MANCHESTER UNITED 2, EVERTON 1
Goals by Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial gave Manchester United the three points, but Everton will regret a bad miss by Bernard shortly after going 2-0 down after a late penalty by Gylfi Sigurdsson ended up being a consolation.
Out of form Romelu Lukaku was dropped by Reds manager Jose Mourinho for Fred in the only change from the home defeat against Juventus.
Paul Pogba was at the centre of things for United, and although Idrissa Gueye can count himself unlucky to have given away a first half penalty when nicking the ball off Anthony Martial.
Everton’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved the spot kick, peculiar because of Pogba’s shuffling ‘run-up’ only for the rebound to fall to the Frenchman who tucked it away into the opposite corner.
Anthony Martial doubled United’s lead earl in the second half when Everton failed to clear their lines during a spell of United pressure.
Pogba delivered a fine pass to Martial who had come off his flank and one curling drive later the Reds were 2-0 to the good.
Bernard should have halved the deficit after Richarlison had beaten the offside trap with a superb through ball but the Brazilian rounded De Gea only to shoot into the side netting.
Pogba could have added a third when put through by Juan Mata but Pickford saved well.
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s penalty halved the deficit as Everton went on the offensive after going 2-0 down but United could have put the result beyond doubt.
Pickford capitalised on indecisiveness by Martial when the Frenchman was put through for a one-on-one at the end but the Reds held on for a win.
PLAYER RATINGS – MANCHESTER UNITED 2, EVERTON 1
David De Gea: 7. A few early chances to deal with. Comfortable save from Gylfi Sigurdsson and beat Theo Walcott’s shot away.
Ashley Young: 7. Comfortable afternoon if given few opportunities to go forward.
Chris Smalling: 6. 300 appearances for the United defender. Tried to play offside for a shot by Bernard which he screwed wide with just De Gea to beat and then a poorly timed sliding challenge on Richarlison handed Everton a lifeline with Gylffi Sugurdsson’s penalty.
Victor Lindelof: 7. Another confidence boosting performance.
Luke Shaw: 6. Less chance to go forward up against Everton’s moble forwards Bernard and Ademola Lookman.
Fred: 6. Some good moments in attack, put through Anthony Martial for a one-on-one with Pickford in injury time.
Nemanja Matic: 6. Bypassed in the second half as Everton committed more to attack.
Paul Pogba: 8. A wild early effort for the French midfielder followed by a shuffling penalty which Pickford saved before he tucked away the rebound. Saw Martial early in the second half and his ball across the edge of the box was converted by his fellow countryman. Had a low shot saved by Pickford too.
Juan Mata: 7. Had a header saved by Jordan Pickford.
Marcus Rashford: 6. Played at centre forward in the absence of Romelu Lukaku. Was well offside after half an hour when United were pushing for a second goal.
Anthony Martial: 8. Left wing role for Martial and he produced danger when coming inside with a cut back for Mata’s header and a fierce shot which was saved by Pickford before being brought down by Idrissa Gueye. Scored a superb curling shot past Pickford and Pickford defied him in injury time when put clean through by Fred.
Romelu Lukaku (on for Marcus Rashford, 65): 6. Service dried up in the second half with United on the defensive.
Ander Herrera (on for Juan Mata 85): Too late to mark
Jesse Lingard (on for Fred, 90+5): Too late to mark
GOALS – MANCHESTER UNITED 2, EVERTON 1
Man Utd 1, Everton 0: 27. Anthony Martial was brought down by Idrissa Gueye who thought he had won the ball but Jon Moss awarded a penalty. Paul Pogba tip-toed towards the ball in deliberate fashion and fired the ball to the left but Pickford got a hand to it to deflect the ball away. Fortunately for Pogba it fell to him and he tapped the rebound in the opposite corner.
Man Utd 2, Everton 0: 49. Anthony Martial again came off the left flank and curled Paul Pogba’s pass into the back of the net.
Man Utd 2, Everton 1: 77. Gylfi Sigurdsson slots a penalty past David De Gea after an poorly timed sliding challenge by Chris Smalling in the area on Richarlison.
MATCH STATS – MANCHESTER UNITED 2, EVERTON 1
Man Utd: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, Fred (Lingard 90+5), Matic, Pogba, Mata (Herrera 85), Rashford (Lukaku 65), Martial
Man Utd Subs not used: Romero, Sanchez, Rojo, Darmian
Booked: Smalling 20, Matic 38
Goals: Pogba 27, Martial 49
Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Digne, Gomes, Gueye (Calvert-Lewin 78), Walcott (Tosun 78) , Sigurdsson, Bernard (Lookman 62), Richarlison
Everton Substitutes not used: Stekelenburg, Baines, Mina, Davies
Booked: Gueye 21
Goal: Sigurdsson pen 77
Attendance: 74,525