Everton succumbed to poor defeat at the hands of an excellent Manchester United in a one-sided affair at Goodison Park on Saturday.
United dominated proceedings from start to finish, with goals from Morgan Schneiderlin (18’), Ander Herrera (22’) and Wayne Rooney (62’) sealing the emphatic result against a Toffees side that was incredibly off colour.
Schneiderlin found space after a short corner and coolly slotted home with all the time in the world to pick his spot. The negative situation was compounded for Everton only four minutes later. Marcos Rojo burst down the left flank and delivered an inch-perfect cross for Herrera, which the Spaniard duly dispatched with aplomb.
Roberto Martinez’s team struggled to threaten in the first half, and that hardly changed following the resumption of play. A poor day was encapsulated in a moment as captain Phil Jagielka, normally composed on the ball, gifted possession to a free Herrera, who quickly picked out the running Rooney. The ex-Evertonian made no mistake with the finish, leaving Tim Howard with no chance.
The result saw United claim third on the table while Everton slipped back into the logjam in ninth.
Formations
Everton were boosted pregame by the news that Seamus Coleman and John Stones had been selected in the starting XI after both missed games due to hamstring and knee injuries respectively. Ramiro Funes Mori and Ty Browning were the unlucky ones to make way while Aaron Lennon replaced Gerard Deulofeu on the right flank.
Everton XI (4-2-3-1): Howard (GK); Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Galloway; Barry, McCarthy; Lennon, Barkley, Naismith; Lukaku.
For United, the changes were three-fold. Phil Jones was drafted into the heart of defence in place of Daley Blind while Rojo assumed the boots of Ashley Young at left-back. Higher up the pitch, Memphis Depay was dumped from the starting XI and replaced by Herrera, who was arguably man of the match.
Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea (GK); Darmian, Jones, Smalling, Rojo; Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger; Herrera, Rooney, Mata; Martial.
Added height nullifies Lukaku
A point of discussion leading into the match was whether Louis van Gaal would stick with utility Daley Blind in the centre of defence. The Dutchman has performed the role well when called upon, but coming up against Everton, his selection always seemed a risk.
Romelu Lukaku boasts 11 centimetres more in height than Blind and significantly greater strength. With that in mind, it was no real surprise that van Gaal opted not to take any risks, particularly with Everton adopting a more direct style of football in the early part of the season, very much accommodating of the striker’s strengths.
Blind was omitted in favour of the taller, stronger Phil Jones (185 centimetres) and the move worked, with Lukaku competing in only seven aerial contests – Jones won three of these – five down from his effort of 12 against Liverpool.
In addition, the vast majority of those duels occurred in deeper areas of the pitch with far less effect on match play versus those closer to the half way line, where the Belgian can bring his teammates into play with less pressure.
Herrera pulls the strings
Much chatter leading into the game surrounded Memphis Depay and the player’s future at the club, with a poor attitude cited for the issue arising. The winger was dropped from the starting XI and replaced by Herrera, with Mata moving out to the right-hand side of midfield.
Like Jones, the Spaniard’s inclusion proved to be an inspired one by van Gaal. He scored, nabbed an assist and dictated midfield with a passing success rate of 93%.
Herrera often interchanged with Mata and drifted off to the right. This caused problems for Everton’s left-hand side and was highlighted by the former Bilbao man’s headed goal; he came back inside and caught young left-back Brendan Galloway spectating.
Everton’s flankers flanked
Critical to Everton’s style of play is the wide men and crossing; Lukaku depends on good services from the wings. Lennon was included in the lineup in favour of Deulofeu and Naismith kept his place on the left.
With just one cross managed in the first half – one that was both blocked and failed – Martinez pulled the trigger early, replacing Naismith with the more fleet-footed Arouna Kone at half time.
That change ultimately failed to reap any rewards, with Lennon also struggling on the other flank; Deulofeu would soon replace him, again with no reward. United managed to close out those spaces, limiting the four different wingers to just two failed balls between them.
That was indicative of an uninspiring day from Everton’s wide men, with only eight balls coming in from the wingers and full-backs combined; only one of those found a target.
Everton Conclusion
The Toffees plummeted back to earth after an impressive opening nine matches thanks to a performance best described as poor. It was something of a throwback to last season when the side was stuck in a miserable rut; loose, slack defending played some role in each goal.
Lacking control and zip up forward, Martinez faces a rethink ahead of a trip to Arsenal in which his side is expecting to again be on the back foot for the most part.
Manchester United Conclusion
United bounced back emphatically from their 3-0 hammering by Arsenal to dispose of Everton in a similar manner and by the same scoreline. The Red Devils were precise when they needed to be and ultimately, their foothold on the contest caused the Toffees to make errors that were punished.
Van Gaal looks to have struck a potent formula only a week out from what looks set to be a tantalising Manchester Derby.
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