MAN UNITED 2, EVERTON 1
Manchester United had more of their renowned swagger as they overcame Everton to climb to eighth place in the Premier League.
A controversial Paul Pogba penalty and sublime finish from Anthony Martial sealed victory and three badly-needed points to prevent falling further adrift in the hunt for a Champions League place.
Though Gylfi Sigurddson’s 77th minute penalty made it a nervous finish, United would have won by a wider margin but for the brilliance of Jordan Pickford whose display underlined why he is England’s number one.
Though it was by no means a perfect performance, United were much improved and there was a far better tempo to their play.
And it came after Jose Mourinho took the brave decision to drop the out-of-form £75million Romelu Lukaku and take the striker out of the firing line.
Mourinho didn’t think it was United’s best performance of the season.
He said: “We played well against Chelsea, especially in the second half, in the second half against Newcastle and the first half against Tottenham was phenomenal.
“You cannot say it was a complete performance as the result was not settled to the end because of missed chances.
“We are playing okay, but we are not as solid as I would like and don’t have a killer instinct as I would like.
“Some teams have three chances and score three goals and it is almost an impossible mission to keep a clean sheet, even with our phenomenal goalkeeper.”
Mourinho was asked if he was concerned about Pogba’s shuffling run up at penalties.
He praised Pogba for his desire to take spot kicks and preferred him to Micky Mouse penalty takers, the ones who are “afraid and fragile” to take on the responsibility.
Mourinho admitted Pogba may have to change his approach as goalkeepers are getting wise and waiting as long as possible before committing themselves.
United made one change from the midweek Champions League game against Juventus.
And it was a surprise as former Evertonian Lukaku lost his place as Brazilian Fred was recalled.
Everton included former United defender Michael Keane in their line-up as he made a return to Old Trafford.
There was a sense of joy and sadness before kick-off.
United welcomed the young footballers from Thailand who escaped after being trapped in an underground cave system for more than one week.
But there was one minute’s silence as the football family stood firm with the victims of the helicopter crash that is believed to have claimed the life of the Leicester City owner.
The helicopter crashed and exploded seconds after taking off from the King Power Stadium pitch after the game against West Ham.
The silence was also to remember those who lost their lives in the First World War as this was the last home match before Remembrance Sunday.
There was a decent tempo at the start of the game, but precious little action and a shot from Paul Pogba, that went out for a throw-in, underlining the point.
It took until the 14th minute for either goalkeeper to be tested and then David De Gea had an easy catch from Andre Gomes’ header that followed Sigurdsson’s corner.
United’s first clear-cut chance five minutes later saw Juan Mata’s header force a save from Jordan Pickford following an Anthony Martial cut back.
Martial cut in from the left and his fiercely-struck drive was well beaten away by Pickford as United began to impose themselves on the game.
The breakthrough came in the 27th minute through Pogba after United were awarded a penalty when Martial was adjudged to have been tripped by Idrissa Gueye, though replays suggested the midfielder got the ball.
Pogba made a slow, shuffling run before his spot kick was superbly saved by Pickford only to rebound to the Frenchman to slot home.
United had the ball in the net again after half an hour, but Marcus Rashford was five yards offside as he slotted home a low shot after Pickford parried Pogba’s effort into his path.
De Gea was called into action in stoppage time to turn a fiercely-struck shot from Theo Walcott round the post for a corner.
And the Spanish stopper was forced to make a diving save soon after the restart to deny Richarlison as Everton remained a threat.
But it was soon 2-0 as Pogba provided the assist for Martial to bend a delightful shot from the edge of the box low to the left of Pickford from the edge of the box.
Everton ought to have halved the deficit moments later when Bernard sprang the offside trap and rounded De Gea before firing into the side netting from a tight angle.
United came close to scoring a third goal when Marcus Rashford broke away on the right and his well-struck effort was saved by the legs of Pickford who not long after did well to turn Pogba’s goalbound effort round the post for a corner.
United made their first change mid-half when Rashford was replaced by Lukaku.
Everton were handed a lifeline when they were handed a 77th minute penalty after Richarlison, who was in full flight, was taken out by Chris Smalling and Sigurdsson confidently smashed home the spot kick.
Lukaku had a great chance to add a third goal, but he headed disappointingly wide, clear evidence of his lack of confidence.
United made a second change with five minutes left when Mata made way for Ander Herrera.
The Reds ought to have sealed victory in the fourth of six added minutes when Everton, pressing all out for an equaliser, were caught on the break. Martial was clean through, but Pickford made a brilliant block.
United brought on Jesse Lingard for Fred in a desperate bid to run down the clock, but Everton never seriously threatened an equaliser.