Everton emphatically defeated Manchester United at Goodison Park on Sunday, but it was Roberto Martinez’s tactical win over Louis van Gaal that came to the fore.
The Toffees raced out of the blocks, going 1-0 up in the fifth minute through James McCarthy. The Irishman capitalised on some haphazard defending from Daley Blind and Paddy McNair and slotted past David De Gea from close range.
A dominant spell from the Red Devils was to follow, but the team failed to seriously test Tim Howard, with their best chance coming from the head of Chris Smalling, whose header was directed straight at the goalkeeper.
The home side soon made United pay for their lack of cutting edge after John Stones glanced home Leighton Baines’ pinpoint corner, giving Everton a 2-0 advantage at half time.
United had the first chance after the break. Wayne Rooney found space at after a corner in the 46th minute, but Howard stood tall and blocked his effort.
The result was soon put beyond doubt. Ross Barkley looked to play in Romelu Lukaku, who was in on offside position. He halted his run, however, and the defence seemed to follow suit. The United back four froze, allowing Kevin Mirallas to stroll through midfield and coolly finish in the bottom corner.
The win means Everton is unbeaten in six games, picking up 16 points from a possible 18 during that run. United, meanwhile, lost ground on Manchester City, who moved up to second after defeating Aston Villa, and sit in fourth.
Formations
Roberto Martinez set up in a 4-1-4-1 and made two changes to the team that defeated Burnley. Lukaku returned to the starting XI in place of Arouna Kone, while fit-again Leon Osman was drafted back into the team at the expense of would-be goalscorer Mirallas.
Everton XI (4-1-4-1): Howard (GK); Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines; Barry; Lennon, Barkley, McCarthy, Osman; Lukaku.
United manager van Gaal made one personnel to change to his lineup, with Falcao dropping to the bench and Daley Blind returning to the number six position. As a result, Wayne Rooney pushed further forward into the lone striker role, while Ander Herrera was deployed next to Marouane Fellaini in attacking-midfield. Like Everton, the Red Devils were set up in a 4-1-4-1 formation.
Manchester United XI (4-1-4-1): De Gea (GK); Valencia, Smalling, McNair, Shaw; Blind; Mata, Herrera, Fellaini, Young; Rooney.
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Everton perfectly set up for the counter
In matches against other top six sides this season, Everton’s Spanish gaffer was criticised for approaching the matches with too defensive a mindset, deploying three defensive-minded players through midfield.
The Toffees took on both Liverpool and Chelsea with a midfield trio of Gareth Barry, Muhamed Besic and McCarthy, and on both occasions that tactic did not work, leading to criticism for a lack of ambition and an inability to adapt to circumstances.
This time, however, Martinez set his side up perfectly for quick counter-attacks against an in-form United team and was happy for his side to absorb its share of pressure. Barkley offered the option of a quick ‘get-out’ ball and the ability to hold possession and steady the ship if the counter was not on.
McCarthy lined up in a more advanced role in midfield but dropped back alongside Barry whilst the home side faced United onslaughts.
For the majority of the 90, the Toffees were camped inside their own half and hardly had possession, absorbing almost everything United threw at them with staunch defending, resulting in 10 blocked United shots.
Crucially, however, Everton was able to use the pace of Aaron Lennon, an asset it did not have in previous defensive-minded performances. The Blues looked to play down Lennon’s side where possible, and the on-loan winger gave Luke Shaw a torrid time. It was only after Mirallas’ introduction that the home team began to utilise the left-hand side more often.
Two of Everton’s three goals came as a result of swift counter-attacks, albeit aided by some sloppy defending, but the win will nevertheless go down as an emphatic tactical victory for Martinez.
United lacked ideas in the front third
For all its dominance, Manchester United hardly had anything to show for it aside from a hefty possession stat of 65%. The Mancunians simply lacked ideas around the penalty area, and as a result were forced to take 10 of their shots from long range. Of which, seven were blocked, and only four of their total 17 attempts found the target.
United were only able to play four successful passes inside the penalty area and only 25% of their 32 crosses found a target.
To van Gaal’s credit, he acted quickly to shake up his attack, bringing on Falcao at half-time, replacing Fellaini, with Rooney dropping back into midfield, and throwing in Angel Di Maria 18 minutes later at the expense of the quiet Mata.
The gaffer’s gamble failed to pay off, with Falcao only mustering one shot on target, his first in almost six hours of football, and United lost the towering presence of Fellaini as a result.
By comparison, the 63rd-minute introduction of Di Maria was somewhat successful in giving United extra width. The Argentine was able to play six crosses, but most of those came from high areas.
The lack of tactical movement is something of a surprise given van Gaal’s flexibility in this sense.
Everton Conclusion
The emphatic result against one of the league’s form teams will serve as yet another shot in the arm for the Merseysiders, who are building a good late-season case to finish in the lower echelons of the top half after an indifferent season.
The Toffees travel to the midlands next week to take on Aston Villa, another match that is very winnable.
Manchester United Conclusion
It was not a good day at the office for United, with van Gaal labelling his side as “complacent” after the match. United’s defence will be under the microscope this week after playing a role in Everton’s first and third goals, while the starting places of Mata and Fellaini may be under threat – both places endured below-par performances at Goodison Park.
United host West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford next Saturday, where van Gaal will be desperate to arrest a two-match losing run.
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