Everton 4-0 Manchester United
It would be churlish to take away any praise from Everton after such a comprehensive victory.
After all, this was their fifth consecutive Premier League home match against a top-six team and they have only lost one of them – highlighting their undoubted progress under Marco Silva. In fact, it just goes to show how results like last weekend must frustrate them.
But this report is going to focus on the biggest club in England and its shambolic failings.
All the top Premier League sides have lost at Goodison Park over the years and bounced back – traditionally it is a tough place to go. But few performances are as woeful as this.
For all the criticism aimed at him before and since his dismissal in December, Jose Mourinho would not have tolerated this performance. Nor should recently appointed full-time boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
It remains a real risk that United appointed a manager of such inexperience at the top level, especially to replace a proven winner – despite the Portuguese’s track record for being disruptive.
However, one factor that could not be brushed aside, especially now, is that some players threw Mourinho ‘under the bus’ and are now performing as below par and embarrassingly for the new man in charge,just as they did for him.
Mourinho knew certain performers went missing too often – read Paul Pogba as the main culprit (for the second time in a week). World class talent but not a world class performer.
Mourinho knew certain performers were talented but too inconsistent – read Anthony Martial as the prime example.
Mourinho knew certain performers were just not good enough in terms of quality for a team of United’s stature – read Phil Jones as a player who is simply not good enough for the first-team.
And there are others as this spineless performance showed yet again.
Solskjaer will no doubt be given time to put things right, even if question marks remain against his ability to manage the task ahead.
As for the match, Everton were on top from start to finish against woeful United as the Toffees produced some moments of real quality which will be among their Premier League highlights.
Highlights of the game
Everton may have lost 36 Premier League matches against United, a competition record for defeats against a single opponent, while United’s 16 Premier League victories at Goodison Park is also a competition record for away wins at one stadium.
Yet there never looked like being an addition to those statistics from as early as the 13th minute.
Richarlison hooked the ball home acrobatically and Everton were on their way.
Gylfi Sigurdsson then drove home from 25 yards to put the hosts firmly in the ascendancy.
There was more to come after the break as Lucas Digne drove the ball back from long-range after David De Gea punched away a corner before substitute Theo Walcott rounded off a day to remember for Everton with a fine solo goal.
United had their first and only shot on target in the 86th minute.
A performance brimming with energy and tempo, Everton thoroughly deserved the rout, only their second win against United in 10 attempts.
The Premier League betting odds on United claiming a top four finish may still be available but my advice to SBOBET readers is: don’t waste your money!
Key statistics
United have conceded 48 Premier League goals in 2018-19, their highest ever tally in a single season in the competition and their most in a top-flight league campaign since 1978-79 (63).
The last time United lost five successive away games in all competitions was in March 1981.
Sigurdsson has been directly involved in eight Premier League goals against United, scoring five and assisting three.
Everton have now matched their total points tally of 49 from last season.
This is also the first time in two years Everton have won three successive home league games without conceding.
They last won three home league games in a row against established top-six opponents in March 2012, beating Manchester City, Chelsea and Spurs without conceding.
United have lost three Premier League away games in a row for the first time since January 1996.
United have not kept a clean sheet for 11 games in all competitions, their worst run for seven years.
What’s next?
Everton travel to Crystal Palace next weekend as the end of their season draws near.
United host Manchester City in a midweek derby before welcoming Chelsea to Old Trafford a week today (April 28).
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