Manchester United got back to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.
The first half was a sloppy affair for both teams, despite getting almost a fortnight off, but a 71st-minute goal from Benjamin Sesko proved vital as Manchester United beat Everton 1-0.
United were not much better after half-time and let Everton have too much of the ball, but a sublime counterattacking goal got the Red Devils over the line.
What is your message to Michael Carrick after the win vs Everton?
As things stand, United are fourth in the Premier League and in contention to qualify for the Champions League with 11 games left to play.
Senne Lammens’ best performance yet
Lammens kept his first away clean sheet with perhaps his finest performance since signing for United in the summer.
The former Royal Antwerp stopper, who arrived at Old Trafford with little experience as a senior footballer, showed his cool, calm and collected style of goalkeeping.
Edwin van der Sar praised Lammens after the game, after the young stopper drew comparisons to the United legend.
Despite being relatively unknown last year, Lammens has proven to be one of United’s most important signings. I don’t think United would have kept a clean sheet last night if Andre Onana was between the sticks.
Do you agree with Edwin van der Sar over his Lammens praise?
He was excellent against Everton, but is he the long-term goalkeeper for United?
Man Utd defended strongly without Lisandro Martinez
Lisandro Martinez missed the game after starting the previous nine Premier League matches, but the Argentine centre-back was ruled out of the Everton game due to injury.
Leny Yoro replaced Martinez in the starting line-up, while Jack Moorhouse earned a spot on the bench.
It remains to be seen when Martinez will return, but Carrick will be encouraged by how United defended without the World Cup-winner on Monday night.
Everton didn’t have much quality in the final third, but the back four dealt with everything thrown at them, especially Harry Maguire.
Maguire has been a rock at the back under Carrick, but the United head coach will still be hoping to have Martinez back soon.
Everton fans take inspiration from the Stretford End
There were over 400 flags on display in the Everton end as The 1878 fan group organised the largest Hill Dickinson Stadium display yet.
It was the first time that flags and banners were flown in both the upper and lower tiers of the stadium’s South Stand, which holds a capacity of 14,000 fans.
Everton fan group The 1878 were seen taking inspiration from United fan group The Red Army, who launched a flag initiative in the Stretford End this season.
It’s a great idea once it leads to a better atmosphere at games, which we’ve seen at Old Trafford this season.
The flag displays in the Stretford End are one of the biggest positives about Old Trafford right now. Do you agree?
How do you think the displays can be improved?
David Moyes’ anti-football tactics
Everton’s approach to taking corners on Monday night was an example of anti-football tactics being implemented by David Moyes.
That won’t be a surprise to United fans who remember the dire standard of football that came with Moyes’ appointment in 2013, when he replaced Sir Alex Ferguson.
Although Michael Keane tested Lammens with a powerful shot from distance, Everton tried to test the goalkeeper from corner kicks on 10 occasions.
Time after time the Blues put a host of bodies around Lammens and attempted to float the ball into the middle of his box, with multiple players pushing and barging into the United players trying to defend the set-piece.
United’s defence stood firm and Lammens made light work of collecting crosses.
Diogo Dalot is on a run
Credit where credit is due.
Diogo Dalot is a player who attracts plenty of criticism, and a lot of it is warranted, but the narrative could change soon after starting all six matches under Carrick.
The Portugal international has performed well in four of those games, with his latest display showing exactly why Carrick hasn’t removed him from the starting line-up.
Perhaps it helps that Carrick has simplified Dalot’s game as a right back. He looks far more comfortable on the right than the left, which isn’t rocket science by any means.
Dalot was unlucky not to score in the first half when he missed a chance to hit the ball on a volley in Everton’s penalty area.
Benjamin Sesko has fire in the belly
The pressure is on Carrick to start Sesko after he came off the bench to great effect for the third time in four matches.
Sesko’s three goals as a substitute have earned United seven points from a possible nine, with Bryan Mbeumo setting him up for a stunning counterattacking goal against the Toffees.
The Slovenian is looking for his first start under Carrick, who will like that the striker has fire in his belly, with eagerness to prove his worth in the team.
Benjamin Sesko’s turnaround has been pretty stunning! Should he start the next game?
It would be ridiculous to underestimate the run Sesko made to get on the end of Mbeumo’s squad ball.
According to Sky Sports, Sesko ran 83 yards to score the goal, with a top speed of 21.94 mph.
If Sesko continues to score goals, it will only be a matter of time before he gets a run in the line-up as United’s main striker.
Sesko has eight goals to his name for United this season.
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