Manchester United 2-0 Everton: Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial both on target to tighten grip on top four spot
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Updated 08/04/2023 at 17:04 GMT
Goals from Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial saw Manchester United tighten their grip on the top four spots in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday lunchtime. The win moves Erik ten Hag’s side three points clear of fourth-placed Newcastle United and six points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth. For Everton they stay in 16th.
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Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial were on target as Manchester United moved up to third in the Premier League table with a comfortable 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Everton at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag’s men lay siege to the visiting goal throughout a lively first period and deservedly broke the deadlock on 36 minutes when McTominay fired home Jadon Sancho’s pass to net his first league goal of the season.
The hosts could have been out of sight at the interval with Jordan Pickford pulling off a series of excellent one-on-one saves while Aaron Wan Bissaka produced a contender for miss of the season when he somehow prodded wide from close-range after Antony had hit the post.
Everton did have one glorious chance with the game still goalless but Ellis Simms rolled his effort just inches past the far post with only David De Gea to beat.
The visitors tightened up defensively following the break but the Red Devils made sure of the points 19 minutes from time when substitute Martial punished a howler from Seamus Coleman.
United were further boosted when Christian Eriksen made an appearance from the bench for the first time since suffering a serious ankle injury in January, but there was also a moment of concern late on when Marcus Rashford hobbled off.
The results sees United rise three points above fourth-placed Newcastle and six clear of Tottenham in fifth spot, ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.
Everton stay 16th - above the drop zone on goal difference – but could slip into the bottom three if results don’t go their way.
United will now switch focus to the first leg of their Europa League quarter final at home to Sevilla on Thursday. Everton will look to bounce back at home to Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.
Talking point
United look strong heading into crunch period. After a run of two defeats in three league outings – including that 7-0 humiliation at Liverpool – United seem to have steadied the ship at just the right time by following up the victory over Brentford with this routine success to put themselves firmly on track for a top-four finish.
A trip to lowly Nottingham Forest could be the perfect fixture sandwiched between the two legs with Sevilla in the Europa League quarter final before key matches in their push for Champions League qualification against Tottenham (a) and Aston Villa (H) follow an FA Cup semi final with Brighton.
It's a busy spell for the Red Devils, and fans, players and management are approaching it with an air of excitement and expectation – although the sight of Rashford limping off late in the contest could be a problem given the hectic schedule ahead.
As for Everton, the away form continues to be a huge Achilles heel in their bid to avoid relegation and the stats don’t make for good reading.
The Blues are now winless in 13 away games in all competitions for the first time since 1981 and have won just twice in their last 32 league matches on the road.
It is a real problem that they desperately need to remedy as it also puts huge pressure on them to deliver at Goodison Park as they battle for survival.
Player of the match
Scott McTominay (Manchester United). The midfielder followed up his goalscoring exploits with Scotland by netting his first Premier League goal since December 2021 to make it five goals in his last five games for club and country. It was a timely strike to break the deadlock while all around him struggled to find a finish past the inspired Pickford, and he appears to have hit some tidy form at just the right time.
Player Ratings
MAN UTD: De Gea 6, Wan-Bissaka 8, Maguire 7, Martinez 7, Malacia 7, McTominay 8, Sabitzer 8, Antony 7, Fernandes 8, Sancho 7, Rashford 7. Subs: Martial 7, Eriksen 6, Fred 6, Weghorst n/a.
EVERTON: Pickford 8, Coleman 6, Tarkowski 6, Keane 6, Godfrey 5, Onana 6, Gueye 6, Iwobi 6, McNeil 6, Gray 6, Simms 6. Subs: Mykolenko 7, Davies 6, Garner 6, Maupay 6, Patterson n/a.
Match Highlights
09’ MAN UTD CHANCE! Rashford gets the better of the Everton centre backs and charges through on goal. Old Trafford expects but for once he can't convert as his thumping strike is well blocked by the advancing Pickford.
12’ MAN UTD CHANCE! Antony's 20-yard shot beats Pickford but bounces against the post. Wan Bissaka is first to pounce upon the rebound but inexplicably guides a close-range shot wide with the goal gaping.
19’ EVERTON CHANCE! Simms plays a lovely one-two and has a clear sight of goal but rolls his low shot inches past the far post from the right side of the area.
22’ MAN UTD CHANCE! Antony races clear in the right channel but once again Pickford produces a superb save to come out on top in the one-to-one duel.
28’ MAN UTD CHANCE! This time it's Rashford allowed to race clear on Pickford. The forward attempts to flick a dropping ball beyond the keeper, but once again the England stopper gets a part of his body in the way to deny him.
36’ – GOAL! – Man Utd 1-0 Everton. The visitors have plenty of chances to win the ball off Rashford. They fail to do so and McTominay punishes them with a first-time finish from Sancho's clever pass.
71’ – GOAL! – Man Utd 2-0 Everton. Martial makes no mistake with a clinical low finish from Rashford's pass after a huge error from Coleman.
Key Stats
United had 21 shots in the first half against Everton, their most on record (since 2003-04) in the first period of a single Premier League game, and the most by any side in the opening 45 minutes of a match this season.
Manchester United have lost just one of their last 24 home Premier League matches (W16, D7), a 2-1 defeat by Brighton in August.
Everton have won just one of their past 30 league fixtures at Old Trafford, a 1-0 victory in December 2013.
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