1. David De Gea craves the goal attempts that Everton directed at him
De Gea definitely won Manchester United the game with his performance, particularly towards the end, but he is one of the best shot-stoppers in the game with incredible reflexes, so when Everton kept trying the point blank shots they actually played to his strengths.
He became the first keeper to deny Leighton Baines from the spot in 15 penalties and he pulled off a hat-trick of saves in stoppage time to keep Manchester United’s lead. De Gea still struggles with crosses, especially when his penalty box get crowded, so that would have been a better route for the Toffees.
2. Everton should have started with a player tightly pressing Daley Blind
Everton pressed the ball with Steven Naismith and Mohamed Besic minding Manchester United’s advanced central midfielders, like Angel Di Maria, but they neglected Blind and suffered for it. The space that Blind got in central midfield allowed him easily spray the ball around and always be available to recycle possession.
That allowed United to dominate the first-half and by the time Roberto Martinez pushed Steven Naismith to deal with that problem, United were already in front. From that moment on, Everton were in the ascendancy and the game could have been totally different if they had started with the way they played in the second-half.
3. Manchester United are still vulnerable to attacks from opposing full-backs
The default formation for Manchester United now is a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond in midfield. The problem they are having is when they lose the ball they have to switch to a 4-3-3 defensive formation, with Radamel Falcao and Robin Van Persie pressing the opposition’s full-backs.
Those strikers only press around the halfway line but they do not actually track back with those full-backs should they push further up the pitch. That allowed Baines more than enough room to pick a perfect cross for Naismith’s goal.
United only improved defensively after they switched to a convectional 4-4-2 with wingers tracking back with Everton’s full-backs, but Louis Van Gaal will probably return to his preferred formation after the international break. That means teams can hurt United if they involve their full-backs as much as possible in their attacking play.
4. Romelu Lukaku lost his mini-battle with Paddy McNair
From the onset, Lukaku’s centre forward movement was heavily skewed to his left where the inexperienced McNair operated. McNair was only making his second senior appearance for United after his debut against West Ham United but the young centre-back convincingly won that battle.
He denied Lukaku for most periods of the game and when the Belgian got a chance to take a shot in the 39th minute, the young defender cleanly hurried him into missing the target.
5. The Radamel Falcao and Robin Van Persie combination is improving
In the opening 10 minutes, when Di Maria was preparing a low cross, Falcao and Van Persie quickly made complementary runs allowing the left-footed Van Persie to take a shot directed at the near post. They had a couple of impressive runs similar to that in the game which just expressed their growing understanding.
Falcao’s goal will help also help because the centre forward needed the goal. They promise to become the deadliest centre forward pair this season.
