Late flurry of goals secures United win over Everton
A goal in the first five minutes then three in the final ten minutes ensured United came out 4-0 winners against Everton on Sunday in a game which was more even than the scorelines suggests.
United went into the game knowing a win would put them level with Man City at the top of the league and Everton were looking to end a run of three successive defeats in all competitions. Both Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku were facing their former sides but it was the Belgian who came out on top, scoring one and grabbing an assist in a 4-0 win for his side.
The home side got off to the perfect start, taking the lead in some style with the first effort on goal after just four minutes. Nemanja Matic’s cross found Antonio Valencia just outside the right corner of the box and the Ecuadorian full-back pinged the bouncing ball first-time across Jordan Pickford and into the top corner.
Following the early goal, it was Mourinho's side who had the better of the opening stages, with most of the action taking place in the Everton half and Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford linking up well for the hosts.
After 20 minutes, Rooney had his first chance to mark his return to Old Trafford with a goal. He released Cuco Martina down the right, and the full-back played it back to Rooney in the centre but the striker dragged his shot just wide of David De Gea’s post.
It was then Lukaku’s turn to go close against his former side. Michael Keane lost the ball to Juan Mata in his own half and the Spaniard released Lukaku, who raced towards goal, cut back past Ashley Williams onto his right foot, but fired wide from close range. Most people around the ground were expecting the Belgian to double the lead for the hosts.
The Toffees slowly grew into the game, and had the ball in the back of the net after they bundled the ball home following De Gea’s reaction save from a Tom Davies header, but it was quickly ruled out for offside.
Towards the end of the half, Lukaku and Rashford linked up once again but the Belgian had his close-range shot blocked by Phil Jagielka, who had recovered well.
The second half started in a much more positive fashion for Everton and some good play between Rooney and Tom Davies presented Rooney with a goalscoring chance, but his shot from close range was saved smartly by De Gea.
Gylfi Sigurdsson then had a chance to score his first Premier League goal for Everton as he made his way into the box before stabbing goalwards but once again the effort was straight at the United keeper.
A poor clearance from the young Jordan Pickford put his side under pressure and Ashley Williams was forced to bring Juan Mata down on the edge of the box which resulted in a booking. Things could have got worse for Pickford but Mata's free-kick rebounded off the post.
Wayne Rooney did not manage a goal on his return to Old Trafford but the United faithful rose to their feet to give their record goalscorer an excellent reception when he was replaced by Kevin Mirallas after 80 minutes.
The hosts finally doubled their lead and sealed the win after 84 minutes. An awful pass from Williams fell kindly for Lukaku and the Belgian striker advanced goalwards before threading through for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who finished calmly past Pickford from inside the box to make it 2-0.
Five minutes later, Lukaku got his name on the scoresheet, securing his fifth United goal in as many league games. His free-kick on the edge of the box hit the Everton wall but a resulting cross from Matic deflected towards the Belgian striker who bundled the ball home against his former side.
United then grabbed a fourth goal in stoppage time, but not before Sandro Ramirez forced De Gea into a brilliant save from a long-range effort. Anthony Martial broke into the box and cut inside Morgan Schneiderlin, but the ball struck the hand of the Everton midfielder and a penalty was given.
Martial calmly dispatched the penalty straight down the middle to make it 4-0 to his side, a scoreline which flattered the hosts.
This win gives Jose Mourinho his first victory over Ronald Koeman in six attempts and sends United joint top with Man City. The late flurry of goals also levelled the two sides' goal difference, following City's emphatic 6-0 win over Watford on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the defeat for Everton means they have now lost four consecutive games in all competitions, and Koeman will be hoping to turn things around as quickly as possible.