Manchester United vs Everton LIVE: Rafa Benitez reignites his rivalry with Red Devils as Premier League high-flyers face off in huge lunchtime clash
Rafa Benitez’s history with Liverpool means he has faced Manchester United plenty of times, and he will reignite his rivalry in Everton’s dugout on Saturday lunchtime.
United and Everton have both enjoyed strong starts to the season and sit fourth and fifth respectively in the Premier League table.
Follow Sportsmail’s JORDAN SEWARD for live Premier League coverage of Manchester United vs Everton, including build-up, team news and updates.
Rafa Benitez’s history with Liverpool implies he has confronted Manchester Joined together the bounty of times, and he will reignite his competition in Everton’s burrow on Saturday lunchtime.
United and Everton have both delighted in solid begins to the season and sit fourth and fifth separately within the Head Alliance table.
Follow Sportsmail’s JORDAN SEWARD for live Head Association scope of Manchester Joined together vs Everton, counting build-up, group news, and upgrades.
14:21
90+1′ Dobbin gets a late caemo as he comes on for Gray, who was outstanding yet again today.
14:20
4 minutes of Fergie time for United
14:19
89′ Ronaldo shapes to shoot but tees it up for Sancho, who can’t wrap his foot around it and it’s an easy one for Pickford to gobble up.
14:14
85′ Everton might have stolen it here, big hint of offside though… VAR rules it out, heartbreak for Everton. Tom Davies had so much time and space to shoot but opted to pass to Mina who tapped in at the backpost. It was tight but Mina was just ahead of the ball. United breathe a sigh of relief.
14:13
CHANCE
83′ Pogba is picked out superbly from a corner but the midfielder can’t get enough on his header to direct it goalwards. Got away with it there Everton, Pogba was unmarked and should’ve probably done better.
14:11
81′ Sancho skips past Ben Godfrey, then lays it off for Paul Pogba who tries to bend one in the top corner but can’t hit the target. Encouraging signs from Sancho, who has looked lively since coming on.
14:10
80′ Entering the final 10 minutes, is the stage set for more late drama like we saw midweek?
13:59
70′ Solskjaer turns to his other big gun on the bench as Pogba comes of Fred. Can he help turn things around for United?
13:53
Manchester United 1-1 Everton (Townsend)
64′ United had been warned about the counter attack. They didn’t heed it. After a corner breaks down, Gray shrugs off Fred to wiin the ball on the halfway line, gives it to Doucoure, who gets his head up and moves it along to Townesned who first it in first time in the bottom corner… for good measure Townsend celebrates by mimicking Ronaldo’s celebration.
13:49
58′ Gray runs right at the heart of the United defence, cuts infield but is then barged as he goes to shoot, casuing him to scuff his shot harmlessly wide. Everton briefly appeal for a penalty but it falls on deaf ears. Bit of a warning sign there for United though, Everton looking dangerous on the counter and not out of this one just yet.
56′ Martial, the man whose goal separates the two sides, is coming off with Jadon Sancho his replacement. Ronaldo is also on much to the delight of the fans, taking the place of Cavani.
54′ Quiet start to this half, not a lot to report at the moment I’m afraid. So naturally someone is bound to score any minute I’ve said that. Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo preparing to come on, so that should liven things up.
13:38
48′ Mason Greenwood tries his luck from long range but Pickford makes a comfortable save.
48′ Mason Greenwood tries his luck from long range but Pickford makes a comfortable save.
13:34
PEEEEEEEEP!
And we are back underway here.
13:21
A look at Martial’s goal
13:19
That’s it for the first 45
Martial’s goal just before half-time separates the two sides here as we head into the break. Everton had been on top before that, but United were clinical when they had the chance and now Rafa Benitez’s men have it all to do.
13:18
45′ United’s tails are up and they’re starting to move the ball around with fluidity and confidence… That goal has clearly done Martial the world of good as the striker fires a decent effort at goal from around 30 yards out but it’s comfortable for Pickford.
TALK ABOUT COMMENTATOR’S CURSE!
43′ United are one up, and the approach play was quite brilliant. Fernandes recieved a sharp pass, turned his man and then slipped it to Martial in space in the box and the Frenchman smahsed it past Pickford. Eyebrows may have been raised by Martial’s selection today, but he’s justified his manager’s decision right there.
13:13
40′ United really struggling at the moment in the final third, just look a bit short of ideas. The home support getting a bit restless here, at the other end the Everton fans are starting to create some noise. They’ll no doubt be pleased with their side’s performance so far.
13:08
CHANCE
36′ Great wing play from Townsend as he goes past Varane and produces a brilliant pull back for Doucoure, whose first-time effort is well blocked by Wan-Bissaka.
13:06
33′ Mason Greenwood gets his name taken for bundling over Gordon. He’ll have to be careful now for the rest of the match.
13:05
CHANCE
32′ De Gea pulls off a great save low down to thwart Gray, who found himself with a bit of space on the edge of the box and didn’t hesitate to run into it before hitting a fierece shot on goal. Everton growing into this game and you can sense that in the atmosphere.
13:02
28′ Bit of handbags here as McTominay tries to pick up Digne, who was down with an injury, before both sets of players clash. Michael Oliver is mostly managing to keep a lid on things though and just gives a couple of players a talking to.
12:57
CHANCE
25′ Lindelof makes a key block to stop Rondon’s goalbound effort. Doucoure and Towsend linked up well before the ball fell to Rondon’s feet in the box but thankfully for United Lindelof was on hand to cut out the danger. Best move of the match so far.
12:53
PICKFORD MAKES A HUGE SAVE
20′ Huge save from Pickford as he dives to his right superbly to deny Cavani’s header from close range. It was a beautifully floated delivery and Cavani had peeled off his marker and would’ve expected to have scored there.
12:48
CHANCE
15′ Michael Keane goes close as he flicks Townsend’s free-kick just wide of the post. Everton managing to get a foothold in this game now, with Townsend and Gray beginning to influence things more.
12:44
CHANCE
10′ Varane bails out as United as he makes a last-ditch tackle to deny Rondon, who was allowed tons of space and slipped in by Digne. Fortunately for United Varane was on the ball and Rondon took an age to get it out of his feet. The offside flag went up anyway so it wouldn’t have counted even if he had have scored. First sight of goal for Everton though so they will take some encouragement from that.
12:41
8′ United really stamping their authority on this game, with Shaw and Wan-Bissaka both heavily invovled down the flanks… this time it’s Greenwood who is picked out in space on the right and fires an enticing cross across the box but no one is there to get on the end of it.
12:38
CHANCE
6′ Wan-Bissaka sells Lucas Digne a dummy and delivers an inviting ball to the back post but Anthony Martial completely mistimes his header and it goes wide. Big chance for United there. Can’t help but feel if Martial was in any kind of decent form, it would be 1-0 to United.
12:36
3′ Luke Shaw and Bruno Fernandes exchange a couple of sharp passes on the edge of the box but an Everton defender makes a vital block to cut out the final pass through. Lovely move but well dealt with in the end by Everton.
12:31
PEEEEEP!
And we are underway here at Old Trafford.
12:30
Both sets of players observing a minute’s appaluse for the late Roger Hunt
The Liverpool legend and World Cup winner sadly passed away earlier this week.
12:25
Players coming out of the tunnel…
Don’t go anywhere, kick off is coming up next!
12:14
Sportsmail’s MARTIN KEOWN anlyses the tactics ahead of today’s game
12:08
There’s a famous face in the Old Trafford stands today
Former UFC champion and football fanatic Khabib Nurmagomedov is seen below posing with his own personalised Manchester United kit.
12:03
Rio Ferdinand and Jermaine Jenas highlight United’s problems in central midfield
RF: Not enough clean sheets. That’s a problem. It’s not so much the defence, about the structure of the team. It gives huge space for the creative players
JJ: It’s a trust thing with United. I don’t think Ole trusts anyone to do the job in front of the midfield. Those partnerships just aren’t there. The reality is they don’t have those partnerships which makes you believe to win the title.
RF: Fabinho, Fernandinho, Makelele, Busquets. They marshal that area – United don’t have that player.
Ferdinand’s best Man Utd starting XI when everyone fit: De Gea, Shaw, Maguire, Varane, Wan-Bisakka, Fred, Pogba, Fernandes, Rashford, Greenwood, Ronaldo.
JJ: United fans would be screaming about Fred. There’s an argument about Van de Beek. He’s a ball player.
RF: All the fans were asking for a defensive midfielder; Declan Rice was being mentioned. I’m sure it’s something which will be mentioned in the next window.
11:56
It was a goalfest last time these two met at Old Trafford….
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin scroing a last-minute equaliser to steal a point for Everton in a six-goal thriller. Could we be in for more of the same today? Let’s hope so!
11:55
Bet he’s gutted Ronaldo’s on the bench!
11:49
ICYMI: Man United should be ‘feared’ more by teams, consistency is needed in a crunch season for Solskjaer and Varane is ‘exceptional’… DWIGHT YORKE, WES BROWN and DENIS IRWIN on their former club
READ THE FULL STORY BY CLICKING BELOW
11:41
Here’s how Everton will line up
11:37
Ferdinand not surprised by Ronaldo’s omission
Rio Ferdinand said: ‘You would expect to be rested at his age. But he’s bringing in Cavani, so it’s not like he’s bringing in someone who is substandard. What I’m really surprised at is that he’s playing Martial and not brought in someone like Lingard, who’s been making an impact off the bench in recent weeks.’
11:32
Ronaldo is BENCHED
… and there’s no starts for Jadon Sancho or Paul Pogba either. What’s your thoughts on that United fans?
11:18
Good afternoon
Hello and welcome to Sportsmail’s live coverage of Manchester United vs Everton, a huge game to get a big weekend of Premier League action underway.
There’s just over an hour to go until kick-off at Old Trafford, and we’ll have team news for you very shortly.
Post source: Daily mail
That’s it, no Ronaldo rescue mission today. Townsend’s brilliant second-half goal earns a point for Everton, who will certainly be the happier of the two.