MAN UNITED 2, EVERTON 0
Manchester United proved they are not reliant on Marcus Rashford for goals as they beat Everton to climb to third place in the Premier League.
And it is just as well as Rashford could face a spell on the sidelines after limping out of the game with a groin strain which manager Erik ten Hag blamed on the congested fixture schedule.
On a rare day when Rashford failed to find the net, the victory was secured through goals from Scott McTominay and substitute Anthony Martial.
It was an impressive display from the Reds as they created 29 goal attempts, 21 in the opening period which was the most they have done since 2008/09 season.
But the only criticism is they converted only two of those openings.
Embed from Getty ImagesTen Hag declared: “We have to be more clinical and more ruthless, and this game has to be finished by half time.
“As long as we did not score a second, there is always fear. There is always a fear the opposition will get one chance.
“We have given away only one chance in two games and created a lot of chances in three games in six days.
“But it is still a very good performance, and it is still a big compliment to the team.”
Harry Maguire echoed those comments, explaining: “It was a really good performance. Really on the front foot, aggressive. We played in their half and didn’t let them breath. We should have been out of sight so it’s disappointment that we only scored two goals.
“I think every game we want to start like this, we want to be on the front foot and be aggressive. The first half was perfect apart from being a bit more clinical. The manager wants us to be aggressive and dominate the game. In the second half we were professional and controlled the game.”
Ten Hag praised Martial, explaining: “Once again players coming from the bench having an impact and scoring goals. We have many subs who come on this season and scored goals.”
He also saluted captain Bruno Fernandes, saying: “I think he was brilliant, and he has played brilliant in a deeper role.
“Even last week against Newcastle he played very well and today he was brilliant. He was definitely the best player on the pitch.”
But the Reds’ boss was critical of the fixture scheduling of three games in six days with a late Sunday and early Saturday kick off limiting the recovery time of players.
“Players cannot recover that quickly. All research shows that players need a certain period to recover,” he explained.
“It is not necessary to have a schedule like this. It was an entertaining afternoon and the players cannot do it so often when they are not fresh.
“We missed chances through a lack of freshness. We have to protect players. There is a need to see great players and we need the best players on the pitch.”
Everton manager Sean Dyche said: “We made too many mistakes against a good side. I think we are bringing resilience to it and a lot of it was self-inflicted.
“The reality was we did not do the basics in the first half as a collective when United were on top.
“Maybe we had the best chance from Ellis Simms when the score was goalless. Had that gone it, it might have been a different story.”
Ten Hag made three changes to the side which started against Brentford three days earlier while Christian Eriksen is back on the bench after recovering from a serious ankle injury that has kept him off the pitch since January 28.
Maguire was back to captain the team as he and Tyrell Malacia both made their first Premier League start since the win at Leeds on February 12.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was also back for Luke Shaw who dropped out with a thigh injury and Diogo Dalot and Raphael Varane were on the bench.
Just the one change for Everton as Ellis Simms, who came off the bench to score the late equaliser at Chelsea on March 18, started.
Abdoulaye Doucoure dropped out as he was suspended after his sending off against Spurs.
United made a bright start as Marcel Sabitzer fired narrowly wide before Rashford burst through on goal past James Tarkowski only to be denied by a big block by keeper Jordan Pickford.
Antony was denied by the upright and the ball rebounded to Wan-Bissaka who fired the rebound wide from six yards, a glaring miss.
Those misses looked like they might come back to haunt United as Simms found himself free in front of goal but dragged his shot wide, a great chance for the visitors to take the lead.
Pickford proved why he is England’s number one as he beat out a shot from Sabitzer and denying Antony and Rashford twice with important blocks.
United finally broke the deadlock in the 36th minute with their 17th goal attempt of a remarkable half.
Rashford and Jadon Sancho worked the opening for McTominay to fire home from the edge of the six-yard box, his third goal of the season.
Antony raced clear and forced a fine one-handed save from Pickford as the Reds almost doubled their lead in stoppage time.
The Reds carved out 21 first-half goal attempts, their most in an opening period since 2008/09 season.
The start to the second half was less eventful than the electrifying opening period.
Ten Hag made his first change after an hour when Antony made way for Anthony Martial.
United had to wait until midway through the half before creating their first chance when Fernandes’ header from Sabitzer’s cross brought an acrobatic save from Pickford.
Everton finally cracked again when Martial doubled the lead in the 71st minute as United seized on a slip by Seamus Coleman.
The right-back failed to cut out a pass enabling Rashford to break free and square a pass to Martial who slotted home a low shot for his seventh goal of an injury-hit campaign.
United made two further changes with 14 minutes left as Sabitzer and Sancho were replaced by Fred and Eriksen.
And they were forced into another when Rashford pulled up and immediately signalled to the bench he could not carry on, indicating a groin strain. He was replaced by Wout Weghorst.
Everton finally had their first on target goal attempt with 10 minutes left when Coleman’s drive was caught by David De Gea.
United came close to a third goal in stoppage time when Malacia’s effort was well kept out by Pickford who was Everton’s star man.