STICKING POINT
Calvert-Lewin earns Toffees a draw as Ole’s men miss chance to go joint-top
AFTER Manchester United stuck nine unanswered goals past Southampton at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, Carlo Ancelotti said he hoped they had used up their full quota before they met his Everton team.
United managed three more goals. But so did Everton to leave their hosts two points behind Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s stoppagetime equaliser now means that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have to wait that little bit longer for his 100th Premier League win.
It was a painful two points to let slip and, when asked if hopes of the title were damaged, Solskjaer said: ‘We’re not talking about winning titles.
‘This team has come a long way and we shouldn’t even be considered as title chasers.
‘That’s one for you (the media), we’ve got to be better as a team and see where we end up.’
The tone was set early on as Bruno Fernandes screamed in pain when he was tackled innocuously by Tom Davies. There was very little contact but, encouraged by the histrionics of the United midfielder, Jon Moss gave a free-kick.
The action finally quickened midway through the half and, when a rare Everton attack down the United right was cleared, the home team countered swiftly.
Mason Greenwood, who had already played the pass of the game minutes earlier, danced past two challenges but as the goal beckoned, he dragged his shot harmlessly across the area.
A minute later, United were ahead. They worked the ball down the right again and when Fernandes laid the ball back to Marcus Rashford near the touchline, Rashford looked up and saw Edinson Cavani at the back post. Rashford’s cross was perfectly weighted. It sailed over the head of Michael Keane and Cavani had the simplest of tasks to nod it down and past Robin Olsen.
United were dealt a blow six minutes before half-time when Paul Pogba pulled up in the middle of the pitch, clutching his right thigh. He was replaced by Fred.
United nearly contrived to hand Everton an equaliser when David de Gea came out of his goal in anticipation of a backpass from Victor Lindelof. But Lindelof hesitated and his attempted clearance rebounded into the path of Richarlison. De Gea was stranded but Richarlison’s attempt to curl his shot into the net lacked conviction and bounced wide.
On the stroke of half-time, United went further ahead with a goal that took the breath away with its combination of insouciance and sheer brilliance.
The ball was played to Fernandes 35 yards out but he let it run on to Aaron Wan-Bissaka with a nonchalant flick of his right foot. Wan-Bissaka played it back to Fernandes and he went to cross, before deciding to pause, look up, then take a touch before curling a vicious dipping shot over Olsen and into the net.
United started the second half strongly and Luke Shaw forced a diving save from Olsen after he played a slick one-two with Cavani but, four minutes after the break, Everton were back in it.
Davies broke strongly from midfield and played a ball inside Harry Maguire for Calvert-Lewin to run on to. He was forced wide and could only poke a cross-shot at De Gea but the Spaniard only succeeded in pushing it into the path of Abdoulaye Doucoure, who prodded it over the line.
United were stunned. So stunned that they conceded another goal almost immediately. Their defending was partly to blame again. They failed to clear a cross from the left and then allowed the ball to be played to James Rodriguez 12 yards out. He brought the ball down and, hammered it low past De Gea.
Rashford should have restored United’s lead after an hour but his attempted dink over the keeper was blocked. It took ten more minutes, and the substitution of James, for them to seize the advantage again.
Shaw curled a free-kick from the left touchline into the box with pace but the Everton defenders allowed Scott McTominay to rise above them and flick it goalwards, although Olsen should have done better to prevent it going into the net.
As full-time approached, United sat deeper and deeper and were punished in the fifth minute of stoppage time when CalvertLewin took advantage of weak defending from a Lucas Digne free-kick to poke home an equaliser from close range.
Everton boss Ancelotti said: ‘I didn’t think we deserved to be losing 2-0 (at half-time).’
‘After that, we scored two goals that were not expected, but we didn’t deserve to lose and I think the draw was fair for us.
‘I’m proud of my team, we have a good run at this moment, but we need to keep this spirit as well as the quality we have.’