Overview
After getting back to winning ways by thumping Southampton (9-0) in the midweek fixture. Manchester United was looking for another win. A win will level them with Manchester City (who face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday). Manchester City though has a game in-game in hand. It’s all the more important for Manchester United to not drop any points. If they genuinely want to challenge for the title. Everton’s away form has been decent as well, as they have been unbeaten in the previous 4 away outings.
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Line Ups
Manchester United
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Goalkeeper: David de Gea
Defense: Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw
Midfield: Mctominay, Pogba, Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford
Attack: Cavani
Everton
Formation: 4-3-3
Goalkeeper: Olsen
Defense: Holgate, Keane, Godfrey, Digne
Midfield: Doucouré, Davies, Andre Gomes
Attack: Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Rodriguez
First Half
The game kicked off and Manchester United pressed and tried to create chances in the final third, in the opening minutes. Rodriguez, Calvert-Lewin, and Richarlison then shifted gears and linked up well to create few spaces in United’s 18-yard box. The game was tight and both the teams were very well drilled. United’s first real chance came in the 19th minute from the corner kick. Doucoure cleared the ball which was headed well by Pogba.
Cavani opened up the scoring in the 24th min with a typical center-forward finish from a scorcher of an assist from Marcus Rashford. Man United came close again in the 36th min from Fernandes’ header which was saved by Olsen. Pogba suffered a knock in the 36th minute and was replaced by Fred. Fernandes scored United’s second with a sublime finish in the 45th minute. Everton came inches close with their best chance of the half just before the HT with Calvert-Lewin’s shot going just wide.
Second Half
Everton started the half on the front foot and struck back immediately in the 49th min through Doucouré and leveled the score from a beautiful counter-attacking display and a wonderful finish from James Rodriguez in the 52nd min. The game was evenly poised as both the teams played counter-attacking football trying to create aplenty in the final third. McTominay put United ahead again in the 70th min from a set-piece (free-kick by Luke Shaw).
United missed two golden chances in space of 2 minutes to bury the game in the 77th min & 79th min through Rashford’s chance and Bruno’s free-kick just outside the box. Richarlison had a great chance to level Everton again in the 87th minute but his shot went wide. The final thrill was still awaiting, Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalized in the 96th min from a foul given by Tuanzebe. Manchester United again defended the set-piece poorly and paid the price of dropping 2 points.
Conclusion
It was a hard-fought thrilling encounter between two good teams. Both teams created enough chances to win the game. At the end of the day, both the teams will be disappointed not to win this fixture. They have let themselves down with their defending. Even though for now Manchester United remains in second place, they have Leicester and Liverpool catching up very soon. Everton will be looking to close the gap for the Top 4 place and will surely fight for the UCL spot. Manchester United need to make sure that they aren’t dropping any more points to keep the title race on.
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