the club’s long-time majority owners, and the subject of several unflattering chants. But this change in ticket prices is the call of his INEOS empire and the first major point of contention among supporters since Ratcliffe’s minority ownership began.

There were further disagreements on the ground during the game, and if fan groups are right to fear that this price increase is just the thin end of the wedge, then Ratcliffe could look back on INEOS’s honeymoon ending.

Mark Critchley

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What did Amorim say?

We will let you know after he speaks at the post-match press conference.

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What’s next for Manchester United?

Wednesday, December 4th: Arsenal (A), Premier League, 8:15 p.m. GMT, 3:15 p.m. ET

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(Top photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)