Man United 2-0 Everton: Scott McTominay continues his fine goal scoring form
Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial both scored their first Premier League goals of the year as Manchester United finally found a way to beat defiant Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Pickford had already made some excellent stops before McTominay, who had been in good scoring form for Scotland recently, put them ahead shortly before the break.
Martial came off the bench to add a second as United comfortably maintained their unbeaten home record dating back to September.
Christian Eriksen’s return from the bench for his first action since January was further good news for Erik ten Hag, although there will be concerns about Marcus Rashford, who headed straight for the dressing room after being subbed off late.
Meanwhile, Everton boss Sean Dyche will lament another poor result as their next two games against Fulham and Crystal Palace look vital in their bid to beat the drop.
Scott McTominay opened the scoring after 36 minutes with a fine finish from the box as he continued his scoring form.
Anthony Martial doubled the score after the break with his first Premier League goal of the year after replacing Antony
Marcus Rashford left the field deep in the second half with what appeared to be a groin injury and went straight into the tunnel
Dyche lined up Ellis Simms in centre-forward to replace the suspended Abdoulaye Doucoure with changing positions from Demarai Gray and Alex Iwobi.
Ten Hag opted to use Bruno Fernandes as a deep-lying midfielder in an attempt to control the game and the tactic worked well, although Pickford was the top performer in the first half hour.
Rashford had not scored in 12 previous games against Everton. It might have been on his mind when Michael Keane misjudged a header and worked his way past James Tarkowski to get on target.
A low finish either side from Jordan Pickford would have got the job done, but Rashford fired straight at his England teammate. His frustration increased when United played the ball back, but Rashford was unable to keep Fernandes’ cross on target.
Wan-Bissaka missed a golden opportunity from six yards after Antony’s shot hit the post and rolled towards him, unfortunately on his unfavorable left foot.
Martial has now scored eight goals against the Toffees in his last 16 appearances against them
Jordan Pickford made some excellent saves for Everton but could not prevent his side’s defeat
From there, Pickford again excelled. Marcel Sabitzer, starting as number 10, made a few tries and Everton’s number 1 also parried Antony’s attack after the winger cut in dangerously.
Antony regularly found his way past marker Ben Godfrey with Fernandes pulling the strings. The Everton defender recovered once to make a fine intercepting tackle but relied on Pickford on another attack to make a flying save.
Everton, who have not achieved an away win since the beginning of October, showed short attacking teeth as Amadou Onana headed a Gray free-kick over and dragged Simms a finish wide as he was cleared.
Gray’s tangle with Harry Maguire led to the winger calling for a penalty, but referee Michael Oliver correctly saw that the Everton player had initiated the contact.
Pickford again saved from Rashford with a dramatic star jump after Fernandes played United’s top goalscorer, but the Everton dam finally broke after 36 minutes.
Rashford was important in fighting for possession in the build-up battles and pushing Sancho off at the edge of the penalty area.
Sancho flicked in a smart ball to find McTominay’s point and his right foot into the far corner was too accurate for Pickford to do anything about it.
Although the midfielder scored four times for his country in the last international break, this was his first Premier League goal since December 2021 – ironically also against Dyche in a 3-1 win against Burnley.
Godfrey did not appear again for the second half as Dyche made changes. He also brought in Tom Davies and ex-United midfielder James Garner, but it was ten Hag’s substitution, Martial for Antony, that had the most impact.
After 72 minutes, Everton were complicit in their downfall. Lisandro Martinez’s long ball should have been handled by Coleman but he slipped it under his feet allowing Rashford to race away.
Rashford and United created some good chances for themselves in a blistering first half performance
Christian Eriksen returned to Old Trafford after more than two months with an ankle injury suffered against Reading in January
The striker, who had gone left when Martial replaced Antony, selflessly arranged for the Frenchman to score his first Premier League goal since December.
It hadn’t been good minutes for Coleman who had previously been involved in a scuffle with McTominay that pinned him on the back, though referee Michael Oliver was able to clear the situation before a full-blown fight erupted.
United could have had more. Pickford tapped over from Fernandes and there was a big cheer for Eriksen when he returned in the last 13 minutes, the Dane having recovered from a serious ankle injury caused by Andy Carroll.
Rashford stumbled out a few minutes later, though United hope it’s just a precaution. For Everton, now 13 league games without a win – their worst run since 1981 – they can’t welcome back their talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin soon enough.