Football Shoes: Six talking points from Everton's 3-0 win over Manchester United

After Everton's 3-0 win over Manchester United, we look at the key talking points from the game.

James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas secured the home side victory - but what does the result mean for United's top-four chances and how can the visitors turn possession into goals?

A frustrated unused substitute in Manchester United’s defeat to Everton last season, Marouane Fellaini was expected to make a happier return to Goodison Park this time around.

After all, the Belgian had been United’s star performer in their Manchester derby victory, described as ‘unplayable’ by Wayne Rooney and seen Premier League leaders Chelsea alter their tactics to contain him in recent weeks.

Yet, just as Kurt Zouma nullified United’s tall target man at Stamford Bridge, Gareth Barry marshalled him for Everton on Sunday. After spurning United’s best opportunity of the game and picking up a booking for a rash tackle on Ross Barkley, Fellaini was replaced with Radamel Falcao at half-time.

It was an unceremonious exit for the man United paid Everton £27.5m for, and Graeme Souness highlighted after the game how much Fellaini’s performance - and removal - affected the visitors.

“We highlighted before the game how much of the attacking set-up of United is down to him,” said the Sky Sports pundit. “He’s a real threat in the final third. The threat was taken away last week with Zouma and this week he gets himself in trouble, looks like he’s getting sent off, so Louis van Gaal takes him off. He’s such a large part of United in the final third. If you take care of Fellaini, you’re a long way to taking care of United.”

Everton’s success over Manchester United perhaps should not have come as a surprise. After all, United have now not won in any of their last seven trips to Goodison Park, losing the last three. But Everton’s form should also have indicated this would not be any easy Sunday afternoon for Van Gaal’s men.

Roberto Martinez’s side have been a team transformed in recent weeks. Unbeaten in six, Everton have taken 16 points from a possible 18 and victory over United moved them into the top half of the table for the first time since Christmas.

Five wins in their last six is a remarkable return for a side which has only managed six other Premier League victories all season. Everton’s home form has been central to their upturn; they've now won their last four on their own patch without conceding a single goal.

The streak has come too late to bring Everton success this season but, as goalscorer John Stones told Sky Sports after the game, it will set them up nicely for the 2015/16 campaign.

“We all know we’ve been under par this season but we’ve shown in last 10-15 games we’re coming back to ourselves,” he said. "This run is going to do us the world of good into next season."

Football Shoes

2015年4月26日星期日

Six talking points from Everton's 3-0 win over Manchester United

没有评论:

发表评论