Match ends, Manchester United 1, Everton 1.
Man UtdManchester United1EvertonEverton1
Manchester United substitute Mason Greenwood scored a 77th-minute equaliser to deny Duncan Ferguson a second successive win as Everton's interim manager.
Everton looked set for back-to-back league victories for the first time since April when Victor Lindelof turned Leighton Baines' first-half corner into his own goal, with VAR ruling David de Gea had not been impeded by Dominic Calvert-Lewin as they jumped at the near post.
It was fitting that 18-year-old Greenwood should come off the bench to rescue a point with a fine shot from the edge of the area, given that this game marked the 4,000th consecutive game in which United have named an academy player in their matchday squad.
Everton's fans were delighted at the end though, singing Ferguson's name in tribute to the Scot's impact since replacing sacked Marco Silva.
Despite the cold and rain, Ferguson spent most of the game in nothing more than a shirt and tie, and long after the final whistle went over to acknowledge the visiting fans.
The result means United have collected 25 points from their first 17 games, one fewer than they had at the same point last season when Jose Mourinho was sacked.
What now for Everton?
Everton's hierarchy have some serious thinking to do.
Owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright sat side-by-side in the Old Trafford directors' box. Kenwright chewed furiously on a piece of gum as the stresses of the game took hold.
Ferguson has stressed repeatedly he does not wish to be considered for the manager's job full-time. Yet it is clear the Everton fans love him and the Scot's exuberant goal celebrations demonstrate his love for the club. More importantly, their players have a sense of purpose that so often seemed to be lacking during Silva's reign.
The notable draw was achieved without the experience of Morgan Schneiderlin and Theo Walcott, who were ruled out with calf injuries, and Gylfi Sigurdsson, who was taken ill at the team hotel.
It included a brutal substitution of substitute - and big-money signing - Moise Kean, who had only been on the pitch 18 minutes when he was replaced in the closing stages, blanked by his manager as he trudged off down the touchline towards the tunnel.
With a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester on Wednesday to come before the packed Christmas schedule, there must be a temptation for Moshiri and Kenwright to leave things as they are and reassess in the New Year.
"It was a fantastic performance," said Ferguson. "We couldn't hang on but I can't complain and I'm delighted with a point.
"The players seem to be motivated. They are in a perilous position and understand that - they have to fight for the shirt and that's what I'm doing. They should have been doing it all season. I've managed to galvanise them and push them on."
Greenwood a United star
It has been an excellent few days for Greenwood, who rescued United on this occasion just three days after scoring twice in the Europa League against AZ Alkmaar.
Solskjaer spent a large chunk of his post-match press conference on Thursday talking about the striker. and that praise was justified as the teenager scored in a league game at Old Trafford for the first time.
Speaking after Greenwood's performance against Everton, the United manager continued in the same vein.
"You wanted the ball to drop to Mason, because he's so calm and composed - when he gets chances, he takes them.
"It is just so natural for him, he knows what to do. If you open or get close, he bends it round you. Too many chances are missed in general, or strikers rush the finish, but the best have that extra half second, and he does."
Only Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck have scored at a younger age in the Premier League at Old Trafford for United. Greenwood has already scored more goals than Macheda and will hope to stay clear of the injuries that dogged Welbeck at United.
With seven goals to his name, Greenwood is now clear as United's second top scorer behind Marcus Rashford this season.
United's creative gap
There was plenty of talk about Solskjaer's trip to Austria to see Red Bull Salzburg's Erling Haaland on Friday in the build-up to the game.
Haaland is evidently of interest to United and Solskjaer's positive relationship with the 19-year-old, who played under him at Molde, is an advantage.
Asked about his visit to Austria and the speculation over Haaland following the draw with Everton, Solskjaer would only say: "He knows what he wants to do and what he's going to do."
But it is a lack of creativity in midfield that really needs addressing.
United have managed to amass 14 points from six games against the remainder of England's 'big six', plus current title challengers Leicester, but have registered only 11 from their other 12 matches against teams less likely to attack them and leave spaces for the counter.
Paul Pogba is Solskjaer's most creative player but the Frenchman has featured just twice since August and not at all since the draw against Arsenal on 30 September.
He is due to start training again this week after ankle surgery amid continuing speculation about a move away from Old Trafford next summer.
Man of the match - Tom Davies (Everton)
Everton's poor Old Trafford record won't go away - the stats
- Manchester United have lost just one of their last 27 home league games against Everton (W20 D6 L1).
- Everton have won only one of their last 12 away Premier League games (D4 L7), taking just seven points from a possible 36.
- Manchester United are without a keep clean sheet in their last 12 league matches - their worst run since a 12-game stretch between April and August 1971.
- Everton have gone ahead in four away Premier League games this season but won just one of those, away at Southampton (W1 D1 L2).
- Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has now gone 12 consecutive Premier League matches without keeping a clean sheet - the longest run of his career.
- Only Marcus Rashford (13) has more goals in all competitions for Man Utd this season than 18-year-old Mason Greenwood (7).
- Greenwood is the youngest scorer (18y 75d) at Old Trafford for Manchester United in the Premier League since Federico Macheda in April 2009 against Aston Villa (17y 226d).
What's next?
Manchester United are next in action against League Two Colchester in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday (20:00 GMT) before a Premier League trip to bottom side Watford on 22 December (14:00 GMT). Everton are also in the Carabao Cup last eight and entertain Leicester on Wednesday (19:45) before hosting Arsenal on 21 December (12:30).
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 2LindelöfBooked at 66mins
- 5Maguire
- 23Shaw
- 39McTominay
- 17Fred
- 21JamesSubstituted forMataat 86'minutes
- 14LingardSubstituted forGreenwoodat 65'minutes
- 10Rashford
- 9Martial
Substitutes
- 8Mata
- 15Pereira
- 18Young
- 22Romero
- 26Greenwood
- 38Tuanzebe
- 53Williams
Everton
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Pickford
- 23Coleman
- 5Keane
- 13Mina
- 12DigneSubstituted forBainesat 25'minutes
- 17Iwobi
- 26DaviesBooked at 5mins
- 2Holgate
- 20BernardSubstituted forKeanat 70'minutesSubstituted forNiasseat 89'minutes
- 7RicharlisonBooked at 57mins
- 9Calvert-Lewin
Substitutes
- 3Baines
- 14Tosun
- 22Stekelenburg
- 27Kean
- 29Niasse
- 30Martina
- 42Gordon
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 63,328
Match Stats
Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamEverton
- Possession
- Home67%
- Away33%
- Shots
- Home24
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, Everton 1.
Post update
Harry Maguire (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Oumar Niasse (Everton).
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Attempt saved. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Juan Mata.
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Attempt blocked. Scott McTominay (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Fred.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Oumar Niasse replaces Moise Kean.
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Attempt missed. Leighton Baines (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Juan Mata replaces Daniel James.
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by David de Gea.
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Attempt saved. Alex Iwobi (Everton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Daniel James (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Moise Kean (Everton).
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Attempt missed. Daniel James (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Scott McTominay following a set piece situation.
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Attempt saved. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the top centre of the goal.
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Daniel James (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Moise Kean (Everton).
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VAR Decision: Goal Manchester United - Manchester United 1-1 Everton (Mason Greenwood).
Comments
Join the conversation
Think Everton deserved a bit of luck with that goal today.
Man U have NOT turned a corner.
Qualifying for the last 32 in the Europa league does NOT make you a good team.
Olly needs to be given an extension
Top half all but assured 👍
MUGGs
Utd are absolutely dreadful! 24pts of the Top after only 17 games LOL!
Why not just keep DF, the palyers and the fans want him.
A no brainer.
2 minutes ago
Well played big dunc
Seems all the rage nowadays for merseyslide teams to park the bus...
Everton clearly a big club whereas liverpool remain a small club.
Well done the toffees
Utd fan.
Has to be said - a muppet comment from a muppet
Big Dunc substituting Kean after only coming on is disgusting, who does that idiot Scot think he is? He's a joke manager and was a rubbish player,
=
You obviously never saw him at Goodison 25/2/1995 v United, he single handedly terrified Bruce, Irwin, Pallister and Schmeichel and scored the only goal that won it for us. Sadly his body wasn't up to the job of pro footballer.
A VAR decision that goes in our favour.
Great battling performance from our boys - I see the usual mixed bag of pro and anti OGS which mirrors the dilemma we've got. 100% commitment and get in yer face or another foreign spender?
The big man is winning respect - he already had friends, thousands of us.
Merry Christmas all - 'tis only a game after all.