Man United 2-0 Everton: Five things noticed, including two club records

Manchester United collected all three Premier League points as they defeated Everton 2-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

Against Everton, Erik ten Hag elected to select an unchanged XI for the team that lost 3-1 to Manchester City last weekend. Options within his current squad were thin due to injuries.

Everton certainly started as the better team during the opening 10 minutes, threatening André Onana‘s goal on multiple occasions. However, tricky feet from Alejandro Garnacho gave United a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes promptly converted.

Read More: Player Ratings – Manchester United 2-0 Everton (Premier League)

With Everton continuing the onslaught on Onana’s goal, it was Garnacho again who created United’s second goal, winning yet another penalty that Marcus Rashford slotted past Jordan Pickford with 35 minutes gone, handing United a 2-0 lead at the break.

#1 – A lucky start

Despite Fernandes’ penalty, United were lucky to be handed their early lead after multiple shaky moments in the opening 10 minutes.

Everton pressed United high, and Casemiro, in particular, feeling the effects of this, losing possession with sloppy passes in the club’s defensive third and lucky not to see his mistakes properly punished.

Despite Everton pressing again for an early equaliser, Garnacho once again popped up in the area to win a second penalty, handing the club a 2-0 lead despite looking unlike a dominant side.

#2 –Two club records

Bruno Fernandes’ opening goal of the game saw him achieve a new record – he has now scored more penalities for Manchester United than any other player in history, with a total of 29.

Of course, Garnacho played a part in this, winning the penalty. He also won the second penalty, achieving his own record.

during the 35th minute against Everton, he became the first-ever player to win two penalties in a single Premier League game for the club.

#3 – An unconvincing win

Despite United grabbing all three points and keeping a clean sheet, it’s hard to conclude that United were the outright better side during the tie, although the performance in the second half was a more assured one.

Had Everton concluded their attacking threats with better finishes, it may well have been another disastrous day for Ten Hag, but good individual performances from Evans, Onana, and Garnacho stopped this.

It was a much-needed win for United ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final tie against Liverpool next Sunday.

#4 – Jonny Evans

Evans has played 24 times for United this season and has probably been United’s most consistent defender this campaign.

Against Everton, he did not take a step out of place, remaining calm and composed despite a flurry of chances for the Toffies, and in a season where almost every centre-back has been unavailable through injury, he has been a saving grace for Ten Hag.

#5 – Jarrad Branthwaite’s audition

With United looking to sign a new centre-back this coming summer, Jarrad Branthwaite has been a name continually linked. INEOS is reportedly very impressed with the Everton defender’s performances this season.

Before the game, Branthwaite explained that he was “excited” to play at Old Trafford for the first time, and despite the scoreline, he was fantastic at the back for the Merseyside club.

The futures of Evans and Raphaël Varane are in serious doubt, with Harry Maguire also a potential option to be sold, so whoever comes into the team this summer needs to be able to play from minute one. Branthwaite showed on Saturday afternoon that he has the poise and guts to play at Old Trafford.