Martial emphatically swept home his eighth goal of the season in the first half following an unselfish Antony cutback – the Brazilian having missed a sitter just moments before – and fit-again substitute Garnacho later netted deep into stoppage time at the end of a nervy affair to ensure that United gained vital breathing space from Liverpool in the battle for a top-four finish this season.
Saturday’s victory saw Erik ten Hag’s fourth-placed side, who finally got Raphael Varane back but were missing attacking talisman Marcus Rashford due to injury, draw level on points with Newcastle in third after the Magpies were held to an entertaining 2-2 tie by relegation-threatened Leeds at Elland Road at lunchtime.
Crucially, the win also took United four points clear of fierce rivals Liverpool in fourth, with Jurgen Klopp’s in-form Reds gunning for an incredible seventh successive triumph when they travel to meet struggling Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Monday night.
The Red Devils also avoided losing three straight top-flight matches for the first time since the Louis van Gaal era in December 2015, having seen their comfortable top-four bid derailed of late by successive away losses at Brighton and West Ham.
That is despite an inspired performance from January signing Daniel Bentley, who made several excellent saves having been drafted in by Julen Lopetegui for a surprise Wolves debut in place of regular first-choice goalkeeper Jose Sa.
The visitors, already safe from relegation after their slender win over Midlands rivals Aston Villa last weekend, played their part in an entertaining tussle, but despite no shortage of endeavour failed to muster a single shot on target just six days after under-fire United ‘keeper David de Gea was lambasted for a woeful error that cost his side any points at the London Stadium.
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