Match ends, Manchester United 1, Everton 1.
Andros Townsend's second-half equaliser earned Everton a deserved point against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Rafael Benitez's men were unlucky to fall behind just before the break as Anthony Martial scored for the first time since February.
But Demarai Gray escaped the attentions of Fred and Aaron Wan-Bissaka as Everton countered from a United corner, setting up the attack which ended with Townsend driving a low shot into the corner from Abdoulaye Doucoure's lay-off.
Townsend celebrated in Cristiano Ronaldo-esque fashion. It was more than the man himself managed. Left on the bench after his injury-time winner against Villarreal on Wednesday, Ronaldo came on in the 57th minute but had minimal impact either before or after the equaliser.
Everton thought they had a winner four minutes from time but VAR intervened to rule Yerry Mina's tap-in out for offside.
The result completes a decidedly unimpressive run of home results for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team, who lost against Aston Villa seven days ago after being dumped out of the EFL Cup by West Ham.
Unconvincing Man Utd
Even at half-time, with United top of the 'in-play' table, there remained so many questions to be asked of Solskjaer and his team.
More should be known in the weeks following the upcoming international break.
Home fixtures with Liverpool and Manchester City, plus tricky trips to Leicester and Tottenham will, at the very least, give an indication about United's ability to challenge for the title deep into the season, something they looked like doing last term, only to fade badly in January just as Pep Guardiola's squad were surging clear.
For the opening 10 minutes against Everton, they retained the speed and fluidity so often lacking. And then it drifted away.
By the time Martial broke the deadlock, it was the visitors who were carrying the greater goal threat. Salomon Rondon and Abdoulaye Doucoure had shots blocked and David de Gea produced a superb one-handed save to deny the excellent Gray.
That opportunity was created when what should have been a straightforward pass to Edinson Cavani from Fernandes went straight to Lucas Digne.
Cavani did bring a good save out of Jordan Pickford with a downward header when the game was still goalless and Jadon Sancho might have done better with a late opportunity that he drove straight at his England team-mate. But even with Paul Pogba introduced from the bench as well, it was all a bit haphazard from the hosts and never looked like bringing greater reward.
Benitez bounce
After his appointment as manager triggered so much controversy amongst the Goodison Park faithful, Rafael Benitez has quietly gone about constructing a very impressive team.
The flakiness of James Rodriguez has been replaced by a durability that will not be swept aside quite so easily.
Even without the injured Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the Toffeemen were an effective unit, did not panic when United had the early momentum and took their time to grow into the game.
And, given United have not kept a clean sheet at Old Trafford in the Premier League since March, they must have known opportunities would come their way.
Gray in particular was outstanding, although it could be argued more streetwise players than Fred and Wan-Bissaka would have prevented him getting out of the situation from where the goal came, either through fair means or foul.
And while Mina was certainly offside, Tom Davies had enough clear space in front of him to go for goal himself as Everton came close to a win.
Manchester United's next Premier League game is at Leicester on Saturday, 16 October (15:00 BST). Everton are next in action against West Ham on Sunday, 17 October (14:00).
- Reaction from Old Trafford and the rest of Saturday's Premier League games
- Visit the Manchester United page
- Visit the Everton page
Player of the match
TownsendAndros Townsend
Manchester United
Avg
- Squad number1Player namede GeaAverage rating
5.32
- Squad number18Player nameBruno FernandesAverage rating
5.26
- Squad number9Player nameMartialAverage rating
5.17
- Squad number21Player nameCavaniAverage rating
5.08
- Squad number23Player nameShawAverage rating
4.84
- Squad number19Player nameVaraneAverage rating
4.79
- Squad number2Player nameLindelöfAverage rating
4.62
- Squad number7Player nameCristiano RonaldoAverage rating
4.61
- Squad number29Player nameWan-BissakaAverage rating
4.57
- Squad number25Player nameSanchoAverage rating
4.49
- Squad number39Player nameMcTominayAverage rating
4.36
- Squad number11Player nameGreenwoodAverage rating
4.33
- Squad number6Player namePogbaAverage rating
4.01
- Squad number17Player nameFredAverage rating
4.00
Everton
Avg
- Squad number14Player nameTownsendAverage rating
8.08
- Squad number11Player nameGrayAverage rating
7.97
- Squad number16Player nameDoucouréAverage rating
7.84
- Squad number6Player nameAllanAverage rating
7.41
- Squad number5Player nameKeaneAverage rating
7.31
- Squad number13Player nameMinaAverage rating
7.26
- Squad number24Player nameGordonAverage rating
7.19
- Squad number1Player namePickfordAverage rating
7.16
- Squad number22Player nameGodfreyAverage rating
7.11
- Squad number12Player nameDigneAverage rating
7.06
- Squad number61Player nameDobbinAverage rating
6.73
- Squad number33Player nameRondónAverage rating
6.61
- Squad number26Player nameDaviesAverage rating
6.58
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 2Lindelöf
- 19Varane
- 23Shaw
- 39McTominay
- 17FredSubstituted forPogbaat 70'minutes
- 11GreenwoodBooked at 34mins
- 18Bruno Fernandes
- 9MartialSubstituted forSanchoat 57'minutes
- 21CavaniSubstituted forCristiano Ronaldoat 57'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Bailly
- 6Pogba
- 7Cristiano Ronaldo
- 14Lingard
- 25Sancho
- 26Henderson
- 27Alex Telles
- 31Matic
- 34van de Beek
Everton
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Pickford
- 22Godfrey
- 13Mina
- 5Keane
- 12Digne
- 14Townsend
- 16DoucouréBooked at 76mins
- 6Allan
- 24GordonSubstituted forDaviesat 72'minutes
- 11GraySubstituted forDobbinat 90+2'minutes
- 33Rondón
Substitutes
- 2Kenny
- 4Holgate
- 15Begovic
- 25Gbamin
- 26Davies
- 31Lonergan
- 32Branthwaite
- 57Whitaker
- 61Dobbin
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 73,128
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home72%
- Away28%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away2
- Corners
- Home10
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, Everton 1.
Post update
Offside, Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes tries a through ball, but Cristiano Ronaldo is caught offside.
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Jadon Sancho (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Yerry Mina (Everton).
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Lewis Dobbin replaces Demarai Gray.
Post update
Scott McTominay (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Salomón Rondón (Everton).
Post update
Attempt saved. Jadon Sancho (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Post update
Foul by Paul Pogba (Manchester United).
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Yerry Mina (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
VAR Decision: No Goal Manchester United 1-1 Everton.
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Offside, Everton. Tom Davies tries a through ball, but Yerry Mina is caught offside.
Post update
Corner, Everton. Conceded by Victor Lindelöf.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Demarai Gray.
Post update
Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Allan.
Post update
Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Jadon Sancho.
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Attempt missed. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Aaron Wan-Bissaka with a cross.
Post update
Offside, Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes tries a through ball, but Mason Greenwood is caught offside.
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Comments
Join the conversation
But I’m sure Everton will learn their lesson.
You might have missed our team.. the one with blue kit on.. the one who gave UTD a good run for their money..
Because all I heard was UTD this, UTD that… it’s Ronaldo time.. no it’s
Sancho time - no we went toe to toe and could’ve won it ourselves.
Whole country was willing you on!
Nice one Rafa 👍🚩
That Townshend celebration too.
Lets all laugh at Man Utd.
United were lucky to get a point, Ole’s at the wheel!
Played the manc one man team into a state of disarray.
"These lads were set up to fail"
You set 'em up Olly ya loser! 😂😂
Everton threw it away
Or Old Trafford as it’s commonly known.