A late Leighton Baines penalty prevented Manchester United from taking all three Premier League points away from Goodison Park. Here’s how Jose Mourinho’s men rated in the 1-1 draw with Everton.
GK: David De Gea (7/10) – Produced a fantastic point-blank save to deny Kevin Mirallas in the 52nd minute and a comfortable stop from an Enner Valenica headed effort. Otherwise, De Gea was untroubled by the home side until Everton’s late onslaught of pressure. Helpless to prevent Leyton Baines’ well-taken penalty equaliser.
RB: Antonio Valencia (6/10) – Provided some much-needed width to United’s forward play with an energetic performance synonymous with the Ecuadorian.
CB: Phil Jones (8/10) – Grew into the game after a shaky start for Jose Mourinho’s defence. Jones went on to produce one of his better displays of the season – despite the erratic nature of his fellow centre back’s performance.
CB: Marcos Rojo (4/10) – Avoiding a straight red card was Rojo’s biggest achievement against Everton. His two-footed, studs-up, straight-legged lunge at Idrissa Guaye should have seen United a man down. An awful display from the Argentina international – who struggled to contain Romelu Lukaku and Mirallas throughout.
LB: Matteo Darmian (6/10) – In direct opposition with Everton’s Yannick Bolasie, the Italian coped admirably with the pacey wide-man and Belgium forward Mirallas – but offered little more than that.
CM: Michael Carrick (7/10) – The guardian of United’s defence, Carrick’s positional sense and recognition of space was outstanding; but it needed to be, considering United lacklustre defending at times against Everton’s counter-attack.
CM: Ander Herrera (7/10) – Always made himself available for a pass, the midfielder showed enthusiasm and technical efficiency throughout the encounter. Herrera kept the ball moving but failed to have any game-changing impact on the match.
AM: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (7/10) – The summer signing from Borussia Dortmund looked impressive with and without the ball – and the Armenian’s composed range of passing was a source of constant creativity for United. Mkhitaryan is starting to look sharp and settled to English fixtures. Withdrawn for Marouane Fellaini for the closing stages – the former Everton man conceding the Toffee’s late penalty, culminating in Baines’ equaliser.
AM: Paul Pogba (6/10) – A relatively anonymous first half display against Gareth Barry and Idrissa Gueye in the midfield engine room. Pogba’s inconsistency of performance was on show yet again – with the world record signing’s final ball letting him down on too many occasions.
AM: Anthony Martial (7/10) – Worked tirelessly on United’s left flank, but was occupied by Seamus Coleman’s attacking intents in the first half. The Frenchman’s discipline also helped Darmian track Bolasie, but offered less of an impact in an attacking sense. Replaced by Marcus Rashford with eight minutes remaining.
FW: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (8/10) – Controlled the front line with calmness and majesty. Ibrahimovic’s well-taken goal opened the scoring just before half time, in the form of a considered lob after Maarten Stekelenburg had vacated his penalty area. United’s number nine may consider himself fortunate not to have been sanctioned for a collision with Coleman in the second half.
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