- Manchester United defeated Everton 2-0 after suffering two straight Premier League losses against Fulham and Manchester City.
Manchester United defeated Everton 2-0 after suffering two straight Premier League losses against Fulham and Manchester City.
In the first half, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford each scored penalties against an unproductive Toffees team that managed just six shots on goal out of 23 attempts.
Everton made every attempt to score, but the Red Devils held strong to achieve their eighth clean sheet of the year and their 41st Premier League victory over the Toffees, shattering the record for the most victories by one team over another in the division’s history.
United’s first-half penalties
Bruno Fernandes. Photo/ Sky Sports
The Toffees’ strong start proved to be nothing as James Tarkowski gave the Red Devils a penalty kick in the 12th minute by clipping Alejandro Garnacho’s ankles wide with his left foot. Fernandes took the ball and calmly rolled it into the bottom-right corner for his first league goal since November 4.
Shortly after Fernandes and Jack Harrison missed the crossbar, James Garner, a former Manchester United player beginning his 100th league game, had a strong long-range curler pushed away by Onana, and Amadou Onana blasted the rebound off target.
Next, Pickford had to make a great one-handed save to stop Fernandes’ well-struck 20-yard free kick. Jarrad Branthwaite then made a crucial save to save Kobbie Mainoo from scoring.
Everton were putting more pressure on Man United since they were not playing as well as they could. With plenty of room to drive into the penalty area, McNeil curled a dangerous cross-pass just wide of the far post.
After driving towards Everton’s box and evading several Toffees defenders, Garnacho, who had been an absolute baller throughout the match, was brought down by an outstretched leg of Godfrey. This forced referee Simon Hooper to point to the spot for the second time at the 36-minute mark.
The first penalty kick was easily converted by Fernandes, but Rashford was the one to take the second, putting a curled effort into the bottom-left corner that sent Pickford the wrong way. This is only Rashford’s second goal at Old Trafford in his past 18 appearances in all competitions.
As the first half came to a finish, the Red Devils put on a strong display and made a claim for a third penalty when Garnacho’s cutback on the byline touched Vitaliy Mykolenko’s arm as he was falling. However, VAR determined that the incident was unintentional.
The second half
Everton wasted a lot of chances against United. Photo/ talksport
Everton dominated possession play early on, but United was still a threat when Fernandes found space to put through Garnacho on the right side, and the latter was unable to stop his close-range strike.
Just before the hour, the Red Devils combination got together once again. Fernandes broke free down the left and rolled a tempting delivery towards Garnacho’s back post, but the Argentine was stretching for it and could only send his effort into the side netting.
Pickford produced an incredible fingertip stop to deflect the ball around the far post after Garnacho turned playmaker for Fernandes, who gathered the ball just inside the area and poked a nice drive into the bottom-left corner.
With Lindelof, McTominay, and Jonny Evans all attempting to test Pickford with a goalmouth scramble, United somehow failed to score from the ensuing corner. The Red Devils trio could not get the ball past the goalkeeper.
After a goalmouth scramble in which Lindelof, McTominay, and Jonny Evans all tried their luck, United was unable to score from the ensuing corner. None of the Red Devils were able to get the ball past Pickford.
Dyche substituted Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lewis Dobbin, Andre Gomes, and Ashley Young to inject new life into the game in the final minutes; the two former almost gave the visitors a chance to respond. But there was too much velocity on Dobbin’s fizzed cross from the left side of the box for the sliding Calvert-Lewin at the back post.
A week after their depressing loss to rivals Manchester City, United’s defense resolutely resisted Everton’s late efforts to score and assist the Top-Four-chasing hosts secure three crucial points.
Man United will now focus on their FA Cup quarterfinal matchup against rivals Liverpool at home next weekend. Everton will play their next top-flight match away against Bournemouth on March 30 following the international break.
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