Manchester United bounced back from their thrashing in the derby by earning three points at Goodison Park, where Cristiano Ronaldo demonstrated once again what he is capable of contributing for his team.
After falling behind early on, the Red Devils were able to complete a comeback by the end of the first half, which was highlighted by the Portuguese superstar scoring the 700th goal of his career for the club. The crowd at Goodison Park was pumped up after an incredible curling effort by Alex Iwobi in the first five minutes of the match.
Antony has continued to justify his massive transfer fee by becoming the first United player to score in his first three Premier League appearances, which allowed the hosts to maintain their lead for only a short period of time. After being set up by Anthony Martial, the Brazilian finished off Jordan Pickford with a deft flick of the foot. And it was the premature exit of the Frenchman that allowed Ronaldo to enter the fray and make his mark.
Shortly before the break, the forward was put through on goal by Casemiro, who was making his first start in the league, and he scored with his left foot to add another chapter to the annals of history. United were able to hold off an Everton team that didn't present much of an offensive threat in the second half, which allowed them to move up to fifth place.
Here are five topics that have been brought up regarding Merseyside.
It relieved Ronaldo of any pressure he might have felt to make an immediate impact and instead gave him the opportunity to get a feel for the game. Within the first 15 minutes, he seemed to have the back of the net figured out, as if it were almost written in stone. As he staked his claim moving forward, he continued to look likely, with his strike no doubt helping his mood and boosting his confidence.
As a result of Martial possibly requiring additional time in the medical facility, this could turn out to be the opportunity that Ronaldo has been waiting for. Antony has exhibited promising early signs, Jadon Sancho was benched for the first time, and Marcus Rashford has been utilized primarily from wide areas, which has resulted in a potential opening for a central striker position in the team.
2 A wake-up call for Everton's management
The Toffees came into this competition having not suffered a defeat since the middle of August. United, meanwhile, made the short trip after suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Manchester City and having trouble advancing in the Europa League against the lowly Omonia of Cyprus. It had all the makings of a night that the Red Devils would have been better off avoiding.Instead, they were able to dominate an Everton team that, despite not having lost in six games, appeared to be largely clueless and uninspired. They scored a goal from 25 yards out, but other than that, they were outmatched, even though the scoreline kept them in the game for long stretches of time. Their goal came from the distance.
Everton is one of the teams with the lowest scoring average in the league, so Frank Lampard will be doing everything in his power to prevent a repeat of the relegation woes from the previous season. However, in order for his team to be considered a threat, they will need to provide a significantly improved offensive effort.
3 Casemiro's charge
The Brazilian may be a five-time winner of the Champions League, but he has never been to Goodison Park, and he was given an early awakening of what he can expect in England's top league during his first game there. Since Casemiro made his high-paying transfer from Real Madrid, there has been a growing chorus of calls for him to be given a starting role.Ten Hag gave the midfielder his first start of the season on Sunday evening, but he was taken out of the game within five minutes after being dispossessed inside his own half. This gave Everton the opportunity to score their first goal just a few seconds later. Casemiro's forgettable performance in the first half was made even worse when he waltzed into the box unmarked but was unable to hit the target from ten yards out.
It is a testament to how quickly he was able to adjust to the rigors of the game that he was named Man of the Match, despite the fact that he was the one who assisted in United's first goal, which was scored by Cristiano Ronaldo after he was set free by the Brazilian's pass.
Alex Iwobi opened the scoring for Everton
4 Dom's back
And boy, they could really use him. Everton desperately searched for some kind of cutting edge with 15 minutes left to play as Dominic Calvert-Lewin entered the game. Everton had been severely lacking in any kind of cutting edge.Before tonight, the forward had not logged a single minute of game time, which could be one of the reasons why the Toffees have not yet reached double digits in terms of goals. The reception that Calvert-Lewin received from the crowd highlighted how much the Toffees have missed Calvert-movement Lewin's and dynamic play in the final third of the field. Calvert-Lewin has been a leading light with the Toffees for a number of years, and his presence has been sorely missed.
Given that the World Cup is only a few short weeks away, his return couldn't have come at a better time. Calvert-Lewin had at one time been considered to be the back-up to Harry Kane, and he will be hoping to make a late charge in the competition.
5 The fourth selection Harry
Last season Harry Maguire was seemingly undroppable despite his struggles for form. Now, with Ten Hag at the helm, the centre-half is waking up to the harsh reality of where poor performances get you. He's lost his starting role with summer signing Lisandro Martinez forming a partnership with Raphael Varane.
The Frenchman was forced off last weekend and was only good enough for the bench on Merseyside. With Maguire injured, it was Victor Lindelof who got the nod alongside Martinez, as he did last weekend at the Etihad.
That may well have long-term ramifications for his future in Manchester, but in the short-term his England hopes will be hampered. Maguire is experiencing a difficult period, but any hopes he had of turning it around on the pitch look increasingly unlikely.
Hadizat Salaudeen 2 yrs
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