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Angel Di Maria scored one and created another for Falcao to give Louis van Gaal a second-consecutive home win in the Premier League. The visitors gave a good account of themselves and levelled the score in the second half, before conceding the winner just a few minutes later.Here are the major talking points from the game.
#1 De Gea back to his best
With an ever-changing defence in front of him, David De Gea hasn't had the greatest of starts to the Premier League season. Although he hasn't committed any blunders, he hasn't been as commanding as he was last season. But that was up until the game against Everton, where he almost single-handedly won his side the game.
While it was true that Angel Di Maria created and scored the goals, if it weren't for De Gea's heroics in goal, the Red Devils would have ended up losing another game in which they had taken the lead. Not only did he save a penalty in first-half stoppage time, but also made some incredible saves towards the end of the game to ensure that the game finished 2-1 to United.
#2 Everton leave it too late
Although the Toffees started the game in a calm and composed manner, as soon as United got the lead, the visitors lost their rhythm. With Manchester United playing a diamond in midfield, the visitors always had the upper hand on the flanks, but in the first half they seldom used it. Although Leighton Baines swept forward a few times, it was a rarity in the opening 45 minutes.
Not only did the visitors not attack the flanks, but they were giving United's centre backs far too much time on the ball. Daley Blind who was playing just in front the defence, seemed to have an age to pick out the pass he wanted. But in the second half, all of that started to change as the visitors pressed them higher up and worked the flanks a lot better. It was no surprise to see that the goal came from a Baines cross.
Although they were the better side in the closing stages, they just left it too late, to get going as an attacking force and that cost them dear.
#3 Falcao finally starting to find his feet
Although it is just a loan deal, Radamel Falcao's arrival at Old Trafford has certainly increased expectations. One of Europe's most prolific marksmen in the past few years, the Colombian was expected to add goals, goals and more goals to the side. Against Everton, Falcao finally broke his duck scoring what turned out to be the winning goal.
If there is one thing that would please Van Gaal, it is not just the goal, but his overall performance. The Colombian striker who is only just finding his feet after a lengthy injury layoff showed just why he is one of the most feared strikers in Europe.
Even before his goal, there were at least a couple of occasions when the Colombian could have and should have scored. But like all great goal scorers, instead of giving up, he kept on persevering and got his reward. Although he scored just once, his positioning and link up play showed plenty of promise.
#4 Lukaku looks off colour... yet again
This was always going to be a big season for Romelu Lukaku. After loan spells the last couple of years, his move from Chelsea to Everton made him the club's record-signing and along with it, came the pressure to perform week in and week out. So far at least, it looks as though the Belgian is struggling to cope with it.
If there was ever a good opportunity to come back to form, it was against a Manchester United side, who were playing a full back and a 19-year-old in central defence. Although he played on the left flank in the Merseyside derby, Martinez played him through the middle against United, but the Belgian flattered to deceive. Such was his performance in the first half that he started on the left flank in the second.
With Mirallas out, the Toffees need their big Belgian striker to be banging in the goals, but so far at least Lukaku hasn't been able to do that.
#5 When will the United injury crisis end?
30. That is the number of players that Manchester United have used so far in the Premier League. It is also the same number of players that the side used in the entirety of last season. But just seven games into the season, James Wilson became the 30th player to be deployed by Van Gaal when he came on in the second half.
Injuries and suspensions meant that the side were without nine first team players before the start of the game. Luke Shaw's injury in the second half made it 10, although the full extent of his injury isn't known. Van Gaal has already used six different centre back pairings this season and unless the injuries stop piling up, he might have to use more. So the upcoming international break will be crucial for the Red Devils and the Dutchman will be hoping that nobody gets injured and players finally start coming back to fitness.
