Manchester United survived a late scare after fighting back from 2-0 down against Everton.
The game might be remembered, but Manchester United’s lacklustre performance won’t.
Ruben Amorim continued to struggle to get anything out of United’s first team as they trailed 2-0 at the break as Beto put Everton ahead before Abdoulaye Doucoure doubled the lead.
Everton were helped massively by United’s poor defending, while Andre Onana was unable to coat himself in glory as he flapped across his line.
The tempo changed in the second half and United gradually grew into the game before Bruno Fernandes scored a brilliant free kick minutes before Manuel Ugarte’s equaliser.
There was some drama at the very end when VAR overruled an Everton penalty because Ashley Young dived inside the box. Everton thought they had the chance to secure all three points but had to settle for one.
Ruben Amorim and David Moyes clash over penalty decision
Prior to the match, Amorim and David Moyes showed the utmost respect for one another and that carried on into the game.
The managerial pair just didn’t agree with the decision at the very end.
After Onana had pushed Idrissa Gueye’s shot back into a dangerous area, Young went down instead of running onto the rebound.
Referee Andy Madley immediately pointed to the penalty spot, but following an on-field VAR review, the official overturned his decision.
Amorim believes the touch on Young was ‘soft’, therefore, the officials got the final call correct.
“I think it was a soft touch from what I saw,” Amorim told TNT Sports during a live broadcast after the match. “I think it was a soft penalty, it was clear.”
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 13 |  Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace | 25 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 32 | -3 | 30 |
| 14 |  EvertonEverton | 25 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 27 | 31 | -4 | 30 |
| 15 |  Man UtdManchester United | 25 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 28 | 35 | -7 | 29 |
| 16 |  West HamWest Ham | 25 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 29 | 47 | -18 | 27 |
| 17 |  WolvesWolves | 25 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 35 | 54 | -19 | 19 |
However, Moyes did not share the same opinion as Amorim.
The Scot believes Maguire pulled Young’s shirt, when it was appeared to be Matthijs de Ligt supposedly at fault.
Moyes said: “I thought the off-field decision looked the correct decision, I’m a bit surprised he was asked to go to far because I thought it looked difficult to change your mind on that.
“I think when they go to VAR, you very rarely get them to change their mind, it’s as if they think that the people seeing it on the telly see much more and understand more.
“Anyway it went against us today, we’re not going to complain too much about it but that decision just didn’t go for us.”
Ashley Young has track record for going down in the box
For years, United fans listened to Young deal with abuse from the terraces.
Rival fans labelled him a diver for going down easy inside the box and trying to con officials into rewarding United penalties.
It didn’t work out how he intended today and United had the last laugh.
Young wouldn’t have been a popular figure if he had dived to rob United of a result.
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