The teenager – who is going to be a hell of a player – deserves to start the next game after scoring just a few minutes into his return from injury
'Viva Ronaldo' was the soundtrack to games at Old Trafford last season but 'Viva Garnacho' fever has taken over. The Argentine had spent the last two months recovering from a cruel ankle injury that derailed his breathtaking first season in the first team but on his return to action against Wolves, he gave the fans what they had been craving, a second goal to clinch a 2-0 win.
After taking four points from their last four games and with Liverpool breathing down their necks after winning their last six matches, United's hopes of finishing in the top four were hanging by a thread.
A first-half goal from Anthony Martial set United on their way to a much-needed victory but Wolves did not lie down and threatened to find an equaliser deep into the second half. That all changed when Garnacho entered the pitch as he sunk Julen Lopetegui's side once and for all with a clinical finish in off the post in injury time. He proceeded to rip off his shirt and celebrate in front of the Stretford End – what a moment.
Garnaco has not been able to play since damaging his ankle ligaments on March 12 but his return could not come at a better time for United. They need two victories from their final three league games to seal their place in the top four and they have the small matter of the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Garnacho wanted to join up with Argentina for the Under-20 World Cup but United said 'no' as they need him for the rest of the campaign. If his first game back is anything to go by, he could prove very useful indeed.
GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Old Trafford…
Getty ImagesWINNER: Alejandro Garnacho
The mere sight of the Argentine warming up raised the spirits of United fans and despite more than two months out recovering from a serious injury, he showed he has lost none of the spark and verve which made them fall in love with him.
His time away from the action did show at first when he frustrated Fernandes by over-hitting a pass towards him. But he more than compensated when he raced on to the Portugal international's pass through the middle in added time, pausing for a second while he picked his spot and sent the ball in off the post.
Garnacho's rise from the youth team to the first team has been one of the stories of the season and it was so cruel that he got injured just as he was about to make his debut for Argentina. United have also suffered without him and how they could have done with his finishing ability in their previous 10 games, when they scored fewer goals than any other Premier League side.
But he is back, he has just signed a new contract and he has three more league games plus the FA Cup final to round off an inspiring breakthrough campaign.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Antony
The most expensive player in United's squad did not exactly have a quiet game. He set up Anthony Martial's opening goal and was the team's most active forward, repeatedly stretching the Wolves defence. But for the third game in a row, he was wasteful in front of goal.
The match was only a few minutes old when he cut inside from the right wing and curled the ball just wide of the far post. It was by no means a sitter but given how cutting inside is one of his best abilities, he needs to be better at finishing from this type of range. At the very least, he needs to be working the goalkeeper.
His worst miss was when he spurned a free header from only a few yards out after being set up by a wonderful cross from Luke Shaw. A player who cost in the region of £85 million ($105m) needs to be scoring chances like this, even if heading is not one of his attributes.
He also showed suspect decision making. He had the Old Trafford crowd on their feet when he came thrusting down the right wing late in the first half, with Jadon Sancho in a perfect position to his left. But the Brazilian instead decided to attack the space, dithering between going for goal himself and finding a team-mate. He eventually played the ball back to Martial, who was in a far worse position than Sancho.
Erik ten Hag campaigned fiercely to bring Antony to the club, who eventually paid over the odds for him. And with his first season at the club almost complete, he still looks like a one-dimensional player, incapable of scoring the simplest of chances.
Getty ImagesWINNER: United's home form
If United do end up finishing in the top four, it will largely be thanks to their imperious home form. United's performances and results at Old Trafford have been a Godsend, especially considering how bad they have been away. For only the fourth time in their history, United have won 25 home matches this season, equalling the tally from the 2007-08 campaign when they won the league and Champions League.
If they win their remaining home games against Chelsea and Fulham, they will equal their record 27 home victories from the 2002-03 campaign. They have the longest unbeaten home run in the Premier League, having only lost once, in their opening game of the season against Brighton. And their last defeat in any competition was against Real Sociedad in the Europa League on September 8.
Ten Hag's side always seem to raise their game at home, regardless of who they are playing. They have won 13 of their 17 Premier League matches at Old Trafford and beaten almost all of their rivals there too, taking care of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham. And they knocked Barcelona out of the Europa League with a second-half comeback.
It's a shame they can't play every game at the Theatre of Dreams, which has turned into a nightmare destination for their opponents.
GettyLOSER: Liverpool
United's woeful away form had breathed life into Liverpool's hopes of finishing in the top four after Jurgen Klopp's side chopped their seven-point deficit on the Red Devils down to just one. Had United slipped up here, then Liverpool would have leapfrogged them into fourth spot with victory at Leicester on Monday.
But United's home form spells bad news for the Merseysiders. After this victory, they now need just two more wins to guarantee their place in the top four and seal a return to the Champions League.
And they have Chelsea and Fulham to play at Old Trafford, plus a trip to Bournemouth, who have nothing to play for now that they have avoided relegation.
With United looking so solid at home, Liverpool's best chance of nabbing a top-four spot could now lie in catching Newcastle, who drew 2-2 at Leeds on Saturday.