Everton 4-0 Manchester United: 3 things we learned

Everton stunned Manchester United 4-0 in a Premier League match at the Goodison Park today. It was United’s heaviest Premier Leaguedefeat under the tutelage of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Digne and Theo Walcott scored the goals for Everton in the 13th, 28th, 56th and 64th minute respectively.

The Toffees are now at the 7th position in the league table with 49 points from 35 matches, whereas United stay on 6th with 64 from 34. United now have the worst goal difference among the top 6 teams, and it would be a herculean task for them to finish inside the top 4.

Everton were the better team undoubtedly in the match, and got 10 corners against United’s 2. We would now take a look at the 3 things we learned from the match:

#1 Everton dominated the first half after a strong start

Everton started strong, as United had difficulties in settling down. Everton’s dominance can be gauged from the fact that they actually obtained 5 corner-kicks in the first 17 minutes of the match. The likes of Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Gana and Digne made life difficult for the United defenders.

Richarlison came very close to scoring in the 10th minute of the match, but his shot from inside the penalty box was saved by David de Gea. He was, however, second time lucky, as he got the ball again inside the penalty box from a throw-in, and scored through an overhead volley. It was his 14th goal of the season.

Everton got their second goal from a counter-attack, as Gana got the ball inside his own half, and passed it to an advancing Sigurdsson. The latter got hold of the ball and tried his luck from 30 yards out. His powerful shot gave De Gea no chance, and entered into the goal off a bounce. One might argue that De Gea could have done better to thwart his attempt there.

#2 United lacked ideas and width in the first half

The fate of the match was more or less sealed in the first half itself, as it is very difficult for any team to make a comeback from a 2-goal deficit. United were stunningly insipid in the first half, as they again struggled to implement a 4-3-3 formation successfully.

Victor Lindelof was again played as the right-back when it was evident that he was not very comfortable playing in that position. There were almost no overlaps through the right wing in the first half, and Marcus Rashford had to repeatedly fall back in order to collect balls on the right flank.

Diogo Dalot, playing as a left back, was also guilty of not trying to make too many overlaps, and Anthony Martial tried to cut back from the wing occasionally. United’s midfield also lacked ideas, as Paul Pogba played in a deeper role, and Fred tried hard to get himself used to the defensive midfielder’s role.

Pogba played a lovely ball to Rashford in the opposition penalty box, which the latter blasted over the crossbar. However, there was hardly any other move worthy of mention in the first half from United.

#3 United made the substitutions, but suffered more ignominy in the second half

United introduced Scott McTominay and Ashley Young in place of Fred and Phil Jones respectively, but conceded two more goals in the second half. Young’s arrival meant that they made more overlaps through the right flank, but those were not enough to trouble Everton. Pogba also started playing in a more attacking role, and managed to create some moves for the Red Devils.

In fact, Everton got their 3rd goal in the 56th minute, as Lucas Digne scored with a scorching 25-yard shot. Some minutes later, Sigurdsson played a wonderful through ball to the veteran Theo Walcott, who had no problem in beating De Gea and notching up the 121st goal of his club career.

United also introduced young Andreas Pereira in place of Rashford, but a goal eluded them. Rashford, Martial and Lukaku took attempts at the goal, but they were all off target, and did not trouble Jordan Pickford, the Everton goalie. In the end, United finished with no shot on target.