Match Report

Evertonians brought their anger and defiance and turned it on the Premier League in front of the television cameras but the heat of their protests wasn’t matched on the pitch as an early wonder-goal by Alejandro Garnacho quickly doused the fires of righteous indignation.

Manchester United ran out winners by a comfortable three-goal margin after Marcus Rashford netted from the penalty spot following another costly error by Ashley Young, and Anthony Martial scored his customary goal in this fixture but it was a harsh result on Everton who had their chances but ultimately lacked quality where it counted.

In terms of the final outcome, this was evocative of the Blues’ early-season matches at Goodison Park, where Sean Dyche’s men were left to rue missing some gilt-edged chances and the 3-0 defeat extends what is a dreadful home record to five defeats in seven.

However, given the anticipation and passion generated by the supporters in the wake of the independent commission’s decision to dock Everton 10 points and plunge them back into the relegation zone, it was more reminiscent of the games against Fulham and Newcastle last season. On both occasions, the supporters were all charged up with nowhere to go as things went south on the field.

With Amadou Onana battling a calf problem, Idrissa Gueye returned to the starting XI as the only change from the team that had started the dramatic win over Crystal Palace before the international break. Beto was missing having sustained a training ground injury but Seamus Coleman was back in the squad for the first time since May.

An atmosphere march boasting unprecedented numbers of Blues fans wound its way from The Brick pub before kick-off, large banners were unfurled in the stands, and tens of thousands of pink cards bearing the league’s lion insignia and the word “Corrupt” were raised around Goodison as the players came out.

But the ferocity of fans' support barely had time to register before United went ahead. The Red Devils had come into the weekend as the form side in the top flight despite the air of crisis that has enveloped their club at times this season and they very quickly settled into a pattern of calm possession play.

When the ball was worked wide to Rashford in plenty of space on the visitors’ right flank, he flighted a deep cross to the back of the penalty area where Garnacho had been left unmarked to execute a quite sublime overhead kick that flew into the top corner of Jordan Pickford’s net.

Coming in just the third minute, it was the worst possible start for Everton and they couldn’t find their way back to parity before half-time despite carving out some very good openings.

In the 10th minute, Dominic Calvert-Lewin was released down the right channel where he cut into United’s box but elected to go for goal himself and barely tested goalkeeper Andre Onana with a weak left-foot shot.

Rashford had a shot deflected behind by Vitalii Mykolenko and Luke Shaw hammered a rising shot over the crossbar from the resulting corner before Young found his way into the referee’s notebook when he needlessly hacked Garnacho down.

Back at the Park End, Mykolenko’s curling effort missed the target and Calvert-Lewin despatched a header off a corner into the keeper’s arms from close range but the Toffees’ No 9 forced a terrific save from Onana just past the half-hour mark.

Latching onto a flighted ball from James Tarkowiski, the striker prodded a shot aiming to the inside of the post but the keeper kept it out with a low, one-handed stop and the rebound from Dwight McNeil was cleared off the line.

A couple of minutes later, McNeil out-muscled Rashford and centred for Abdoulaye Doucouré but as he tried to place a shot wide of Onana, he side-footed wide of goal from a central position to spurn another great opportunity.

Still the hosts pressed for an equaliser and a teasing delivery from Young picked out Calvert-Lewin but his header flashed narrowly over before the striker’s excellent work ended with Doucouré nudging the ball on for Gueye who was well-placed near the back post but sliced horribly wide.

The second half was just a few minutes old when Everton fell two behind, with arguably the most experienced player on the park at fault. Drawn away from his right-back position where he left Garnacho completely unmarked, Young stepped into Martial’s path as he tried to collect Bruno Fernandes’s defence-splitting ball and tripped the French striker, sending him sprawling to the turf.

Referee John Brooks initially booked Martial for diving but, on the advice of VAR Chris Kavanagh, reversed his decision after reviewing the incident on the pitch-side monitor and awarded a penalty to Man Utd which Rashford scored with aplomb.

Barely a minute later, Everton could have been back in the game but Gueye, atoning for his woeful shot before the break, saw his superb chest-down and dipping 25-yard effort palmed over by Onana.

Mykolenko bounced a wayward shot wide and Doucouré’s goal-bound effort was charged down by Diogo Dalot for a corner before Garnacho smashed into the side-netting as the visitors had a rare chance at the other end.

But just three minutes after Dyche had replaced McNeil and Young with Arnaut Danjuma and Nathan Patterson, United sewed the game up by opening the Blues’ defence up with a simple passing move.

Fecundo Pellistri was played down their right wing by Martial, the Uruguayan found Fernandes inside and he picked out the run of Martial between two blue shirts where the striker had the simple task of clipping the ball past Pickford to make it 3-0.

Danjuma almost played a part in consolation as he used his pace to beat Aaron Wan-Bissaka and find Mykolenko with a pass inside but the Ukrainian’s shot crashed off the face of the bar and back into play.

Youssef Chermiti then stepped off the bench and saw a rasping effort from distance fly inches past the post while Jack Harrison almost plundered a goal off his knee in the final minute of stoppage time but Viktor Lindelof hacked it off the goal line.

Given how much optimism there had been among many Blues that United would walk into a bear pit and fold — not to mention Luton’s win over Crystal Palace yesterday — this was an incredibly deflating result. It leaves the Toffees mired in 19th place, five points from Luton and safety and eight points behind Bournemouth in 16th.

Erik Ten Hag’s side have been eking out narrow wins in recent weeks but they are fallible and, having failed to even score, Everton’s record at home is becoming a big concern. Since beating Brentford at Goodison in March, the only team Dyche has beaten on home soil is Bournemouth and the fixture list doesn’t get any kinder with Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester City the next three teams to visit L4 in the Premier League before the end of the year.

The manager will, no doubt, take heart from the chances his outfit created, the fact that they had 24 shots and that, for spells in this game, they largely handled United even if they couldn’t match their clinical finishing in front of goal. That will likely continue to be an issue but perhaps the fact that the next game is away will relieve a bit of pressure; because the Blues seem more comfortable on the road at the moment.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton return to action for the first time since the Premier League deducted 10 points as Manchester United come to a Goodison Park that is expected to be a bearpit of defiance in front of the Sky cameras.

Amadou Onana is still suffering from a calf injury that keeps him out while Seamus Coleman finally returns to the first-team bench almost 7 months after he left the Leicester City pitch on a stretcher with a serious knee injury, while Beto is 'unavailable'. 

There was a phenomenal welcome of booing accompanying fans around the entire ground holding up 'Premier League – Corrupt' cards in response to the draconian imposition of a 10-point deduction by their 'independent commission 9 days ago.

The visitors kicked off and did well to keep possession despite decent pressing from the Everton players. But after just 2 minutes Garnacho produced a moment of magic from a deep Rashford cross to destroy Everton hearts, an acrobatic wonder that flashed past Pickford into the Gwladys Street net. 

It was 5 minutes before Everton got any worthwhile possession, but Harrison was denied a free-kick. Everton tried to take more control but Man Utd were still having a lot more of the ball. Rashford got forward, his shot flicking off Mykolenko's boot for a corner that Shaw smashed just over the bar. 

Everton finally had some possession but could not get forward and resorted to crosses that were easily defended, then Gana gave the ball away. Young gave away a foul on Garnacho, and Man Utd then played keep-ball.

Everton's build-up was painfully slow, Harrision's eventual cross easily blocked. Gana's cross then went over everyone, with Calvert-Lewin in completely the wrong position and Everton then had to defend, with a dreadfully late lunge on Garnacho from Young for his requisite early yellow card. 

Everton repelled the free-kick but struggled to build anything approaching an attack, Harrison losing the ball. Young and Gana going for the same ball as McTominay cruised into the fray for a Blues free-kick that was really, really poor. 

McTominay fouled Harrison and Doucoure demanded that he be booked... and so Doucoure himself was duly booked. What an absolute idiot! From the free-kick, Harrison's cross was blocked for a corner powered straight at Onana by an unchallenged Calvert-Lewin, who this time was in a perfect position to score but completely failed to apply the required directional control on his header. 

Calvert-Lewin then powered a snapshot toward the corner of goal, that Onana got across brilliantly to parry back into play, enabling McNeil to almost score but his shot lacked power and Mainoo was able to clear off the line. Docuocore then mishit his shot just wide. McNeil got forward but could not beat Mainoo's block, the subsequent corner repelled. 

More testing times came for the Everton defence before they could get the ball forward again, Pickford on a free-kick from the centre-spot that came to nothing. Calvert-Lewin ran at the retreating Man Utd defence but his shot was blocked; however, a cross from Young was headed over by Calvert-Lewin leaping high.

Calvert-Lewin ran at them again with the ball but this time it went through to  Gana, who did what Gana so often does in front of goal: he skied it.

Another deep free-kick found McNeil who was fouled but the ref played advantage to everyone's annoyance, and the Blues walked off at half-time a little unlucky not to have converted at least one of the chances they had created through sheer hard work. 

Despite Everton restarting, it was Man Utd who attacked with more drive, McTominay firing over. But Fernandes fouled Gana, however, any impetus was lost. Eventually they worked the ball to Harrison but his cross was straight to Onana.

Mykolenko was blocked by Maguire but nothing given. Martial was booked for a dive but on replay it was clear that Young had put his foot into the player's path. The VAR invited the ref to take another look at it, and it was very clear that the ref had made a mistake. He rescinded the yellow card and gave Man Utd a penalty, Young escaping a second yellow card for his infraction. From the spot, Rashford lashed it high into the net.

Everton did their best to respond, Gana powered a tremendous curving strike on target but Onana tracked it all and palmed it over with a superb save. There were then screams for an Everton penalty after Tarkowski was held in the penalty area. Nothing given. The ball fell to Mykolenko but he fired straight across goal. 

The visitors got forward and won a corner, they reworked it around but were kept away from goal before winning another corner. Everton cleared but it came right back for another corner and this time Garnacho from a similar position, lashed his shot sky high. 

Everton broke with a good move but Harrison's cross was behind Calvert-Lewin who could not convert. Young got a great cross in but Lindelof was able to head it behind for an Everton corner that Onana grasped at the second attempt. Harrison's cross fell for Doucoure but his strike was easily blocked for a corner that was not worked well at all, ending up back with Pickford.

Rashford got forward and crossed well for Garnacho who tried a wild strike at the far post that hit the side netting. In the next attack, Martial walked in their third to end the game as a contest, not by any means the result Everton needed on such a crucial weekend. 

Mykolenlo got into the area on Danjuma's excellent pass and smacked his shot off the bottom of the United crossbar and out with Onana well beaten for once. Calvert-Lewin should have fought for a good ball into the Man Utd area but Maguire was easily able to shepherd him away.  

Garner tried a wild shot that flew wildly away from goal, and Chermiti replaced Calvert-Lewin. Pellistri got a chance to shoot but Pickford saved it comfortably. Rashford tried to play in Fernandes for the 4th but Tarkowski had other ideas, clearing it behind. 

At the other end, Chermiti fired in a decent shot that flew just past the post as the team had to play out a pointless 6 added minutes in front of a rapidly emptying and thoroughly depressed Goodison Park, as another Everton chance from a late corner was cleared off the line. 

Everton: Pickford, Young [Y:21'] (72' Patterson), Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gana [Y:90+2'], Garner, Doucoure [Y:30'] (90' Dobbin), Harrison, McNeil (72' Danjuma), Calvert-Lewin (82' Chermiti).

Subs not Used: Virginia, Keane, Godfrey, Coleman, Hunt.

Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw (76' Wan-Bissaka), McTominay, Mainoo (72' Amrabat), Garnacho (72' Pellestri), Fernandes, Rashford, Martial (85' Mejbri). 

Subs not Used: Bayindir, Varane, Reguilon, Van de Beek, Hugill.

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Everton return to action for the first time since the Premier League docked them of 10 points as Manchester United come to a Goodison Park that is expected to be a bearpit of defiance for this televised Sunday clash.

The historic penalty handed out to the Toffees dropped them into the relegation zone but it appears to have galvanised both the team and the fans for a battle that both are confident the club can win.

Everton’s recent form under Sean Dyche means that they come into the weekend sitting one place off the bottom on goal difference above Burnley but also in the knowledge that victory over United could lift them immediately out of the relegation zone if results elsewhere go their way.

Protest will be in the air before and during the game as fans plan to unfurl huge banners and raise cards expressing anger at both the ruling by the independent commission and the Premier League.

Both home and opposition fans have proposed booing the League’s anthem and “fair play” handshake before kick-off and then singing a protest chant in the 10th minute of the match.

Dyche, meanwhile, spoke of a group of players ready to take on yet another challenge to preserve Everton’s top-flight status.

“The feeling was very positive in the sense of building on the mentality that’s been there lately,” the manager told the media at his press conference at Finch Farm. “We all spoke about that, saying this hasn’t changed it and it’s building regardless of this current situation.

“The players are clear-minded. They have their WhatsApp group and when the news broke they put it straight on there: ‘Right lads, just another challenge, this is how we take it on’. The group is taking ownership and that’s a powerful thing.

“I got from them the sense that, ‘What we’re building, we don’t let anything disrupt that and we don’t let anything get in the way’. You can’t guarantee it’s made a difference [to the players’ resolve] yet because we haven’t played any games. All I know is that the players know what we’re doing. They’ve referenced that to me probably for the last six weeks.”

On the field, Everton might be forced into at least one change from the side that started against Crystal Palace last time out, with Amadou Onana still undergoing treatment for a calf complaint that kept him out of international action over the last round of European Championship qualifying.

That could see the goalscoring hero from Selhurst Park, Idrissa Gueye, come back into the side but no other changes are expected.

United have been regarded as something of a crisis club themselves and while it’s all relative, their problems pale in comparison to Everton’s. Nevertheless, manager Erik Ten Hag, who will serve a touchline ban this weekend and will be forced to watch from the stands, is under immense pressure, despite the Red Devils sitting in 6th place coming into the weekend.

Since their home defeat to Palace at the end of September, United have only lost to neighbours Manchester City in the Premier League and remain a tough proposition regardless of form purely because of the talent in their ranks.

Striker Rasmus Hojlund will undergo a late fitness test along with midfielder Mason Mount but goalkeeper Andre Onana looks likely to be passed fit.

Luke Shaw ans Aaron Wan-Bissaka are doubts and will be assessed but it appears as though all of Casimero, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Tyrell Malacia, Jadon Sancho and Amad Diallo have been ruled out.

Games against Manchester United have been great occasions for underdog Everton sides in the past or those feeling like their backs are against the wall and there is a feeling ahead of this one that it could be another memorable occasion.

Another febrile atmosphere, reminiscent of those blue smoke-filled, titanic efforts in key matches under the Grand Old Lady’s lights over the past couple of seasons, could be in the offing and provide Dyche’s much-improved team just the fuel they need to grab all three points.

"I couldn’t wait [for Sunday] anyway because obviously we are on a good run of form – forget about all this," Dyche continued. "But I will be amazed if the Evertonians are not right on song. I’ll be very surprised if they are not, knowing what I do. I don’t know them yet but I am learning about Evertonians and how they commit to the club and the cause.

"I’m getting deeper in my knowledge of that and I’ll be very surprised if they are not right there with us. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll win but it gives you a better chance when they are right behind the players going: ‘Come on then, let’s take it on again’.

“I sense that the underbelly, the fans with the depth of knowledge about Everton who remember the hard-fought years and what it has been built upon – not every Evertonian just knows moneyed years – they remember when they had to fight and work to build a team and a mentality. I think they can sense it again. That’s what I think. I think they sense we are getting back to an earthiness, a determined Everton group of players who will really have a go.”

Kick-off: 4:30pm, Sunday 26 November, 2023
Referee: John Brooks
VAR: Chris Kavanagh
Last Time: Everton 1 - 2 Manchester United

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Harrison, McNeil, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin

Lyndon Lloyd

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