Manchester United produced an absymal performance against Everton at Old Trafford.
Confidence was flying high after United went 5 games unbeaten following victories against Liverpool, Sunderland and most recently showing grit as they snatched a 2-2 draw at Tottenham.
Ruben Amorim made 2 changes from the team that started with Leny Yoro replacing the injured Harry Maguire, with Dutchman striker Joshua Zirkzee starting up front replacing the injured Benjamin Sesko.
Everton had the better start of the 2 teams with the Toffee’s pressing United high and to good effect.
That good work could have been undone after Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gueye shockingly receiving a red card for slapping his own teammate and former United defender Michael Keane.
That didn’t stop former Chelsea midfielder Kieran Dewsbury Hall from opening the scoring as the Englishman curled the ball to the top right to give the Toffee’s a much deserved 1-0 lead.
Ruben Amorim made a change at halftime bringing on Mason Mount in place of Noussair Mazraoui.
Later on in the half Amorim introduced Diogo Dalot in replacement of Patrick Dorgu and with Casemiro being hooked after sustaining a yellow card for Kobbie Mainoo.
Joshua Zirkzee came close for United after being denied by a Jordan Pickford to keep Manchester United at bay.
At fulltime the Manchester United players were subject to fierce boo’s from the Old Trafford crowd after such a lacklustre display.
United had 70% with 23 shots but only 6 of those on target.
Matthijs de Ligt said after the game “its quite clear. A bad night for us. 70 minutes more or less 11 v 10, conceded a goal and not creating many chances.
From our side, we didn’t do enough. Didn’t make the runs or bodies into the box. We basically played to their strengths, these are the main aspects but we have to look at ourselves and say it isn’t good enough.”
David Moyes in his post match interview said “incredibly proud of the players and the supporters here today because we’ve had so many encounters here where we’ve not got a result.
“We’ve come close but not been able to get over the line. But incredibly we’ve got over the line with 10- men, which is the hardest way to get a result here.
“I felt for the supporters who made the journey because for a long parts of the game we had to sit in and defend. We started with the game brilliantly well, passed the ball well, looked quite comfortable then we go the sending off which meant the game changed. The resilience and toughness behind the scenes at Everton is really good.
The result leaves United in 10th position on 18 points after missing out on the chance to move into the Top Four. The result moves Everton level on points with United with the Toffee’s set to face Newcastle whilst United must move on and prepare for a very difficult game on Sunday against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
