Everton came away from Old Trafford with a deserved point, perhaps disappointed they did not get all three.
Andros Townsend’s second-half strike cancelled out Anthony Martial’s first goal since February to earn the Blues a point they definitely deserved. Rafa Benitez’s side have now picked up seven points from losing positions, the most of any side in the league.
Manchester United dominated the opening stages of the match, with Martial putting a header wide in the eighth minute. Just a minute later Mason Greenwood flashed a dangerous ball across goal, but no United shirt could get on the end of it.
Edison Cavani also had a header brilliantly stopped by Jordan Pickford.
However, the Toffees slowly began to grow into the game and looked the more threatening of the sides.
Their first real chance fell to Salomón Rondón whose shot was blocked by Raphael Varane following Abdoulaye Doucouré’s marauding run from midfield.
Anthony Gordon, who rose to the occasion at Old Trafford, showed flashes of brilliance as he nearly turned provider just pass the half-hour mark. He fizzed a ball into the box that neither Rondón nor Townsend could convert.
Two minutes later in form winger Demarai Gray forced a great save from David de Gea from 25-yards out.
Yet it was the Red Devils who took the lead in the 43rd minute thanks to Anthony Martial. Before today he had had three goal involvements in his last 27 games, he now has three goal involvements in his last three games against the Blues.
There were no changes made until the 57th minute, when Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho were brought on for Manchester United.
But it was Andros Townsend who made the difference, scoring his fifth goal in nine games for the Blues, hitting the ‘SIU’ celebration as well.
Credit must be given to MOTM Gray, who bumped Fred off the ball when he had no right to. He then played it through to Doucouré who was composed to slide it through to Townsend.
Everton thought they had won it four minutes from time, but Yerry Mina’s tap-in was ruled out for offside. Evertonians may be asking themselves why Tom Davies did not shoot himself.
Lewis Dobbin was also given another brief cameo, coming on for the excellent Gray.
The Toffees head into the international break full of confidence, taking fourteen points from a possible twenty-one available.
A fantastic performance against a United side that have not kept a clean sheet in nine home games, means Everton currently sit third in the Premier League, though that is likely to change after the weekend.
A deserved point for the Blues on the road.
MOTM: Demarai Gray.
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