Manchester United eased past Everton 2-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday as Erik ten Hag’s counter-attacking plan worked a treat.
Two first half penalty kicks from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford was the difference as Alejandro Garnacho won both thanks to his trickery on the break.
Everton huffed and puffed and had plenty of chances throughout but it was a familiar story for Sean Dyche’s goal-shy, relegation-haunted team.
With the win, their seventh in their last nine games in all competitions, United move on to 47 points and are three points behind fifth-place Tottenham. Everton remain on 25 points and haven’t won any of their last 11 games.
Counter-attacking gets the best out of this United squad
Erik ten Hag has tried to implement his possession-based style but when United have looked their best under him over his first two seasons in charge there is one common theme: counter-attacking. ETH seems to have realized that and playing on the counter at home against Everton will have raised plenty of eyebrows. But it worked. Playing Bruno Fernandes as a false nine with Rashford and Garnacho surging forward from the flanks and McTominay charging down the middle overloads teams on the counter. Everton did not expect that and they are solid defensively but Garnacho ripped them open on the break as United’s direct passing sliced through Everton like a knife through butter. This squad of players looks comfortable playing this way and although Casemiro and Mainoo must give an injury-hit defense a much better shield in the weeks to come (Everton outshot United by 23 shots to 15 and had 30 crosses to United’s six), there seems to be an acceptance from everyone at United that playing this way is going to get them the results they need between now and the end of the season as they try and qualify for the Champions League and win the FA Cup.
Manchester United vs Everton player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com, you can Garnacho was superb. The Argentine winger was excellent on the counter as his trickery led to the penalty kicks and Fernandes was also the chief architect as he buzzed around in what was basically a free role. Pickford did well to keep United out on several occasions, while McNeil and Onana did their best to create openings for Everton.
What’s next?
United host Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinal on Sunday, March 17. Everton are next in action on Saturday, March 30 away at Bournemouth
How to watch Manchester United vs Everton live, stream link, start time
Kick off: 7:30am ET, Saturday (March 9)
TV channel: USA Network
Online: Watch online via NBC.com
Manchester United vs Everton live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Manchester United vs Everton final score: 2-0
Fernandes 12', Rashford 36'
Full time: Manchester United 2-0 Everton
That was a game where Everton had so many chances but United were dangerous on the break and scored their two penalty kicks to secure the win with minimum fuss.
Everton should pull one back
Godfrey nods a cross down and substitute Dobbin blasts a shot across goal which Calvert-Lewin can’t get on the end of to tap home. That is the closest Everton have come. Just under 15 minutes to go.
United looking very comfortable
Well, this is petering out. United are keeping the ball better and Everton are looking tired now.
Almost a third from close range
How did that not go in!? Pickford tipped Fernandes’ low shot wide and from the resulting corner it is chaos. Lindelof, McTominay and Evans all get in the way of one another and the former prods towards goal from a two yards out but Pickford saves with Evans jumping in. Everton were very lucky to get away with that.
United almost get another on the counter
McTominay plays the ball over the top for Fernandes and his pass to the back post just has a bit too much on it as Garnacho slides in but puts his shot wide.
Garnacho fires over
After a slow start to the second half at Old Trafford, United find Garnacho on the break again but his shot towards the near top corner flies just over and maybe grazed the crossbar. Erik ten Hag applauds. He’s liking United’s threat on the counter.
Half time: Manchester United 2-0 Everton
Well, that was a very strange half. United scored two penalty kicks, Everton missed tons of chances and both teams played great on the counter with very little control in midfield. United lead but Everton will be very encouraged by what they managed to create in that first 45 minutes. On the flip side, United will feel like they could lead by more with Garnacho causing so many problems on the counter.
McNeil with a big chance right on half time
Glorious chance for Everton right on half time as the ball works its way from the right to McNeil but he can’t finish.
Garnacho wants another penalty, then Lindelof, Garnacho go close
Alejandro Garnacho once again races clear and this time his cross is blocked by Mykolenko who slides in. Garnacho wants a penalty as the ball definitely strikes Mykolenko’s arm but nothing is given. Lindelof then curls towards goal but Pickford saves and Garnacho then gets in again but Branthwaite did really well to slide in, close the angle and then clear the danger.
Rashford slots home after Garnacho wins another penalty - Manchester United 2-0 Everton (36th minute)
Garnacho surges into the box and Godfrey clumsily lunges in as the Argentine wins his second penalty kick of the game. After scoring the first penalty, Fernandes passes the responsibility to Rashford and he calmly sends Pickford the wrong way. 2-0 to United, even though Everton have been the better team.
Branthwaite clears superbly
Rashford sprays the ball to Fernandes, he played in McTominay and his low cross to Mainoo inside the six yard box looks certain to be a goal... but Branthwaite slides in a clears superbly. What a piece of defending that is!
Great stop from Pickford to deny Fernandes
United have a free kick 30 yards out and Fernandes whips it over the wall and towards the top corner but Pickford gets a strong hand over to his right to push it out.
It is all Everton
United keep on giving the ball away and Everton aren’t making them pay. This time Garner is denied by Andre Onana and Amadou Onana then hammers the rebound over.
McNeil volleys just wide
Everton have responded well to going behind as another cross into the box falls to McNeil and his brilliant volley flies inches wide with Onana rooted to the spot.
Penalty kick to Manchester United... and Bruno scores - Manchester United 1-0 Everton (12th minute)
That is a very clear penalty kick. Tarkowski makes contact with Garnacho after he cut inside and a penalty is given. VAR check for offside but the penalty kick stands and Bruno Fernandes tucks it home. Pickford with some mind games before but Fernandes was calm as you like.
Brilliant block from Harrison denies Rashford
One ball over the top and United have caught Everton with Rashford charging in on goal. But Harrison has charged back too and the Everton winger slides in brilliantly to block Rashford’s goalbound shot. Excellent defensive work from Everton and I guess that is the gameplan from United.
Everton make the better start
A bright start for the visitors who have stretched United on the counter, have forced several corners and have whipped in some dangerous saves as Andre Onana has been pretty busy, and solid, so far. United yet to wake up.
Manchester United lineup
Onana; Dalot, Varane, Evans, Lindelof; Mainoo, Casemiro; Garnacho, McTominay, Rashford; Fernandes
Everton lineup
Pickford; Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Onana, Garner, McNeil; Doucoure, Beto
Manchester United team news, focus
United’s injuries have piled up and Rashford looks lost in a central role so expect Bruno Fernandes to play as a false nine and Rashford to start on the left. Lindelof is likely to remain at left back with Shaw and Malacia out.
OUT: Mason Mount (calf), Anthony Martial (groin), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (undisclosed) | QUESTINABLE: Rasmus Hojlund (undisclosed), Harry Maguire (undisclosed), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (undisclosed)
Everton team news, focus
Everton’s lineup is very settled and it will be intriguing to see if Beto starts again. He scored a header but missed a penalty against West Ham last weekend but Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who he replaced in the lineup, has struggled to have any real impact over the last few months.
OUT: Arnaut Danjuma (ankle), Dele Alli (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Idrissa Gueye (groin)
