Manchester United 1-1 Everton
A goal apiece, a Premier League point apiece and all the plaudits go to Everton.
Yet while the blue half of Merseyside thoroughly deserved this result – and if anything, looked the more likely side to win – much focus will surely centre on the home team and yet another underachievement under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Make no mistake: in producing their own Premier League highlights in a well-drilled and disciplined display based on slick and deadly counter-attacks, Everton were terrific.
But given the players the visitors were missing, Manchester United again failed to deliver for which there is no excuse.
Highlights of the game
All eyes were on Solskjaer following back-to-back domestic defeats and his line-up certainly had pundits and fans alike talking pre-match.
Captain Harry Maguire had already been ruled out with a calf injury but few expected Paul Pogba and, fewer still, Cristiano Ronaldo, to be named among the home substitutes.
Overall, Solskjaer made five changes from the midweek 2-1 Champions League win over Villarreal with Jadon Sancho and Alex Telles also on the bench, Luke Shaw returning from injury and illness and Edinson Cavani, Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Fred all starting.
The difference in depth between the two squads was stark when you looked at the two benches, especially given Everton were without injured quartet Richarlison, Seamus Coleman, Andre Gomes and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the last-gasp hero for the Toffees in this corresponding fixture last season which produced a six-goal thriller.
All in all, it meant Everton boss Rafael Benitez made just one shuffle to his pack from last weekend’s 2-0 win over Norwich with Anthony Gordon starting in place of Alex Iwobi, who had been a fitness doubt.
The resistance to start 36 year-old Ronaldo for a third game in a week was understandable but perhaps Solskjaer had been reading the Guardian newspaper which suggested yesterday Pogba should stay on the bench.
The newspaper described Pogba as a ‘lovely player able to do things of which others cannot even conceive, but when off his game he does not offer sufficient intensity or precision. Increasingly, it looks like United’s midfield cannot support both him and Bruno Fernandes, and any choice between them is no choice whatsoever – Fernandes is in a different class and of an entirely different order. Solskjær knows it too, which is why he sometimes accommodates Pogba on the left wing – a move that can sometimes work, but which also denies United the speed and incision they need from that position’.
It went onto say that, given the Frenchman has not committed his future to the club, the sensible decision is to proceed with him on the bench.
Whether the manager read the piece or not, that is exactly what he did.
For all of United’s long spells of possession in the first half– and the Premier League betting odds made them huge favourites – some would have felt Pogba was missed as the hosts’ frustration grew in a game of attack and counter-attack.
It was only inches that prevented the Toffees from taking a lead after quarter of an hour as Andros Townsend whipped in a free-kick and former United youth centre back Michael Keane flashed a header narrowly wide.
There was an even better chance six minutes later as Fernandes delivered an inviting ball to Cavani whose close range header was clawed out by Jordan Pickford.
The England shot-stopper was called into action again after being tested by youngster Mason Greenwood but it was straightforward for the goalkeeper whose side were fast becoming the more dangerous team.
Demarai Gray, who has impressed since his summer move, drove forward from the centre of the park and fired in a long range drive which was destined for the net until David De Gea’s strong arm intervened.
Townsend then jinked down the right and cut the ball back for Abdoulaye Doucoure –two other astute signings Everton have made over the past 12 months – and his first-time shot was also set to burst the net until a brave and fine block by Wan-Bissaka.
It proved a timely moment as the hosts took the lead two minutes before the break.
Greenwood’s clever pass found Fernandes in a pocket of space and the Portuguese showed his composure, waiting before drawing an opponent and slipping in Martial who produced a superb finish which left Pickford with no chance.
It also fuelled this SBOTOP writer’s belief that the talented but often under achieving frontman is at his best when played on the left as opposed to an outright centre forward.
Everton can handle tough atmospheres as shown already this term and will have felt hard done by to go into the break a goal behind.
How they would have felt just before the hour to see Martial and Cavani go off must have been tempered by the identity of their replacements – Sancho and Ronaldo – as United held the upper hand.
Despite the odds stacked against them, understrength Everton continued to battle well and no one could begrudge them an equaliser when it arrived midway through the second half.
A corner was easily cleared and the visitors broke at speed before Gray brushed aside Fred, flicked the ball to Doucoure who found Townsend in acres of space.
The one-time England man was coolness personified as he drove towards the edge of the box and steered his shot emphatically into the bottom left-hand corner.
The end-to-end nature of the contest continued and Ronaldo was inches away from restoring the hosts’ lead after being played in by fellow sub Sancho.
Sancho looked lively but the home side could not make their pressure tell against determined and organised opponents, cheered on by a vocal away support.
They were in raptures five minutes from time when Keane flicked the ball on, sub Tom Davies was sent clear and he drew De Gea before squaring to centre back Yerry Mina who slotted into an empty net.
The goal was quickly disallowed by the smallest margin of offsides to the relief of the majority inside Old Trafford and there was not to be a late winner.
However, against an Everton side missing so many key personnel, this was simply not good enough for United and, particularly, another disappointing day for Solskjaer.
Can he really guide United to glory?
Key statistics
United have conceded at least once in each of their last nine league matches at Old Trafford, their longest run of games without a clean sheet at home in the top-flight since February 1971 (10 games).
Fernandes’ assist was his 50th goal involvement in 58 Premier League appearances (30 goals, 20 assists); only Andy Cole (43), Alan Shearer (54) and Eric Cantona (54) reached 50 combined goals and assists in fewer games in the competition.
This was Martial’s fifth Premier League goal against Everton, his joint-most against an opponent in the competition (also five v Southampton).
Townsend has scored five goals in nine appearances in all competitions for Everton, as many as he scored in his final 79 matches for Crystal Palace. He has scored in three consecutive appearances for a Premier League club for the first time in his career.
He has also assisted three in all competitions this term with his eight direct goal involvements more than any other Everton player.
Doucoure has scored two goals and assisted four in seven Premier League matches this season, bettering his total tally from 29 fixtures in 2020-21.
Everton have won just twice in 30 Premier League trips to Old Trafford and only two of their past 43 Premier League away fixtures against teams who finished in last season’s top four.
The Toffees are unbeaten in three successive top-flight away meetings for the first time since 1991.
What’s next?
Man Utd return to action following the international break with a trip to Leicester City (October 16) before hosting Atalanta in the Champions League four days later.
Everton, meanwhile, host West Ham next (October 17).
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