Anthony Martial scored the only goal of the match as Manchester United moved to within one point of the top four in the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory over Everton at Old Trafford this afternoon.
Martial struck early in the second period to make it four straight home league wins for Man United as Everton, who remain in the bottom half of the table, lost on the road for just the second time in the league this season.
© AFP
Louis van Gaal selected an unchanged lineup from the win over Manchester City before the international break, although Ander Herrera and Ashley Young both returned to the bench having spent periods on the sidelines. That meant another start at centre-forward for Marcus Rashford, while Martial was deployed in a wide position.
As for Everton, Gareth Barry missed out once again through suspension, but John Stones was fit to start at centre-back despite picking up a knock on international duty for England.
Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku, who have both been linked with Old Trafford in recent days, were also both in the XI, alongside former Man United midfielder Tom Cleverley, who dropped into a central midfield role.
Before kickoff, Man United legend Sir Bobby Charlton was present on the pitch as the South Stand at Old Trafford was renamed the 'Sir Bobby Charlton Stand' in tribute to the 78-year-old, who made 758 appearances for the club, netting a record 249 goals.
Both teams were full of pace and purpose in the opening 15 minutes, with Martial and Rashford causing Everton problems down the left and Gerard Deulofeu threatening to open up the home side's defence with his ability to carry the ball.
Lukaku managed to pin Daley Blind in the 14th minute and looked to put Aaron Lennon through on goal with a clever touch, but Man United's Dutch centre-back just about did enough to prevent a one-on-one situation with David de Gea.
The first real chance of the match came to the home side in the 17th minute when Martial struck one towards the far corner after working a yard of space outside the box, but the Frenchman just missed the target with his rasping effort.
© Getty Images
Lukaku's first sight of goal came in the 23rd minute when he sent a header wide of the post from a Leighton Baines corner, before the big Belgian just lost a foot-race with De Gea after rolling Chris Smalling outside the Man United box.
Martial's pace in the final third continued to cause Everton problems as the Frenchman looked certain to release a strike on goal 10 minutes before the break, but Stones was across to make a last-ditch challenge.
It was a first period where both teams continued to commit players in the final third, but the final pass was lacking in both halves of the field as referee Andre Mariner brought the first 45 minutes, which failed to produce a single shot on target, to a halt with the score level at 0-0.
© Getty Images
Lukaku managed to back into Blind and release a strike towards goal early in the second half, but the Man United centre-back deflected the ball wide of the post in another fine piece of defending from the Dutchman.
Man United made the breakthrough in the 54th minute though when Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who came on at half time for the disappointing Marcos Rojo, delivered a low cross into Martial and the Frenchman netted from close range, albeit with help from the foot of Everton stopper Joel Robles. It was Martial's 13th league goal of the season and Man United's 1,000th Premier League goal at Old Trafford.
Everton had a golden chance to level in the 56th minute when Phil Jagielka found himself unmarked inside the box from a corner, but the England international's header rattled the woodwork.
© Getty Images
Both managers made changes in the minutes that followed, with fit-again Herrera introduced for Man United and Kevin Mirallas replacing Deulofeu for the visiting team. A low cross from Juan Mata almost set up Smalling for a second goal just before the hour, but Stones did enough to clear at the far post.
Both teams continued to commit players forward as the match entered its final 15 minutes, but clear chances were at a premium with Everton struggling to release Lukaku in the final third of the field.
Jagielka again came close in the 83rd minute from another Everton corner, but De Gea was on hand to make the save, before Cleverley had a strike blocked on the edge of the box.
Fosu-Mensah pulled off a last-ditch clearance five minutes from time as Everton continued to press forward and it proved decisive as Man United held on to record all the points and continue their push for the Champions League.
