[Photo Courtesy]
By Eugene Oyier
Manchester United handed Everton their 11th consecutive winless match in the Premier League, beating them 2-0 at Old Trafford. Under Erik ten Hag, United continued their dominance with a fifth straight victory against the Toffees.
Despite Everton’s desperate need for goals – they’ve managed only 14 in open play this season, the lowest in the league – they made a disastrous start by conceding early. James Tarkowski’s challenge on Alejandro Garnacho inside 10 minutes forced referee Simon Hooper to award United a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes calmly converted.
Even as Everton had chances of their own, with Dwight McNeil and James Garner coming close, United maintained control. Before halftime, another penalty was given as Garnacho was brought down by Ben Godfrey, and Marcus Rashford confidently doubled United’s lead.
In the second half, Everton hoped to turn the game around, but United looked more threatening. Garnacho and Fernandes continued to create opportunities, testing Jordan Pickford in goal.
As the match progressed, United secured the win, breaking their streak of back-to-back defeats and keeping their top-four aspirations alive. However, Everton’s persistent struggles in front of goal raise concerns, as their five-point gap above the relegation zone becomes increasingly precarious with each passing week.