Barring a draw against Stoke City, Manchester United have maintained a superb start to the season and they got another game to continue it when a struggling Everton visited Old Trafford. Antonio Valencia got things underway in sublime fashion by belting a ball in on half-volley leaving Pickford with no choice but to concede. United were slow as the game wore on but they killed it completely in the last quarter of the team with goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial. Here’s how the Red Devils have been rated:-
David De Gea – 8/10
Rooney’s never quit attitude ensured De Gea was alert all evening. He stopped Rooney twice, an effort from Sigurdsson and a sweet strike from Sandro later on. Simply looked unbeatable!
Antonio Valencia – 7.5/10
Opened the scoring for United with a magnificent strike and then he kept his discipline throughout and stopped anything coming from Everton’s left.
Eric Bailly – 7/10
Got booked for a reckless follow through but he was always pressing and causing trouble to Rooney. Bailly’s been consistently reliable and it was nothing different today.
Phil Jones – 8/10
He was bloody good today. Gave it his all, had his legs running away every through ball, used strength and was calculative enough to get United out of sticky situations. Top performance from the lad.
Ashley Young – 7.5/10
Focused, determined and he left the pitch without getting beaten. He needs a tremendous applause for his commitment too.
Nemanja Matic – 9.5/10
Invincible! He was a menace in the midfield for Everton going after every ball, winning it back and retaining it so excellently. He was also decisive in the distribution of the ball. Man of the match for me.
Marouane Fellaini – 8/10
Did not think that silence and Fellaini would go in the same sentence but yes this was Fellaini’s performance today. He had the drive in him to rush at every ball and get it or he maintained his position and played the ball along to keep it in the flow. Gave what the manager expected from him.
Juan Mata – 7/10
Tidy with the linkups and decent. Got subbed in the second half.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 7/10
Looked a bit rusty with his touches in the first half but stepped up in the second. Converted clinically for United’s second. He’s been on fire and United fans would only hope that this consistency never wavers.
Marcus Rashford – 3/10
Horrible today and looked uninterested. His end product was dismal too.
Romelu Lukaku – 7.5/10
Missed a sitter in the first half and couldn’t do enough with the other chances he got. In the second half, he did take the two chances he got and he got an assist with one and a goal with another. There’s plenty of space for improvement.
Substitutions
Jesse Lingard – 6.5/10
Tried to cause problems with his pace but nothing significant in the final third except for a missed effort towards the goal.
Ander Herrera – 6/10
Got energy into the midfield and sustained himself to press Everton.
Anthony Martial – 7/10
Set up a quick counter, won a penalty and converted it himself. His impact from the bench has been really good for the team and himself.
