Percy Onyeka
At Old Trafford, Manchester United defeated Everton thanks to first-half penalties from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, snapping a two-match losing streak.
The visitors were punished for their carelessness and stupid defense in an odd match that saw Everton become the fifth team in six Premier League games to have at least 20 shots against Erik ten Hag’s team.
Alejandro Garnacho was caught off guard by reckless challenges from both Ben Godfrey, a fellow defender, and captain James Tarkowski.
Fernandes took the first spot-kick and beat Jordan Pickford with a precise low shot to the England keeper’s left corner.
However, the United skipper passed on responsibility to Rashford on the second occasion. It seemed a needless risk but Rashford kept his nerve to send Pickford the wrong way for his seventh goal of the season.
After defeats by Fulham and Manchester City, the result pushed United to within three points of fifth-placed Tottenham, although Ange Postecoglou’s men do have two matches in hand.
Furthermore, fifth is not as certain as it once seemed to be of qualifying for the Champions League the following season after Thursday’s European results.
With just five points from their previous eleven games, Everton’s terrible record has continued. With Liverpool’s FA Cup commitments forcing them to postpone their Merseyside derby the following week, Sean Dyche’s team may find themselves in the relegation zone come international break.
Techrectory with AFP
