Manchester United came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Goodison Park on Saturday, with a stoppage-time Everton penalty controversially overturned by referee Andy Madley.
The Toffees stormed into a two-goal half-time lead at Goodison Park, with Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure capitalising on some disastrous United defending to pile even more pressure on Ruben Amorim and his players.
Former United manager David Moyes and his Everton team appeared to be strolling to victory but exceptional quick-fire strikes from Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte spared the visitors’ blushes at Goodison.
Everton thought they had earned the chance to sneak victory in stoppage-time after being awarded a penalty for a pull on ex-United man Ashley Young, but VAR advised Andy Madley to visit the monitor and the referee reversed his decision.
How the game unfolded
Having leapfrogged United in the table last weekend, Everton swiftly set about hounding their misfiring opponents. Their intensity during the early stages paid dividends, too, with the in-form Beto firing the Toffees ahead in the 19th minute following some dismal defending from a corner and a lengthy VAR check for offside.
Beto continued to torment United’s rearguard and the towering centre-forward was instrumental in Everton doubling their advantage just after the half-hour mark. The 27-year-old’s darting run in behind caught Harry Maguire napping and he proceeded to pick out Jack Harrison, whose initial shot was well saved by Andre Onana. Fortunately for the hosts, Doucoure was on hand to head home the rebound.
An impressive display from winter recruit Patrick Dorgu was the only highlight of a nightmarish first half for United at Goodison. They were all at sea defensively, sloppy in possession and characteristically blunt in the final third, registering just two shots and an expected goals tally of 0.04.
The visitors failed to make any notable improvements after the restart and Amorim eventually turned to his threadbare bench for solutions. Alejandro Garnacho was summoned on the hour mark but his introduction was almost made redundant as Doucoure came close to a third for the Toffees. Onana matched a firm effort with a strong palm to keep a glimmer of hope alive for United.
That glimmer grew more prominent in the 72nd minute as United scored with their first shot on target of the contest. A free kick on the edge of the penalty area was beautifully executed by Fernandes, who wrong-footed Jordan Pickford with a pinpoint strike into the far corner.
United looked a changed team after their skipper’s super strike and quickly found an equally impressive leveller. Ugarte’s venomous volley found its way beyond the helpless Pickford and set up a grand-stand finish on Merseyside.
An end-to-end finale followed and controversy arrived in the dying embers. Everton were initially awarded a spot kick after an apparent foul on Young by at least one of Matthijs de Ligt or Harry Maguire, but the decision was controversially overturned as United breathed an enormous sigh of relief.
Everton were left seething after the final whistle but the result means they stay ahead of 15th-placed United in the table and move further clear of the relegation zone.
Check out player ratings from Everton 2-2 Man Utd here.
The debate over VAR takes centre stage almost every single week in the Premier League and there will be more discussions over the technology in the aftermath of Saturday’s controversy at Goodison.
Despite Young seemingly being pulled to the ground by at least one of De Ligt or Maguire in the dying second, VAR decided to intervene and send Madley to the monitor. We all know what comes next, with the official changing his mind after a lengthy look at the screen.
While there was not masses of contact between Young and the United defenders – the former falling to the floor in dramatic fashion – there was arguably not enough evidence to overturn the on-field call. It will undoubtedly irk supporters up and down the country, especially those of an Everton persuasion.
United’s shift to a 3-4-2-1 system under Amorim has caused significant issues throughout their struggling squad, with notable chasms opening in defence as the Red Devils fail to adapt to the Portuguese manager’s ideals.
Once again, United were far too porous in their own third against an admittedly resurgent and confident Everton team. Their back three were simply incapable of handling the powerful Beto, who bullied the trio with his physicality and athleticism.
United’s inability to defend set pieces has been well documented this season and will be dissected again as they failed to clear a corner on several occasions as Everton took the lead. Similarly passive and unauthoritative defending proved costly as the Toffees doubled their advantage, with Maguire reacting too slowly to prevent Beto’s surging run and Doucoure’s header.
While the Red Devils improved after the restart – showing character to overturn a two-goal deficit – their defensive deficiencies still left them scrambling in the closing stages as they relied on individual skill to find a result.
Amorim can only dream of possessing a centre-forward capable of offering United what Beto did for Everton. Instead, he was stuck with two lumbering strikers – Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee – both of whom were seldom involved and largely ineffective when receiving the ball.
The duo have received justifiable criticism for lethargic performances in recent weeks, with Hojlund particularly guilty of disappearing when United need him most. The Denmark international managed just 12 touches and lost eight of his duels.
Amad Diallo’s season-ending injury has left United light in the final third and they won’t be able to rely upon Fernandes and Ugarte thunderbolts every week. More systematic improvements need to be made if they are to climb the standings.
