MATCH REVIEW - MANCHESTER UNITED VS EVERTON

 

Manchester United vs Everton
[Image Courtesy of Sky Sports]

Manchester United went into the game on the back of a 9-0 thrashing at the expense of Southampton. The day was marked by the 63rd Anniversary of the Busby Babes' Munich Disaster.

Both sides started brightly and the game looked set to be a high-intensity match. Although, as soon as Cavani scored the opening goal for Manchester United they started imposing their presence on the game. The Red Devils ended a dominant first half with a sumptuous Bruno Fernandes beauty. We looked to set to take all 3 pts going into the second half.

However, it was the Merseyside team that started the second half strong. Everton got back on level terms within 7 minutes of the start of the second half. Manchester United were still struggling to find their feet as they were recovering from the shock of the 2 quickfire goals. We finally got the lead courtesy to a Scott McTominay header from a Luke Shaw free-kick. Our team had just one job, to defend the lead. We managed to do that until the last minute of injury time. We gave away 2 pts to Everton as we allowed Calvert-Lewin to score a scruffy goal from virtually the last kick of the game.

First Half - Dominant Reds

Bruno Fernandes scores identical goal to THAT Eric Cantona chip

But Manchester United are pegged back by Everton #MUFC https://t.co/7JmbThaCBO

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 6, 2021

Manchester United took a while to get going as Everton started brighter of the two. The Red Devils grew into the game slowly. In the 24', Marcus Rashford floated in a delightful cross into the box for Cavani to simply head into the net. That goal was enough for us to get going as we started to grab a hold of the game. Unfortunately, Paul Pogba was forced off with seemingly a thigh injury around the 40-minute mark. The Frenchman was replaced by Fred. We hope that his injury is not of a serious nature.

Just before half-time, Lindelof played himself into trouble while attempting to clear the ball forward. His clearance rebounded off Digne to Richarlison, who saw De Gea off his line and tried to curl it around him. Thankfully, his shot went to the wrong side of the post. Fred had an opportunity to double the lead but the ball fell to his weaker right foot and he dragged his shot wide.

Although, we have a magical right-footed player in Bruno Fernandes and oh boy didn't he show that to us. The Portuguese playmaker was given time and space, and when everyone expected him to put in a cross, he pulled out a shot from his Pot O' Gold. Fernandes took a Cantonaesque shot from outside the box as everyone saw the ball loop inside the goal perfectly. The perfect goal to cap off a dominant end to the first half by Manchester United.

Second Half - A Half Of Broken Hearts

Calvert-Lewin scored a 95' goal to break Mancunian's hearts
[Image Courtesy of The Peoples Person]

The Red Devils started sprightly as Cavani and Shaw linked up well. Shaw took a shot as Olsen made a good save. What came next was totally unexpected. Within the opening 7 minutes of the second half, Everton scored 2 quickfire goals to level things up.

Tom Davies started a brilliant Everton move and slid in a perfect ball for Calvert-Lewin. The Toffees #9's shot was saved by De Gea. Unfortunately, his punch away fell straight to Doucoure who passed the ball into an empty net. The Merseyside club saw an opportunity to exploit Manchester United and took it. A completely avoidable goal conceded.

Another moment of magic was produced, although this time it was the Evertonians. Doucoure turned creator as he pullback to James who yet again showed what he can do with his left foot. The Colombian's low drilled volley fizzed past everyone into the net as Everton came back from behind to level things. Yet another avoidable goal.

Manchester United seemed desperate to get the lead. Cavani slid in a great ball for Rashford but the Englishman couldn't lift the ball over Olsen. Shaw won a free-kick and delivered an immaculate ball into the box as McTominay headed the ball goalwards. The Red Devils had restored their lead, but the game looked set to be yet another of the edge-of-the-seat finishes.

The Red Devils almost finished off the game as Bruno's shot flew just over the bar after a well-worked move. He slid in a ball for Rashford who decided to take a turn and shoot with his right foot rather than a first-time left-footed strike. But his shot on the turn whistled past the target as the nerves remained amongst fans.

Maguire tried to turn away from Calvert-Lewin but was shoved in the back and fouled in the process. However, referee, John Moss, didn't consider it as an illegal challenge and allowed play to go on. Richarlison was the beneficiary of this but couldn't convert his chance into a goal.

Tuanzebe was brought on in place of Greenwood to see off the game. However, the Englishman made a blatant challenge and earned himself a booking in the final minute of injury time.

What came next was inexplicably shambolic. Digne whipped in a tame cross from almost 40 yds out which wasn't dealt with by any of the Manchester United players. Keane won the header and the ball fell to Calvert-Lewin. De Gea was hesitant to come out at the forward as he drilled in Everton's equaliser in 95'.

Summary

"3 shots - 3 goals"
Not the best performance from De Gea
[Image Courtesy of The Peoples Person]

Overall, it was an agonising result for us. In fact, most of the players and the whole fanbase would rather treat this draw as a loss. The game was there to win. We gave away a lead twice in the second half. Looking back at the result, we'll feel that it was our own doing. The silly challenges made, the defensive fragility, all accounted to us dropping these crucial points.

Manchester United had the opportunity to go level on points with rivals, Manchester City ahead of their crunch clash against Liverpool. We needed the 3 pts to stack on their backs as they look to increase the point gap. Man City could be possibly 5 pts ahead of Man Utd at the end of this game week, with a game in hand. 

We face West Ham midweek in the FA Cup 5th Round tie and West Brom on Sunday.