From Outdated Trafford – Manchester United’s push for a top-four end continued on Saturday with a cushty 2-0 win over relegation strugglers Everton.
A objective in every half from Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial helped United keep their unbeaten dwelling file in 2023, although the match might have been over as a contest if not for the brilliance of Jordan Pickford within the Everton objective.
United began nicely and may have gone forward early on when Marcus Rashford broke clear because of a mistake from Michael Keane. He shrugged off James Tarkowski and burst into the field however Pickford was equal to his effort.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka delivered a contender for miss of the season shortly after. Antony managed a nook on the sting of the field earlier than firing towards Pickford’s publish. The rebound fell to Wan-Bissaka however his tame left-footed effort dribbled vast.
Everton had been nonetheless within the contest, nonetheless, and may need gone forward via Ellis Simms. He performed a one-two with Seamus Coleman and had on a regular basis on the earth to a minimum of take a look at David de Gea, however he pulled it vast.
One other large probability for United then got here with a protracted ball excessive from Bruno Fernandes which discovered Antony’s run, however the Brazilian couldn’t beat Pickford when clear via on objective.
Demarai Grey, who was an actual thorn within the facet for United’s defence, seemed for a penalty beneath a problem from Harry Maguire however noticed his attraction waved away and the choice confirmed by VAR.
United had been then provided two extra probabilities earlier than the half-hour courtesy of long-balls excessive. De Gea first despatched Antony via once more however this time Ben Godfrey made the late problem because the Brazilian hesitated. Rashford then collected a ball from Fernandes however Pickford was off his line rapidly to disclaim him together with his legs.
The impasse was lastly damaged ten minutes earlier than the break. McTominay exchanged passes with Jadon Sancho in a packed Everton defence and fired previous Pickford on the close to publish.
Simply earlier than the break, United once more might and may have scored. Antony breezed previous Godfrey however once more his strike was crushed away by the spectacular Pickford.
Half-time noticed Godfrey taken off as clearly Sean Dyche was rising bored with seeing Antony have probability after probability and alternative Vitalii Mykolenko did enhance issues on that entrance.
The second-half bore no relation to the primary, with probabilities few and much between. Dyche made a double change on the hour with James Garner and Tom Davies approaching to attempt to create a spark within the Toffees midfield.
However the first actual probability of the second half got here to Fernandes as his run into the field was picked out brilliantly by Marcel Sabitzer, however Pickford was equal to it as soon as once more.
Pickford was crushed for the second time on 71 minutes. An extended ball excessive was not handled by Everton skipper Seamus Coleman and Rashford pounced on the error, crossing for Martial to complete from close-range.
The win lifts Man Utd again above Newcastle into third, although they may drop into fourth ought to the Magpies win at Brentford. Everton are sixteenth and could possibly be within the relegation zone by the tip of the day.
GK: David De Gea – 6/10 – Snug however wasn’t requested to do a lot.
RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6/10 – Strong sufficient in defence, did not supply an excessive amount of going ahead and produced one of many misses of the season.
CB: Harry Maguire (C) – 6/10 – Did nothing flawed however once more was not examined an excessive amount of.
CB: Lisandro Martinez – 7/10 – No errors. Did enable Simms an excessive amount of from for one in all Everton’s solely actual probabilities, however he barely broke a sweat as he commanded the United back-line.
LB: Tyrell Malacia – 5/10 – Struggled at instances to deal with Iwobi and Grey.
CM: Scott McTominay – 7/10 – Strong and competed nicely towards Onana and Gueye – essential objective to interrupt the impasse.
CM: Bruno Fernandes – 8/10 – Loved his deeper position, noticed extra of the ball and drove the group ahead – wonderful.
RW: Antony – 6/10 – May have had a hat-trick within the first half alone – his misses might have proved pricey.
AM: Marcel Sabitzer – 7/10 – Performed in a sophisticated position, had a few first rate probabilities and labored his socks off.
LW: Jadon Sancho – 7/10 – Appeared vibrant on the counter assault and sensible ball for McTominay to open the scoring.
CF: Marcus Rashford – 7/10 – Shiny and had quite a few probabilities, discovered Pickford in good kind however ought to have scored, though he did nicely to create winner for Martial.
Substitutes
Anthony Martial (60′ for Antony) – 6/10 – One probability and scored.
Christian Eriksen (77′ for Sancho) – N/A
Fred (77′ for Sabitzer) – N/A
Wout Weghorst (80′ for Rashford) – N/A
Supervisor
Erik ten Hag – 7/10 – Taking part in Fernandes in deeper position with Sabitzer within the CAM position labored nicely.
GK: Jordan Pickford – 9/10 – Excellent from Pickford as quite a few saves saved Everton within the recreation.
RB: Seamus Coleman (C) – 3/10 – Struggled at instances with the tempo of Rashford and Sancho after which made a foul error for Martial’s objective.
CB: Michael Keane – 4/10 – No less than one missed header within the first-half – lucky, greater than the rest, that United did not rating extra.
CB: James Tarkowski – 4/10 – Caught out by tempo and motion all too usually.
LB: Ben Godfrey – 3/10 – Appeared OK going ahead however caught out time and again by lengthy balls to Antony over his head. Taken off at half-time.
RM: Alex Iwobi – 5/10 – Labored laborious however did not see sufficient of the ball and recreation typically handed him by.
CM: Idrissa Gueye – 6/10 – Sat in midfield and tried break up play when he wanted to.
CM: Amadou Onana – 7/10 – Was everywhere in the pitch, did all the things he might. Like Pickford and Grey, he cannot take a lot accountability for the loss.
LM: Dwight McNeil – 3/10 – Did little or no, noticed little of the ball and, when he did, did little with it.
CF: Demarai Grey – 7/10 – Began the sport rather well and by no means gave up – a continuing menace.
CF: Ellis Simms – 4/10 – Was at all times going to have restricted probabilities at Outdated Trafford however he had an important alternative to attain within the first half and woefully put it vast.
Substitutes
Vitalii Mykolenko (45′ for Godfrey) – 5/10 – Did OK and shored up the left facet of Everton’s defence.
James Garner (60′ for Onana) – N/A
Tom Davies (60′ for Gueye) – N/A
Neal Maupay (70′ for Simms) – N/A
Nathan Paterson (87′ for Coleman) – N/A
Supervisor
Sean Dyche – 6/10 – Ought to have misplaced by extra however the defence was far too open and flat-footed, however he did make proper change on the break.
