Everton 1-1 Manchester United: Hits and Flops as VAR takes centre stage in entertaining draw | Premier League 2019-20  

Manchester United and Everton played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Goodison Park
Manchester United and Everton played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Goodison Park

Manchester United travelled to Goodison Park to take on an Everton side who have been rejuvenated under Carlo Ancelotti. While the Toffees came into the game on the back of a 3-2 defeat against Arsenal, Manchester United recorded a stunning 5-0 victory against Belgian side Club Brugge in the Round of 32 of the Europa League.

Andre Gomes made his first start since sustaining a horror injury earlier in the season against Tottenham Hotspur, as the Portuguese international slotted into his usual central midfield position.

In what was one of the most entertaining games of the season, the two sides played out a thrilling 1-1 draw, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin's opener was cancelled out by a Bruno Fernandes strike in the first half.

The home side raced to an early lead in the third minute of the game, as David de Gea made yet another blunder to put his team in the back foot in the opening exchanges. The Spaniard, who received the ball inside his own box, took far too much time on the ball, as his eventual launch up the field ricochetted off the in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin to break the deadlock.

The English star, who has been one of the most potent strikers in the Premier League since Ancelotti's arrival, was through on goal once again a minute later but De Gea made amends this time, as he made a crucial save with an outstretched arm to keep United in the game.

The Red Devils restored parity in the 31st minute when new signing Bruno Fernandes continued to enhance his growing reputation with a stunning strike from outside the area. The attacking midfielder, who was adjudged Manchester United Player of the Month for February, made the headlines once again, as Nemanja Matic latched onto a poor pass from Djibril Sidibe and picked out the Portuguese international, who launched a searing drive past Jordan Pickford between the sticks.

While the away side fizzled out in the second half, Everton gained the ascendency after the interval and pushed hard to score a winner, as both goalkeepers made crucial saves to keep the scores level. Calvert-Lewin's deflected strike late in stoppage looked set to decide the game but the goal was chalked off after consultation with the VAR, as Gylfi Sigurdsson was adjudged to have been interfering with play.

After the full-time whistle, Carlo Ancelotti was involved in an angry confrontation with referee Chris Kavanagh, due to which he received his marching orders and will not be allowed to be on the touchline for the Toffees' next Premier League encounter.

As the two sides went toe to toe at Goodison Park and shared the spoils, here are the hits and flops from an entertaining encounter in the Premier League.


#1 Hit - Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes was in the thick of the action one again
Bruno Fernandes was in the thick of the action one again

Since making a big-money move to Old Trafford in January, Bruno Fernandes has been a breath of fresh air in an otherwise underwhelming league campaign for Manchester United and the former Sporting CP captain delivered the goods once again, as he restored parity in the first half with a blistering drive from outside the area.

The 25-year-old covered every blade of grass and produced an all-round display for the Red Devils, as he ran the show from the centre of the park and continued his rich vein of form since swapping Portugal for England in the January transfer window.

#2 Flop - David de Gea

David de Gea made yet another high-profile error between the sticks
David de Gea made yet another high-profile error between the sticks

David de Gea made the headlines for the wrong reasons once again, as the Spaniard put Manchester United in the back foot almost immediately after kickoff. Having received the back pass inside his own area, De Gea took too much time on the ball and his eventual hoof up the pitch took a wicked ricochet off Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as the Toffees drew first blood at Goodison Park.

While he did make amends almost immediately with a crucial save a minute later, the Red Devils were made to pay for his indecisiveness on the ball, as they went behind in the opening exchanges of the game. De Gea was relatively untroubled since his howler but he did redeem himself in the dying moments of the game, as he made a stunning save from a Gylfi Sigurdsson shot to keep the scores level.

Despite his late intervention, the fact of the matter remains that the Spaniard made yet another costly error, as his stock continues to drop dramatically.


#3 Hit - Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his 14th goal of the season
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his 14th goal of the season

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been Everton's standout performers this season and the young Englishman has scored more goals than any other player in the top-flight since Carlo Ancelotti's arrival. The 22-year-old was rewarded for his persistence in the opening exchanges of the game, as he broke the deadline in the third minute thanks to a howler from David de Gea.

Aside from his goal, Calvert-Lewin was a handful for the Manchester United defence to deal with and capped off a fine performance with a goal, as Everton secured a well-deserved point against the Red Devils at Goodison Park.

#4 Hit - Leighton Baines

Leighton Baines rolled back the years against Manchester United
Leighton Baines rolled back the years against Manchester United

In what was a high-intensity fixture between two in-form sides in the Premier League, Leighton Baines rolled back the years and produced a stunning performance at left-back, as the Englishman was at his brilliant best on both ends of the pitch.

The 35-year-old, who is deputizing for the injured Lucas Digne, was one of the standout players for the Toffees and he made a crucial intervention in the dying moments of the game to prevent new signing Odion Ighalo from becoming the hero on the night, after fellow new man Bruno Fernandes played a delicious ball into the box from the left flank.

The veteran defender was on the top of the game and with so much attacking talent on show from the visitors, Baines did well to keep the Manchester United attackers at bay.


#5 Hit - Harry Maguire

Harry Maguire marshalled the United defence very well
Harry Maguire marshalled the United defence very well

Harry Maguire has been subject to criticism in recent weeks for failing to live up to the billing since his world-record move from Leicester City in the summer, but the Red Devils skipper marshalled his backline expertly and led from the front, as they secured a hard-fought point at Goodison Park despite a late onslaught from the Toffees.

Maguire completed 80% of his passes and lost just one aerial duel, having attempted five on his way to dominating the Everton strikers. The English defender was also not dribbled past in the game, as he produced a dominant display away from home.

The former Leicester City man is an indispensable member of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's plan currently and enjoyed one of his best outings in a Red shirt, as he continues to grow in stature with each passing game.

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