Five things we learned from Everton 1-1 Manchester United
In a game where only a win will do for both sides so often the end result is a draw and that’s exactly what happened at Goodison Park on Sunday.
With both Everton and Manchester United needing three points to boost some morale and get their campaigns going again, they ended up cancelling each other out – though the Red Devils may feel they should have won it.
Jose Mourinho’s men were not dominant in terms of attacking chances but they were in control for a lot of the game and Everton, it has to be said, looked blunt.
Indeed, things seemed set to fizzle out as the match went on with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s lobbed effort looking like the clincher, before Marouane Fellaini gifted his old side an early Christmas present.
Brought on to add some resilience at the back and see out a 1-0 victory, the midfielder gave away an obvious penalty that Leighton Baines duly slotted home in the last few minutes.
A draw suited neither side, then, but we still learned plenty from the ninety minutes. Here are five lessons we took from the game.
United need a break
For weeks many have been saying it won’t be long until United get it right and that will again be said here. This was another good performance; not for their attacking play but for the way they seemed so composed before that late penalty. After that, Everton finally looked threatening and United were completely overwhelmed as they almost buckled under the pressure. It seems odd to suggest considering the fortune we saw during the Ferguson era, but the Red Devils need some luck to get going.
Perhaps Martinez wasn’t completely to blame
At the start of the season it seemed all of Everton’s problems had been solved with the arrival of Ronald Koeman in the place of Roberto Martinez, but this run of form suggests that there are far more issues within the squad that need to be sorted out. The Toffees were short on confidence and ideas again and had Marouane Fellaini not gifted them a penalty, they would have been left empty handed. Koeman has much to work to do before their next game.
United at least know their best midfield three
This was one of Manchester United’s most balanced and controlled performances and that was largely thanks to the arrangement of the three in the centre of the park. With Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera dictating the tempo and winning the ball back, Paul Pogba had the license to roam about the pitch without worrying about tracking back – allowing for the Red Devils’ shape to be preserved. Things, of course, were ruined when Marouane Fellaini came on, but Jose Mourinho appears to have found his formula in the engine room.
Toffees need investment
Ronald Koeman rang the changes in a bid to get the Toffees out of their current predicament and it didn’t work as well as he’d have liked. Those that came in did nothing to suggest they should be regular starters hereafter and that in turn suggests this squad needs more. January could be huge for the club as they aim to finish inside the European spots, because you can bet those around them in the table will get their chequebooks out.
United out of the title race
That’s game over for United in this season’s title race. Whilst Liverpool somehow lost on Sunday, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs all won – with the Blues a staggering 13 points clear of the Red Devils at the top of the league. If United were second and only had to catch the London club, you might give them a chance. But they have to overcome at least four other teams in the process and, with the way the league is this season, that’s too much even for a club of their stature.