“We have to be more clinical” – Man Utd 2-0 Everton player ratings
Man Utd strengthened their case to be in next season’s Champions League after running out 2-0 winners over Everton at Old Trafford this afternoon.
Erik ten Hag’s side dominated throughout, producing no fewer than 29 shots on goal, and they really should have racked up an even bigger score. Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial, who came off the bench, netted on either side of half-time.
As for Everton, the result ends a four-game unbeaten run and catapults them back into a relegation battle that is surely destined to go down the wire.
Here’s how the players rated at Old Trafford:
Man Utd
David de Gea – 6 – He was seldom tested and when Everton did have a rare shot on goal the Spaniard was comfortable.
Tyrell Malacia – 6 – Replaced the injured Luke Shaw in Man Utd’s starting lineup. He started tentatively before growing into the game. Malacia doesn’t provide the attacking instincts of Shaw but he makes up for that with a tenacious approach.
Lisandro Martínez – 7 – His combative nature wasn’t needed today as those in front of him ensured Man Utd had everything in control. He did nonetheless produce a game-high six clearances.
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Harry Maguire – 6 – Today was only Maguire’s third Premier League start in 2023 and it couldn’t have gone any better. He wasn’t placed under any pressure so much so the England international enjoyed playing out from the back.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 5.5 – Came in for Diogo Dalot and had to put the hosts ahead with an empty goal in front of him.
Bruno Fernandes – 9 – Operating in a deep-lying playmaker role no one on either side created more chances than him (six) in today’s game. Could have added his name on the scoresheet but Fernandes’ headed effort was expertly saved by Pickford.
Scott McTominay – 8 – After seeing his teammates miss chance after chance McTominay, who has been in good scoring form at the international level, showed them how it’s done. He’s now scored five goals across his last five appearances for club and country combined, as many as in his previous 106.
“Obviously it’s nice to score. We could have scored three or four in the first half, We have to be more clinical, and I’m sure that’s what the manager will say,” he told BT Sport after the game.
“I thought after the reaction against Brentford and the win on Wednesday, and [the result] last week at Newcastle, it was a good win. We wanted to play on the front foot and create chances and that’s what we did.”
Jadon Sancho – 8 – Hasn’t always started for Ten Hag this season but justified the Dutchman’s decision today. A noteworthy moment came via his well-executed pass which fed McTominay to subsequently put Man Utd in front.
Bruno Fernandes game by numbers vs Everton:
◉ 118 touches (most)
◉ 88 passes completed (most)
◉ 43 passes in final ⅓ (most)
◉ 6 chances created (most)
◎ 4 shots
◎ 1 duel won
◎ 0.33 xGPulling the strings. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/BwLhKnFOTB
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 8, 2023
Marcel Sabitzer – 6 – Tasked with sticking close to Rashford, who started as Man Utd’s ‘number nine’, and the Austrian midfielder did a reasonable job even getting a sniff at goal on numerous occasions.
Antony – 6.5 – Had the freedom of Man Utd’s right flank and continually found himself bearing down on goal. He really should have done better with some of his efforts on goal though Pickford was inspired this afternoon.
Marcus Rashford – 7.5 – A constant presence in attack, had seven attempts on goal (with two on target), unlucky not to increase his goalscoring tally for the season. Came off late with a concerning injury.
Substitutes:
Anthony Martial (for Antony 60) – 7 – He’s now been involved in 12 goals across 16 appearances for Man Utd against Everton in all competitions (eight goals and four assists), his most goal involvements against any opponent for the Red Devils.
Fred (for Sabitzer 76) – N/A – A late sub.
Christian Eriksen (for Sancho 76) – N/A – A welcome return for Man Utd who are still fighting on three fronts.
Wout Weghorst (for Rashford 80) – N/A – A late sub.
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Everton
Jordan Pickford – 8.5 – Began the game by making a string of important saves, denying Marcus Rashford and then Antony, both from close range. But there was nothing he could do to prevent McTominay’s strike which broke the deadlock. Nevertheless, he was kept busy throughout making no fewer than nine saves. If not for him it would have been an embarrassing defeat.
Ben Godfrey – 5 – Produced a perfectly-timed last-man tackle on Antony who bore down on goal for the second time in as many minutes.
James Tarkowski – 5 – Saw a headed effort go wide early into the second half.
Scott McTominay's game by numbers vs Everton:
69 touches
11 duels won (most)
4 fouls won
3 chances created
2 take-ons completed
1 goal
0.18 xGIn the goals yet again. 🏴 pic.twitter.com/ibwJJAP02P
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 8, 2023
Michael Keane – 5 – Made a crucial block on Rashford early into proceedings but as the game wore on Keane often found himself on the periphery.
Séamus Coleman – 4.5 – Part of the last Everton team which left Old Trafford with all three points. His wealth of experience at right-back (up against Sancho) was needed today as Dyche’s men were overwhelmed. His unfortunate miss control ultimately led to Man Utd’s second goal.
Idrissa Gueye – 4 – Had an early opportunity blocked. He was continually put under pressure and outnumbered in midfield with him and Onana having to deal with Fernandes, Sabitzer and McTominay.
Dwight McNeil – 4 – Bad positioning kept Man Utd’s attack onside which led to Martial’s goal. Apart from that momentary lapse of concentration, McNeil wasn’t able to positively impact this game from an Everton perspective but that was by and large down to United’s excellent midfield performance.
Amadou Onana – 4 – Really struggled to impose himself in Everton’s midfield as Man Utd thoroughly won the middle-third battle.
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Alex Iwobi – 6 – If any Everton player was going to breach Man Utd’s goal today it was Iwobi, the former Arsenal forward was their most consistent attacking threat, albeit opportunities were few and far between.
Demarai Gray – 4 – Dragged a shot wide soon after Everton went 2-0 down. It was a first effort on goal in what ended up being a largely absent showing.
Ellis Simms – 6 – Starting only his second Premier League game for Everton this season. Found himself bearing down on De Gea’s goal, and with all the time in the world, but somehow managed to drag his shot wide of the far post. He finished the game with three shots on goal but none were on target.
Substitutes:
Vitalii Mykolenko (for Godfrey 45) – 4 – Struggled to get into the game.
Tom Davies (for Onana 60) – 4 – Once a prominent fixture in Everton’s starting lineup, the would-be England international didn’t see much of the ball to impact on this game.
James Garner (for Gueye 60) – 4 – Returned to where it began though didn’t have enough time or to be in possession to do anything of note.
Neal Maupay (for Simms 70) – N/A – A late sub.
Nathan Patterson (for Coleman 86) – N/A – A late sub.
