CAVANI JUST
HE was lucky to still be on the pitch and had VAR not been excused duties in this competition he probably would not have been.
But just as Edinson Cavani left Yerry Mina on the deck, so he floored Everton with his classy late strike.
This was essential Cavani, getting hold of Mina by the throat, getting let off and then winning the match with a pure left- footer as penalties loomed.
United deserved this win, even if Anthony Martial’s goal with the last kick added a little harshness to the scoreline.
But when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can count a footballer like Cavani as a fringe, it shows the riches he has.
It spoke volumes for the strength in depth of this United squad that Solskjaer was able to make nine changes from his Leeds- bashing eleven.
On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti sent out what looked like a Premier League starting line- up.
With United engaged at Leicester City at Boxing Day lunchtime, it was a pragmatic move from Solskjaer but the quality throughout his squad is undeniable.
Three United players made a bee- line for Ancelotti before kick- off, warmly shaking him by the hand.
They were Paul Pogba, Cavani and Nemanja Matic – three players not guaranteed a starting place at Old Trafford.
Ancelotti would love those sort of options and by the time Farhad Moshiri has finished spending, he might have.
But for now, Everton are always going to have a real fight against the very top teams. So it proved here. Throughout an uneven first half United – with Pogba and Bruno Fernandes instrumental – seemed to slip through at will.
The only surprise was that, after the display of finishing at the weekend, they took so long to make the breakthrough.
The different personnel had not been watching and learning, clearly. Headers from Mason