Match Report Everton's winless run in the Premier League was extended to 11 matches as they went down in fairly routine fashion to Manchester United in a game that exposed their limitations, particularly in the final third. An open contest against a United side hit by injuries and which has come in for criticism of late alongside their manager meant there were opportunities for Sean Dyche’s side but they ended up suffering double jeopardy of a different kind to the one they could yet face from the second independent commission, conceding two first-half penalties that sealed their fate this afternoon. Clumsy fouls in their own box on Alejandro Garnacho by James Tarkowski and Ben Godfrey handed Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford the chance to effectively put the contest beyond the goal-shy Toffees, who had 23 shots in all with no result, and that was how it played out. Everton went close through Dwight McNeil and Abdoulaye Doucouré while Lewis Dobbin flashed a shot across the face of goal late on but it was another joyless occasion for the travelling Blues who had made the trip along the M62. Dyche kept faith with the side that had started against West Ham, with Beto retaining his place up front, Jack Harrison lining up wide on the right with Ben Godfrey behind him again as a makeshift right-back. And it was another high-octane start from the visitors who sought to force an early mistake from their hosts and perhaps grab an early goal. Everton were successful in harrying United’s back line into a series of errors but failed to create anything meaningful with them, Amadou Onana coming the closest to fashion an opportunity when he tried to bring down Dwight McNeil’s cross but couldn’t control it in front of goal. Initially hemmed in, Erik ten Hag’s team soon began to demonstrate their threat on the break which would become a feature of the first period and would be the keys to their success on the day. Harrison did well to slide behind Rashford’s attempted shot and Raphael Varane failed to test Jordan Pickford from the resulting corner but with just 10 minutes on the clock, Garnacho turned Tarkowski and the Everton captain swept his standing leg, leaving referee Simon Hooper with no option but to award a penalty. Pickford went the right way but was well beaten by Fernandes’ spot-kick and the game already had a depressingly familiar feel about it given that this is the most predictable fixture in the Premier League. The Red Devils enjoy an embarrassingly lop-sided record in meetings with the Toffees since 1992 and it was game over 10 minutes before half-time, but not before Everton had at least tried to make a game of it at the other end. McNeil almost delivered a swift riposte to United’s opener when he hammered a volley just wide, Harrison blazed over from 25 yards out, James Garner tested André Onana with an accurate shot that the Ghanaian parried away and McNeil just missed the far post with a cross-cum-shot on the half-hour mark. For the home side, Garnacho was a constant threat and after lashing a great chance of his own over from the angle and seeing Fernandes sky his potential assist over the bar, he handed the Portuguese an inviting opportunity from a direct free-kick with Onana felled him outside the box. Fernandes looked to have doubled the lead with a curling shot into the top corner but Pickford pulled off a stunning one-handed save to keep it out. Sadly, it merely delayed the killer second goal, earned again by Garnacho after United had counter-attacked following a poor, deep free-kick by the Everton keeper and Godfrey chopped the young Argentine down in the box, with a second spot-kick the result. Rashford took responsibility on this occasion, stuttering his run-up to send Pickford the wrong way before burying the ball in the other corner to make it 2-0. The Old Trafford crowd was baying for a third penalty in first-half stoppage time when a Garnacho cross struck Vitalii Mykolenko’s arm but Hooper waved away the claims and from the corner Victor Lindelof forced a decent stop from Pickford with a low shot searching out the inside of the post. Everton might have halved the deficit with the last chance of the first half when Beto robbed Evans of the ball, found Garner who teed up McNeil but the winger’s shot was charged down by one of three red jerseys in front of him. Their job largely done, Ten Hag’s men appeared happy in the second half to continue to allow Everton to have much more of the possession than might have been expected but Dyche’s side failed to make anything tell. Doucouré had an early shot blocked before it could worry Onana but almost sneaked a shot inside the post before the keeper kicked it away, while substitutes André Gomes and Dobbin couldn’t find the target. The Portuguese drove a free-kick into the wall trying to replicate his heroics in the FA Cup replay against Crystal Palace, the Blues’ only win in any competition since 16th December, and the young Academy product ballooned a shot well over. Meanwhile, Garnacho smashed another effort from an angle over and just failed to reach a wicked Fernandes delivery as he came sliding in at the back post before Pickford finger-tipped a skidding shot from the latter past the other upright. From that corner, it was almost 3-0 but amid a mělée in the six-yard box, Pickford stopped Lindelof’s prodded effort on the line and safely pounced on the loose ball. Though Dyche appeared to have folded by removing Doucouré and then Garner, Everton came closest to making a game of it with a quarter of an hour left. Godfrey won a header at the back side of the United box that fell to Dobbin at the other post but his snapshot from a tight angle flew across goal where Dominic Calvert-Lewin, on for Beto, couldn’t react in time to convert from close range. Onana tried his luck a overhead kick that found the target but lacked the power to trouble his namesake who plucked it out the air and repeated the feat when Calvert-Lewin met a late corner with his head but, again, couldn’t put enough on the effort as the match petered out. Visits to Old Trafford over the past few years haven't always been predictable but this was another depressing reminder of the gulf in resources between these two clubs and the fact that Everton have only won here twice in the Premier League era. Incredibly, a much-maligned United team have beaten the Toffees 5-0 on aggregate over the two matches between the two sides this season. Dyche's side had plenty of the ball today, probably much more than they expected, but routinely failed to create clear-cut chances with it or deliver a set-piece into the box capable of threatening Onana's goal. It means the Blues go into a long three-week break needing a reset and a different approach, neither of which are likely given Dyche's one-dimensional management and the club's sheer lack of options when it comes to making changes to either the line-up or the formation. Lyndon Lloyd top Matchday Updates Everton are at Old Trafford today where they will take on Manchester United, still looking to end what is now the Blues' longest run without a win in the Premier League for 30 years. Beto starts, with Calvert-Lewin on the bench again, along with Patterson, Keane, Young, Gomes and Coleman. Idrissa Gana Gueye misses out with a groin injury but Andre Gomes is named amongst the substitutes after managing a minor calf concern in the week. The home side kicked off with Everton in all blue, pressing them back briefly. Garner forced a turnover that led to an early Everton corner, which he took, but Evans cleared and when it was returned, Onana almost beat Onana but fumbled a good chance in the end. Everton's high press slowed Man Utd to a walking pace at times, and the long-ball hoof. Beto intervened and fed Doucoure but his cross was cut out by Onana's diving save. McNeil forced another turnover and then Everton won a second corner played low straight to Fernandes and the ball was immediately up with Rashord. Harrison had to be strong to stop him at the expense of a corner, headed to Pickford by Casemiro. It was scrappy stuff and Trakowski rashly taped Garnacho's ankle for a soft penalty on the edge of the area, after an offside check. Fernandes beat Pickford low to his left. Everton tried to respond and built well for a tremendous volley from McNeil that curled just the wrong side of the angle with Onana frozen. Harrison was fouled bt Everton ended up playing it back to Pickford before Branthwaite fed Beto but he had not got himself onside. Branthwaite then dispossessed Mainoo superbly. But Man Utd got forward and Fernandes scooped it high over the Everton goal. Everton tried to build through the middle but poor passing saw the move breakdown. Pickford switched to the left and Harrison powered a shot over. Beto smacked Evans in the face as Everton tried to build again but the cross was blocked away. McNeil failed to find Beto with a low cross, then Garner's attempted cross hit a defender. Finally a cross came in from Godfre with Beto running in underneath it, then a cross to the far post that Harrison could not get to. Beto crossed to Mykolenko who won another corner, Garner this time going for the far post where Tarkowski was backwheeling and could only head it oiut But The Blues advanced again, Garner shooting after a good one-two exchange with Onana who them walloped Onana's parry high over the bar. At the other end, Garnacho's shot was blocked by Tarkowski before Onana caught Garnacho's foot for a soft yellow card and a dangerous free-kick. Pickford pulled off a fantastic one-handed save to deny Fernandes. McNeil tried to advance down the left with the ball but he was so slow, he had three around him and the ball was soon back in the Evverton area with Branthwaite making another tremendous intervention to deny Mainoo. Everton came forward again and McNeil lashed a decent shot across goal and just wide of the far post. At the other end a clumsy Mykolenko header saw him handle the ball as he fell but nothing in it. Garnacho went on a mazy run and ran into Godfrey's extended foot for another Man Utd penalty, Doucouré booked for dissent. Rashford this time sent Pickford the wrong way. Everton went up and won another corner, cleared and driven back in, but wide. Everton were then awarded a free-kick in midfield but nothing came of it except another Man Utd counter. Everton advanced again but Harrison's shocking cross bounced off toward the corner flag. Another Everton ground attack saw Godfrey's shot deflected wide. Garner's corner flew wastefully over everyone. A strange free-kick taken by Branthwaite almost put Man Utd in on goal until Pickford collected the ball. Mykolenko lost the ball to Garnacho and had to get back to block, going to ground, and blocking the ball again with his arm. The corner was cleared by Branthwaite as 4 minutes of added time were played out, but not before Casemiro and then Lindelof had shots blocked and then saved, respectively. Granacho was released down the Everton left and Branthwaite did brilliantly to scoop the ball away from him. At the other end, a glorious set-up for McNeil was driven into a defender to end yet another all-too-typical Everton half of hard work and endeavour, with decent chances not taken, and underlined by avoidable penalties given away. Kick-off saw perhaps the first hoof upfield from Pickford, who then went wide to Godfrey, his cross straight to the Man Utd keeper. Everton again tried the ground attack which built well enough until Mykolenko drove his cross low at the moving Beto, who ran across it. Godfrey then drive a low cross in front of everyone. Twice more, Godfrey's crosses failed. From an Everon free-kick, McNeil's cross fell for Doucoure who smashed it goalwards, blocked yet again this time by McTominay's knee. Everton were again roasted by Garnacho who fired over. A poor spell of nothing football from both sides persuaded Sean Dyche it was time for an early (for him) double sub. Beto, McNeil and Doucoure all saw a glimpse of the cherry in front of the Man Utd but failed to get a bite. A turnover saw Fernandes counter but Garnacho could not convert at the far post. Just after the hour-mark, three changes were then made by Sean Dyche. Man Utd got forward in a rare foray and Pickford needed to fingertip a low shot from Fernandes just past the post for a corner. An almighty scramble saw three red shirts outnumbered by six blue and Pickford finally dropping on the ball on the line. Dobbin forced a corner taken on the right by McNeil that caused mild panic before it was cleared but Amadou Onana was fouled by Lindelof. Gomes drove the free-kick into the wall with no guille whatsoever. More Blue forward play ended with Dobbin wellying his shot high over Onana's goal. At the other end, McTominany raked the back of Onana's ankle and was shown a yellow card as the pace of the game dropped to a crawl. Sean Dyche decided to liven things up by bringing on that ball of everlasting energy, Ashley Young. Everton played more groundball and almost got it to Calvert-Lewin who went the wrong side of his marker. An even better attack saw Mykolenko's cross headed back across goal And Dobboin mishitting his strike back across goal where Calvert-Lewin could not connect with the loose ball. In the next attack, a brilliant overhead bicycle kick by Onana was on target but lacked any power whatsoever and was nonchalantly caught by Onana. McNeil looked to feed Calvert-Lewin with a decent enough through-ball that just ran away from him. Onana gifted Everon another corner that Calvert-Lewin leapt like a salmon and headed it powerfully straight into the hands of Onana. Pickford had to run out early and clear a loose ball, which he cannoned forward off a Man Utd player. McNeil was denied again by a block at the other end, and Young tried to find Mykolenko with a decent cross to the far post. Tarkowski was called for what he thought was a fair shoulder charge. Casimerio got behind the Everton defence but was offside. Ynug won Everton another corner, this one taken short and Gomes forcing a save from Onana. Antony forced a late corner off Branthwaite at the other end but Pickford collected and cleared. Fernandes's shot led to another corner. Rashford was played in and Branthwaiteeslid in to take him out for what was almost the third penalty until the linesman indicated he was offside. And so ended an absolute snoozefest for the Red Devils, gifted two penalties that look increasingly stupid in retrospect as they sealed yet another Everton defeat at Old Trafford. 30 crosses, 23 shots, and absolutely nothing to show from them. Manchester United: Onana, Lindelof, Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho (83' Antony), Casemiro, Varane, Dalot, Evans (89' Kambwala), Mainoo, (79' Amrabat) McTominay [Y:69']. Subs not Used: Bayindir, Mee, Eriksen, Diallo, Collyer, Ogunneye. Everton: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko (88' Chermiti), Onana [Y:26'], Garner (75' Young), Doucoure [Y:35'] (61' Gomes), Harrison (61' Dobbin), McNeil, Beto (61' Calvert-Lewin). Subs not Used: Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Coleman. Attendance: 73,601 Michael Kenrick top Match Preview Idrissa Gueye is rated as doubtful for Everton's trip to Old Trafford on Saturday where they will take on Manchester United, still looking to end what is now the Blues' longest run without a win in the Premier League for 30 years. The Senegalese midfielder had to be withdrawn less than five minutes into the second half of the Blues' 1-1 draw at Brighton a fortnight ago and missed the defeat to West Ham last weekend with a groin problem. Sean Dyche said in his press conference ahead of the game that Gueye "has a chance" of being passed fit enough to make the squad but it's unlikely. Meanwhile, Arnaut Danjuma, who has been sidelined with ankle ligament damage since the goalless encounter with Fulham at the end of January, continues to make progress, in the manager's words, but won't be available until after Everton's upcoming three-week break in the fixture list. Dyche indicated that the team will likely travel to a training camp in Europe during the hiatus which will hopefully give the squad some time to recharge their batteries, with some players looking particularly jaded in recent matches. Before that, however, Dyche will need to plot a way to become the first Everton manager to win on United's home turf since December 2013 when Bryan Oviedo famously scored a late winner that ended what was, at that time, a 21-year wait for victory at Old Trafford. Since then, the Toffees have drawn four and lost five in this fixture, but last season's version was a depressingly routine home win for the Red Devils who ran out 2-0 winners last April. Dyche is also grappling with his team's failure to win at all in the Premier League since mid-December, the worst such sequence since 1994, which hasn't been helped by his players' failings in front of goal and an increasingly vulnerability at the back where, previously, they were particularly strong. Having not conceced a headed goal in the league all season, they've now conceded in that manner in consecutive games, the first at the Amex Stadium when Lewis Dunk equalised in stoppage time and then last weekend when Kurt Zouma connected with a James Ward-Prowse corner to level that game. Dyche's response to Dominic Calvert-Lewin's goal drought was to start Beto against the Hammers and though the Portuguese saw a penalty saved, he atoned in the second half by converting James Garner's delicious cross to notch his second league goal since signing from Udinese last summer. Whether the manager retains him in the starting XI for a tricky away fixture against erratic but possession-focused United, when a more traditional centre-forward capable of holding the ball up better and winning aerial duals might be more suitable, remains to be seen, however. The other potential changes are at right-back, where Seamus Coleman is fit again but hasn't added to his tally of Premier League appearances due to the presence of Ben Godfrey but Dyche appears to be content with the latter playing out of position, and right-midfield where Jack Harrison's form has been patchy of late. The on-loan winger was particularly poor last week against West Ham and was hooked in favour of André Gomes in the second half but his industry and the Portuguese midfielder's struggles to stay fit – he missed training on Thursday, according to the Liverpool Echo – mean that the former will likely keep his place for this one. For their part, United come into this game under another cloud given the grumbles from fans at Erik ten Hag's management of the team and and media speculation over his future, with Brighton having to come out and state the importance to them of Roberto de Zerbi, a reported target for the new ownership structure at Old Trafford. Their defeat in the Manchester derby last Sunday was their 11th in the Premier League this season and, unusually for a them and a team chasing Europe, they currently have a goal difference of -2. Added to that, Ten Hag has a number of injury concerns which could, in the worst case, deprive him of up to 10 first-team players. Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Tom Heaton, Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount are ruled out while it looks as though Anthony Martial, a regular scourge of Everton teams past, will also be missing. Meanwhile, there are reports that Jonny Evans, Harry Maguire and Rasmus Hojlund face late fitness tests. All of which means that there are possibilities for Everton, who have arguably been better away from home than at Goodison Park over the past three months, to capitalise on the instability and unrest at Old Trafford and get something from this game. It's hard to put into words what a rare win would mean while a point would be more than useful but a loss would make the barren three-week gap in the schedule feel that much more deflating. Kick-off: 12:30 pm, Saturday 9 March 2024Referee: Simon HooperVAR: David CooteLast Time: Manchester United 2 - 0 Everton Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Onana, Garner, Harrison, McNeil, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin Lyndon Lloyd top * Unfortunately, we cannot control other sites' content policies and therefore cannot guarantee that links to external reports will remain active.