Match Report Everton were beaten for the third time in all competitions by Manchester United this season as the Red Devils’ clear superiority told with a result that could have been a lot worse for Sean Dyche’s men. Time and again, United exploited a suicidally high line from Everton and only a man-of-the-match display from Jordan Pickford kept the score to just 1-0 at half-time as the hosts registered 21 shots in the first half alone and the highest xG (2.42) of any team in the Premier League this season. Scott McTominay finished off an incisive passing move nine minutes before the break but the visitors were still in the game with 20 minutes to go, until an uncharacteristic error from Seamus Coleman allowed Marcus Rashford to tee up Anthony Martial for the killer second goal. Dyche had handed striking responsibilities to Ellis Simms and the young striker had a gilt-edged chance to put Everton ahead after 20 minutes but he dragged it wide on what was a predictably difficult afternoon for the visitors. Everton began with an energetic press designed to try and unsettled Erik ten Hag’s men but United responded by pinging a series of balls over the top of the Blues’ defence and had it not been for Pickford, they could have been out of sight by the halfway stage. The England international laid down a marker with a one-handed save to push Marcel Sabitzer’s shot wide with just two minutes gone, followed that up with an excellent stop to deny Rashford and then had to be alert to punch the ball away from the striker’s head as United kept the move alive. Amadou Onana might have done better with a header from a free-kick after Coleman had been fouled but back down the other end, Alex Iwobi’s terrific covering challenge took the ball off the toe of Rashford and from the resulting corner, Antony bounced a shot off the post and Aaron Wan-Bissaka somehow screwed the rebound across the face of goal and past the other upright. Having survived a number of scares, Everton could have taken the lead when Simms collected a return pass from Coleman and found himself with just David de Gea to beat but the moment got the better of him and he choked an effort that dribbled past the far post. The Red Devils then resumed their raids on the Blues’ back line, with Antony playing Sabitzer in but Pickford foiling the Austrian again and the keeper then making himself big again a minute later to block the Brazilian’s goal-bound shot. Antony was in again three minutes later off a raking pass from De Gea that caught Ben Godfrey out but the makeshift left-back recovered well to snuff out the opportunity and Everton survived again amid calls for handball as a shot was blocked in their six-yard box. The game still wasn’t half an hour old when Rashford raced onto yet another ball over the top but Pickford was there again to save with a trailing foot as the scoreline somehow remained goalless. The deadlock would be broken eight minutes later, however, when United were finally able to prise open the Toffees’ defence as Jadon Sancho picked out the run of McTominay behind the inattentive Onana and the Scot rifled a shot inside Pickford’s near post to make it 1-0. One more ball lofted over Everton’s back line threatened to make it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time but, once again, Pickford was there to palm a shot from Antony behind. Dyche moved to address some of his side’s defensive disorganisation by withdrawing Godfrey at the break and introducing Vitalii Mykolenko while, from an attacking perspective, Iwobi had already moved inside off the right flank to trade places with Demarai Gray late in the first half. Everton were certainly able to stem the barrage of balls played in behind their back line and had the first opening of the second half when James Tarkowski rosed highest to meet a corner but couldn’t keep his header down. Dyche then replaced Onana and the gritty Idrissa Gueye, who was the standout outfield player in an otherwise poor display, with Tom Davies and James Garner. Iwobi drilled a shot that was deflected after Simms had mis-kicked in the box before Pickford was there again to push a Bruno Fernandes header over his crossbar and then make a more routine stop from Wan-Bissaka. With his side still very much in the game, Dyche made his last significant change when he threw Neal Maupay on for Simms but just a minute later, the contest was effectively over following a momentary lack of concentration from Coleman. The skipper allowed the ball to squirm under his foot as he tried to trap a ball forward by the opposition and that let Rashford in behind with the simple task of squaring the ball for Martial to plant it past Pickford. Gray had a half chance to reduce the arrears with a quarter of an hour to go but dragged his effort wide with his weaker left foot and Coleman tested De Gea with a crisp shot from distance but United were comfortably ahead and secured the points. Though he would have fancied his side’s chances of perhaps grabbing a point off United, it’s unlikely Dyche would have highlighted this game as one where Everton could grab all three points. The Red Devils haven't been this good in attacking sense in this fixture for many years and, for the most part, the Blues couldn't live with them, particularly in the first half. Nevertheless, this was a performance more reminiscent of the collapse at Arsenal last month in terms of the defensive disorganisation on show and some individual errors, and with some of the results elsewhere on the day not going in the Blues’ favour, it heightens the importance of games like next weekend’s clash with Fulham, with Everton sitting above the drop zone only on goal difference. Lyndon Lloyd top Matchday Updates Everton travel to Old Trafford on Saturday to take on Manchester United in the lunchtime kick-off, with Elllis Simms in the starting line-up. Abdoulaye Doucouré starts his 3-match suspension for slapping Harry Kane. A lovely bright sunshiny Spring day at the so-called Theatre of Dreams, with Sean Dyche and his charges looking to disturb the slumbers of the locals. The home side kicked the game off, Everton all in Royal Blue. An early chance for Ellis Simms was blocked away from him as he swung a boot at Iwobi's cross. At the other end, Sabitzer was quick to turn and shoot, deflected behind for an early corner. Rashford's attempted shot well blocked. Tarkowski gave away another early corner, played short until McTominay skied his effort. An excellent Everton move resulted, with Godfrey winning Everton's first corner in by Iwobi, intercepted by Rashford as Man Utd broke at pace, Fernandes drifting in a ball for Pickford to claim. But Rashofor looked to have beaten Keane only to fire straight at Pickford. Then a tremendous cross that Pickford punched onto Rashford and behind. Coleman drew a free kick off Sancho that was superbly delivered by Gray but headed behind. End to end as Rashford got a great pass from Fernades but Iwobi was across brilliantly to stop his shot. From the corner, Anthony hit the post and Wan Bissaka, with an open goal, shot outside the far post. More determined Man Utd pressure won another corner, worked short until Malacia belted it high and wide. Godrfey tried to release McNeil but he couldn't keep the ball in play. Sancho then collapsed at the merest touch of Coleman behind him. Mcneil then played his pass for Simms too hard and straight out. Malacia went in on Gray for another free-kick opportunity but it was defended away. Gray played a clever ball crossfield to McNeil and looked like his cross t Sims was well smackable but Wan-Bissaka blocked it. Coleman then set up Simms for a fabulous chance but he took his eye off the ball and scuffed his shot horribly across the face of goal with only De Gea to beat! A fast Man Utd break saw Sanco floor two Blues before Sabitzer shoot at PickfordAnthony got free behind the Everton line and went for goal but Pickford stopped it superbly. Iwobi and Gray tried to counter, Maguire rugby tacking Gray to the grround but not even reviewed by the VAR, given as a corner! Gray delivered this one a fraction too far. From the clearance, Godfrey was beaten again, Antony getting in for another shot only for a superb recovery tackle from Godfrey. But Man Utd got forward again, Focring another superb save from Pickford. Another brilliant Man Utd ball over the top found Rashford but Pickford was out brilliantly to totally block any shot chance for the England forward. The xG should be around 6-3 at this point but still goalless! Another fluid Man Utd move got into the Everton goal area, put behind by Keane. From the second phase, Gray blocked another goal-bound shot. Another slick Man Utd move saw Fernandes fire over. More forward play from Man Utd got to be too intricate and was defended until Sabitzer got on the end oaf another good move but the fired the difficult shot over. Finally, though, determined work from Rashford could not be halted and he set up McTominay who made it look far too easy to beat Pickford at the near post. Everton had done so well to keep them out to this point but there was a relentless inevitability about the succession chances Man Utd had created. The Blues needed to settle but it was the Red Devils who kept surging forward, Rashord again well in n Pickford, who saved his shot well despite him being flagged offside. At the other end, Gray worked up a shot that was blocked away. and Man Utd again looked to break with the Blues defence reforming, Wan-Bissaka's shot deflected behind for a corner that Onana cleared. Everton got a chance to get forward but could not fashion a chance as the first half. Simms did well iin midfied but was far too slow getting forward and the cross was wasted. But Anothony yet again got around Godfrey and lashed another shot that Pickford had to save before a corner ended the half. Godfrey paid the price for his lackadaisical defending, Mykolenko on in his stead. But it was Man Utd pressure again from the restart. Everton did not make good use of the forward balls they had early on in the half as the pace of the game dropped. Gray was fouled wide left but Tarkowski's looping header was no threat. With little on note happening, Sean Dyche decided for an early switch (for him): Davies and Garner on for Onana Gana. Everton tried some ponderous ball play from midfield but it was slow and went nowhere. McTominay kicked Cloeman while he was on the ground, red card offence? But of course, nothing from the VAR. Gary put in the free-kick, Coleman swung in a decent cross to Simss in the crowd. Then the ball dropped but Simms shot well off target, however, it was blocked back and Iwobi's better shot was deflected behind. The corner was well-competed, with Garner's shot blocked for a corner and it was worked around until lost. Man Utd surged forward, Fernandes heading and Pickford pushing it over the bar. Everton, in comparison, were just far too slow and laborious to get forward, with less than a quarter of the match now left, as Maupay replaced Simms. Rashford got forward, but Davies got in late to upset his shot. But Coleman made a horrendous error, letting a straight-forward ball slip under his foot with Rashfrod behind him and in like a flash, Martial finishing with ease. Tom Davies did well to win the ball back in midfield and Gray should have done a helluva lot better with his poor effort that failed to trouble De Gea. Man Utd looked to lock things down but, when Everton did win an easy ball, Iwobi lost it again immediately. When they did get some more ball, it ended with Coleman firing at De Gea. Davies went in clumsily over the ball on Fred and from the free-kick Fernandes got behind Mykolenko and could have headed a third. Fernandes was gifted another shot for Pickford to save. But the goals Everton needed looked further away than ever as the last minutes played out. Patterson returned for his first game in 3 months since that knee injury, replacing Coleman who took a knock. Manchester United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Martinez, Malacia, McTominay, Sabitzer (76' Fred), Fernandes, Antony (60' Martial), Sancho (76' Eriksen), Rashford (81' Weghorst). Subs: Butland, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Pellistri. Everton: Pickford, Coleman (87' Patterson), Keane, Tarkowski, Godfrey (46' Mykolenko), Gana (60' Garner), Onana (60' Davies), Iwobi, McNeil, Gray, Simms (70' Maupay). Subs: Begovic, Holgate, Mina,, Coady. Michael Kenrick top Match Preview Unbeaten in four matches, Everton travel to Old Trafford on Saturday to take on Manchester United in the lunchtime kick off. The Blues are coming off respectable draws against Chelsea and Tottenham, with both games featuring uplifting late goals that earned valuable points in the bed to stave off relegation. In the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Sean Dyche has shown faith in a consistent starting XI for the past few games, but he will be forced into at least one change this weekend with Abdoulaye Doucouré beginning a three match suspension following his red card against Spurs. It robs the manager of a vital component of his attack, where Doucouré’s energy and ability to provide the link between Demarai Gray and the midfield has been so important since the former’s return to the side. How Dyche deals with the Mali international’s absence will make for interesting reading when the teams sheet is announced an hour before kick off. The nature of the opposition and the venue, where Everton have won just twice in the Premier League era mean that Dyche may favour retaining Gray up front to utilise his pace on the counter attack but there is also the option of deploying Ellis Sims in the centre-forward role given how comfortable he has looked in his recent cameos off the bench Moving Alex Iwobi in off the right flank would install the Nigerian in his favoured position but it would also reduce the strength of cover on the wing in front of Séamus Coleman. One further alternative is to push Amadou Onana forward to provide a similar physical profile to Doucouré’s and play James Garner in a more withdrawn role against his old club, where he can dictate to play with his range of passing. United will be playing less than three days after taking on Brentford in midweek when they arrested a three-match run without a victory in the League and moved back into the top four thanks to Marcus Rashford’s solitary strike. Erik ten Hag will still be without the suspended Casimero and may wait to throw Christian Eriksen straight back into action so soon after he returned to first-team training following an ankle injury but he has plenty of talent at his disposal. Keeping the likes of Rashford, Antony and Bruno Fernandes quiet will be high on Dyche’s list of priorities as he no doubt plans to contain United, remain in the game for as long as possible and try and hit the hosts on the break or from set-pieces. Under Ten Hag, the Red Devils have, for the most part, been organised and potent but they have also shown themselves to be susceptible to bad results and inexplicable collapses. If Everton can repeat the kind of display they put on in this fixture last season or at the nearby Etihad Stadium at the end of last year and make United have a bad day, a positive result could be in the offing. Kick-off: 12:30pm, Saturday 8 April, 2023Referee: Michael OliverVAR Paul TierneyLast Time: Manchester United 1 - 1 Everton Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Tarkowski, Godfrey, Gueye, Onana, Iwobi, McNeil, Gray, Simms Lyndon Lloyd top * Unfortunately, we cannot control other sites' content policies and therefore cannot guarantee that links to external reports will remain active.