Manchester United have bounced back from their derby defeat with a 2-1 victory over Everton.
It was a poor start for the Reds, who were on the defensive from the start as Everton advanced.
Within the first five minutes, the Toffees took the lead. An error by Casemiro gave Everton an opportunity and they took advantage of it. Iwobi with a one shot rocket curved into the top corner and a blind de Gea couldn’t reach it.
United’s first chance came from Eriksen but his shot was well covered.
It was Antonio, following up with his goal in a record game, who equalized in the 15th minute. Everton lost the ball near midfield and United responded quickly, Antony made a great run and Martial chose him. Antonio managed to calmly pass the goalkeeper.
United had their tail up then and dominated possession. Pickford stifled a chance for Martial, but they were knocking on the door all the time.
Martial, who was reportedly limping before the match, was replaced by Ronaldo midway through the first half.
There was almost a chance for Everton when United pushed forward and a block fell nicely into the path of the hosts’ attacking line, but de Gea read it right and ran out of his box to clear it.
United thought they had gone ahead when the ball ping-ponged into the area, Fernandes hit it and it deflected into the back of the net, but was ruled out for offside on the play.
It woke up Everton, who tried to mount their own attack, but their chances faded pretty quickly.
Casemiro lost the ball in Everton’s attacking zone, but not wanting to repeat his last mistake, he quickly retrieved it and saw the run from Ronaldo, who managed to find the net for his 700th goal for the club.
United started the second half as they finished the first, hungry for more goals!
United took an early corner well, but Antony’s cross found no one and bounced wide.
United lost the ball and it fell to Iwobi, who ran down the flank, but Shaw moved back and regained possession well for the Reds.
However, there was a change in momentum as Everton started to rise in the second half, sending some good balls into the area, but fortunately, United defended well.
A corner for Everton found Onana’s head but his attempt went over the crossbar.
At the other end, Fernades had a nice one-two with Rashford then tried to find Ronaldo with the outside of his boot, but Pickford was alert to danger and managed to intercept the pass.
Another chance for the visitors came when Ronaldo returned the ball for Eriksen to run towards him, but his shot flew over the goal.
Rashford thought he had increased United’s lead but VAR stepped in and ruled him out for a questionable handball.
In added time, Everton almost equalized when a cross came in, but De Gea grabbed it with the tips of his fingers to knock it off Onana’s head.
United held on as corner after corner followed for Everton in the final minutes with Pickford closing in on three of them.
There was an audible sigh of relief from the visiting winger as the final whistle blew and United moved up to fifth place, one point out of the Champions League places.
Team: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen (McTominay 83), Antony (Varane 93), Fernandes, Rashford, Martial (Ronaldo 28)
