Both Everton and Manchester United made strong starts to the season, only to fall away behind the top four as the season has worn on. In that regard, three points were vital for each of these teams to maintain the pressure on the teams above them.
There was an early moment of controversy when Marcos Rojo really should have seen red for this appalling challenge on Everton’s Idrissa Gueye, but the Argentine international somehow escaped with a yellow.
The first goal came just before half time, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his sixth goal in five games, lobbing the onrushing Maarten Stekelenburg after a moment of madness from the Dutch goalkeeper.
Man United looked like seeing the game out until substitute Marouane Fellaini, having just come on, recklessly gave away a penalty. Leighton Baines did the necessary and equalised from the spot with minutes remainng.
1-1 the final score, and both these sides’ continue their search for that winning run.
But how did the Manchester united player fare at Goodison?
DAVID DE GEA: Barely involved for the first 52 minutes but proved his class with a brilliant one-handed save from Mirallas’ goalbound effort. Made four further stops but could not keep out the penalty. 8
ANTONIO VALENCIA: A relatively safe pair of hands now at right-back. Got up and down his flank well and made some progress on the overlap. 6
PHIL JONES: A sturdy, impressive display of old-fashioned centre-half work from a man who is fast rebuilding his reputation at Old Trafford. 7
MARCOS ROJO: Unfathomably allowed to stay on the pitch after a dreadul two-footed lunge at Gueye that should have left his side in serious trouble. That compromises whatever good work he subsequently did. 5
MATTEO DARMIAN: A fish out of water at left-back, the Italian looked uncomfortable and exposed in defence but was spared by Everton’s inability to exert consistent pressure on a clear weak link. 5
ANDER HERRERA: Unbelievably clattered the woodwork from six yards with United 1-0 up but, for the most part, turned in a tidy performance further back in the engine room. 7
MICHAEL CARRICK: Handed just a third Premier League start of the season, the veteran midfielder was typically efficient. Positional discipline is valued by team-mates and helps United keep their shape. 7
PAUL POGBA: Possibly played too deep for too long, a problem that may or may not be of his own making. But the £100m man needs to find a way to take these games by the scruff of the neck. 6
HENRIKH MKHITARYAN: Handed a rare start by Jose Mourinho the former Borussia Dortmund man struggled to demand attention in the first half and was hooked in the second. 6
ANTHONY MARTIAL: A decent if unspectacular turn by the French international. Looked busy and made himself available without ever getting close to changing the game. 7
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC: Produced a box office finish, complete with cliffhanger, to break the deadlock showing his skill, technique and calmness. Questions will be asked about his conduct in tussling with Coleman. 7
Substitutes:
MARCUS RASHFORD (for Anthony Martial): Not able to help his side over the line. 6 MAROUANE FELLAINI (for Mkhitaryan): It may have been soft but giving away a crucial penalty in the briefest of appearances never looks good. 3