Manchester United have started off the club’s FA Cup campaign at home to Everton with a hard-fought 3-1 victory. Here is a look at five things we learned from the game…
Shaw restored to centre-half
Erik ten Hag made four changes to the United starting line-up for this game, including three in the back four, with Luke Shaw the only survivor.
But he was moved back inside to the centre of defence, alongside Raphael Varane, with Tyrell Malacia outside him at left-back.
It remains to be seen if Ten Hag persists with this experiment against the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, but it is clear now that this is no longer just a makeshift arrangement.
United make a fast start
United were sluggish in the opening stages against Bournemouth, but they made a rapid start here, opening the scoring through the returning Antony on four minutes.
It was an incisive attack and United did look dangerous in those early parts of the match, but United failed to be ruthless and put the game beyond their visitors at that stage.
Everton came to Old Trafford low on confidence and there was an opportunity there to compound that, but it was not taken and before long, the Toffees were level.
De Gea makes bizarre error
Before the game, Roy Keane said on punditry duty for ITV that he was still not fully convinced by David de Gea, who has been impressive this season and is currently negotiating a new contract.
That felt a harsh assessment at the time, but he will likely feel vindicated after de Gea tamely let a ball across the box through his legs, allowing Conor Coady to poke home from close range.
It was sloppy defending all round as United let their grip of the game go too easily, and the mistake was out of character for de Gea this season.
Rashford key to swiftly regaining momentum in second half
Dion Dublin told United’s official website the opening goal was all about Rashford and so was Coady’s own goal which put United back in front on 52 minutes.
United worked a situation where Rashford got himself isolated one against one with Seamus Coleman and he beat the Everton captain all ends up.
Rashford then fired a wicked ball across the box and Coady almost had no choice but to turn it into his own yet, before the England winger gestured to the Old Trafford crowd to raise the volume in celebration.
Rashford was named man of the match and rounded off the night’s work with a penalty to make it 3-1 in stoppage time.
United keep the momentum rolling
United did not make it a comfortable second half and showed familiar failings to kill a game off, with a narrow VAR call ruling out a potential equaliser.
But ultimately, the winning run since the World Cup kept on going, despite the concession of a first goal since the season resumed.
A safe passage into round four was sealed as United now turn their attention to Charlton in the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
