Manchester United’s five-match unbeaten streak ended, Monday night, at Old Trafford as Everton held on for a 1-0 victory despite playing a man down for 77-plus minutes.
Without context, the match stats suggest United dominance, however, it was ultimately superficial as the Reds struggled to place the majority of their 25 shots on target and failed to convert even one-fifth of their 38 crosses. The team played as though they had Benjamin Sesko (who is out for weeks with a knee injury) on the pitch,
and the team continued to line up as though they were facing the same number of players.
With David Moyes on the other side of the dugout, the match was destined to take a frustrating turn the moment Everton’s Idrissa Gueye was sent off in the 13th minute for slapping his own teammate Michael Keane.
Despite the man disadvantage, Everton grew into the game, looking like the team playing up a man. Insult was added to injury in the 29th minute when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall kept the ball, following a poor tackle from Leny Yoro, and blasted a curling effort that Senne Lammens could only get his fingertips to, before the ball continued its path into the back of the net.
United finally woke up near the end of the first half. Following sustained pressure around the box, Bruno Fernandes ripped a thunderous shot headed for the top left corner from outside of the box which forced a diving save from Jordan Pickford.
The second half started with a tactical change for the Reds as Mason Mount came on for Noussair Mazraoui which moved Amad out to right wingback.
United nearly created an equalizer in the 51st minute. Bruno Fernandes hit a lofted cross from the left to find Amad in space deep up the right wing. He quickly sent in a dangerous in-swinging cross to the box which found the head of Mount, however his attempt was off target.
A flurry in the 63rd minute worried Everton but only just. Bryan Mbeumo found enough space to rip a shot inside the box that forced a deflection from Pickford before Mount attempted to curl the rebound back to the far corner. However, his attempt went wide of the goal.
Joshua Zirkzee nearly found an equalizer in the 80th minute. Luke Shaw lofted a ball up the center that Zirkzee glanced off his head toward the left side of goal, forcing a diving save from Pickford.
Zirkzee was denied again by a diving Pickford in the 89th minute after Matthjis de Ligt picked out the forward unmarked in the box with a cross.
De Ligt had two chances in stoppage time. The first, a shot following a pass he likely wasn’t ready for which ended with a sputtering shot that was easily saved. He then received the ball in the box a minute later, more ready for a shot, catching a half volley that was sent into traffic and blocked.
Everton held out and the boos rang out through Old Trafford as the roar of dissent, which was muted during the recent unbeaten streak, returned in force as supporters were left wondering what did they just witness.
The Reds are headed south to face fifth-place Crystal Palace for the early match on Sunday, Nov. 30. Commiserations to all who have to set an alarm to wake up and watch that one.
