This was a good evening’s work for Manchester United and a response to last weekend’s humiliating derby defeat to Manchester City in which the scoreline still managed to flatter United. Here Erik ten Hag’s team came from behind to secure their fifth Premier League victory in six games.

If United’s 3-2 win over Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League on Thursday was a little nervy and unconvincing then this triumph over Everton by the same margin was more sure-footed. Apart from the haphazard manner in which Frank Lampard’s team took a sixth-minute lead when Alex Iwobi pounced on poor ball retention, United were the better team on a rainy evening at Goodison Park.

The visitors had Antony, who notched his third goal for the club in as many games, and Cristiano Ronaldo to thank for overturning the early set-back. And the character United showed to halt Everton’s unbeaten run of seven games in all competitions should be noted.

Although Ronaldo started on the bench, along with Jadon Sancho who was dropped after being hauled off in Cyprus in midweek, the Portuguese star came on for the injured Anthony Martial midway through the first half and presented United with victory when striking his 700th club career goal. It was a landmark goal and a remarkable record achieved within 943 appearances.

United deserved the three points that take them up to fifth in the table and Ten Hag will take positives from this display in which Casemiro grew into his first full 90 minutes for the club.

Everton did have late chances to snatch a draw but they were second-best for much of this contest. The sight of Dominic Calvert-Lewin emerging from the bench for his first minutes of the season will boost optimism amongst Everton supporters, as will the performance of Amadou Onana, who is settling in quite nicely on Merseyside.

Story of the game

Hoping to achieve a third consecutive win, Lampard brought Anthony Gordon into the Everton side in place of Dwight McNeil and the home team were quick out of the blocks. Within six minutes Onana had dispossessed Casemiro in centre-field — the United midfielder was starting his first Premier League game since his summer move — and Demarai Gray took up possession.

Iwobi struck an early opening goal for Everton (Getty)

His pass to Iwobi allowed the Everton midfielder to stride forward before curling a shot around David De Gea from 25 yards. The goal from distance demonstrated the confidence currently running through Iwobi and it was the perfect start for Everton, but United quickly found their way into the contest.

Erik ten Hag had performed a defensive reshuffle with Tyrell Malacia and Raphael Varane making way for Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof in an attempt to win their first league game since September 4. Only nine minutes after Everton had raced ahead, the visitors were back level courtesy of Antony’s third goal in as many league outings after joining from Ajax.

Fault could be laid at the feet of the Everton as they lost the ball in midfield and it was the first time in the game that the home side’s defence had been caught out of position. Bruno Fernandes played the ball on to Martial, who in turn fed play to Antony. The Brazilian traipsed into the area and bent a low shot beyond Jordan Pickford.

The travelling United supporters sang with even more gusto after parity was restored and the visitors were now in the ascendency. Christian Eriksen had Pickford down low palming away an effort and then Everton had to smuggle another chance away from Martial.

Antony levelled the scores with his third goal in three appearances (Getty)

Ten Hag will have liked what he saw as United became an increasingly dominant force. Fernandes had the ball in the back of the net on 37 minutes but play was brought back for offside. A fine right-footed delivery from Marcus Rashford teed up Casemiro three minutes before the break but the midfielder could only head wide of the goal-frame. He should have at least tested Pickford.

United did pull ahead in the 44th minute when Casemiro pickpocketed Iwobi near the centre-circle and sent a pass through to Ronaldo, who had replaced Martial 15 minutes earlier after the forward was forced off with a hip injury. Ronaldo ran towards Pickford’s goal with no Everton defender close to him and shot past the home ‘keeper for his landmark goal which arrived almost 20 years to the day since his first, for Sporting against Moreirense.

Rashford looked to have sealed the win with a fine solo goal ten minutes from time after Ronaldo had headed on a goalkick from De Gea. The attacker beat Iwobi in the air, then skipped away from a James Tarkowski challenge before rounding Pickford and rolling the ball into an empty net. Celebrations were curtailed, however, when VAR ruled out the goal after picking out that Rashford had handled the ball during the move.

With Calvert-Lewin on the pitch for the first time this season, Everton went for an equaliser and launched a late rally. Onana couldn’t find the target with a header and then De Gea touched substitute James Garner’s shot to safety while Onana was lurking for a dropsy in the six-yard area. A succession of corners made for a pronounced crescendo but United saw it out to claim an important win.

Player of the match: Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo may not have started this game but the Portuguese forward certainly stole the headlines. He came off the bench on 29 minutes when Martial was forced off through injury and scored in the 44th minute. 

This was no ordinary goal, however. Ronaldo notched the 700th club goal of his career and became the first player to achieve such a record.

His second coming at United may not be quite living up to expectation but he is still a notable goalscorer and after toiling since mid-September to reach this milestone, he deserved to reach it here in an important United triumph. 

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