MAN UNITED SURVIVE LATE SCARE TO BEAT EVERTON 2-1

By Joshua Walters 

Manchester United were given a late scare by Everton but still managed to beat the Toffees 2-1 at Old Trafford on a day that they displayed one of their best-attacking performances of the season.

Paul Pogba tiptoed more than 20 times before hitting a 27th-minute penalty which was palmed out by Jordan Pickford, but the French World Cup winner luckily benefited from the rebound to hit home Manchester United’s opener.

Anthony Martial, taking his season’s goal tally to four in three games, made it two for Jose Mourinho’s charges in the 49th minute with a nicely weaved curler from outside the box.

Gylfi Sigurdsson converted a penalty after Chris Smalling’s clumsy challenge on Richarlison in the 77th minute to pull one back for Marco Silva’s men, who went on to pile pressure on the hosts but could not penetrate the defense let alone register a decent chance.

The Red Devils have moved two places up the Premier League table as they are now eighth with 17 points, a point, and space above Everton and nine points below leaders Liverpool.

The Reds could, however, be dislodged from the top by the third-placed Manchester City, who are on 23 points ahead of their match day-ten clash at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night.

Idrissa Gueye tripped Anthony Martial inside the penalty area and referee Jonathan Moss signaled for a penalty. Jordan Pickford saved Paul Pogba resultant kick before the French World Cup winner hit the rebound into the net.

Martial made it two for Manchester United in the 49th minute with a beautiful strike just outside the box. The striker latched onto a pass and circled a first-time effort with incredible pace and power inside the right post.

Everton’s Bernard spurned a great opportunity from inside the 6-yard box in the 52nd minute by flying a chance narrowly wide of the left post.

Jordan Pickford heard the fans clapping for him in the 54th minutes for his superb goalkeeping after he magnificently stopped Marcus Rashford from planting the ball at the bottom left corner.

Paul Pogba unleashed a decent strike towards the bottom right corner in the 57th minute, but Pickford dived like Superman to palm it to a corner kick which was wasted.

Seamus Coleman pounced on a pass inside the box in the 72nd minute, but flashed his shot just over the bar, before Chris Smalling brought down Richarlison in the box to concede a penalty which was expertly converted by Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Anthony Martial could have calmed the uneasy nerves of the Manchester United faithfuls five minutes into injury time when he latched on to an inch-perfect pass to go one-on-one with Pickford, but the French midfielder hit the ball into the goalkeeper’s body.