"We let the fans down, we let ourselves down and I am hugely disappointed," Erik ten Hag said in the aftermath of his side losing emphatically against Manchester City. "We have to live with that and learn from it."
It was disappointment and frustration that was quelled somewhat as Manchester United beat Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League last Thursday. However, against a site not even dominating domestically in Cyprus, the margin of victory was concerningly narrow, and the performance still left much to be desired as substitutes bailed United out of a tricky predicament.
Their next test would be a considerable step up from a trip to a far corner of the continent to face relative minnows in Europe's second-string competition. Goodison Park, home of Frank Lampard's resurgent Everton side, was the destination for Ten Hag and his United team on Sunday evening.
After narrowly avoiding a surprise relegation last term, the Toffees had, ignoring losses in their opening two matches, started the new campaign in a vein that indicated a new lease of life. They came into the meeting with United unbeaten in six Premier League matches.
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Against Omonia, United had been made to pay for avoidable mishaps. Only five minutes into their trip to Merseyside, this was repeated as Casemiro relinquished possession in a dangerous area inside his own half. Antony's pass from close proximity didn't help, but Casemiro was unaware of Amadou Onana's press and found himself unable to afford to take as much time as he did on the ball.
Demarai Gray was alert to pick up the loose ball after Onana's intervention, eventually seeing his pass ricochet off Lisandro Martinez to the supporting Alex Iwobi. Now operating as a central midfielder, Iwobi has embodied Everton's revitalisation, and his curling finish from outside the penalty area was too well-placed for David De Gea to deny the attempt.
Ten Hag had seized the opportunity to give Casemiro his maiden league start for United after Scott McTominay's struggles in the derby, though there were early signs that he still didn't come into the match completely acclimatised to English football after previously limited minutes in the competition.
Regardless, it is to Ten Hag's credit that his principles revolve around players featuring on merit. An underperforming Harry Maguire lost his starting place early in the season, which exemplifies this point. And Ten Hag showed his ruthless side as he dropped both Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho, who were conjunctly culpable for United's first concession against Omonia, to the bench after withdrawing the pair at half-time on Thursday.
Luke Shaw earned a starting place after his positive impact in the second half against Omonia, while Marcus Rashford's brace and assist saw him reintroduced to the starting team. With Cristiano Ronaldo having had a mixed night in Cyprus, Anthony Martial, who was the goal-scorer for Rashford's assist against Omonia, also earned a starting spot at Goodison.
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Conceding an early goal was always going to make life difficult for United. Everton had the best defensive record in the Premier League in advance of the fixture, and they naturally formed a compact structure that United would have to break down.
But credit to United, their response was positive, and affairs were levelled within 10 minutes. And, becoming the first player to score in each of his first three Premier League matches for United, it was Antony on the scoresheet again, producing a decisive finish after a burst into space beyond his marker Vitaliy Mykolenko.
It was an explosive attack from United, cutting open Everton's back line. Bruno Fernandes was initially alert to pounce on a loose touch from Idrissa Gueye, playing a first-time pass to Anthony Martial, who was in a deeper pocket poised to link play. Martial's through ball to Antony was weighted perfectly, warranting the assist and his fourth goal involvement in only three bit-part Premier League appearances. Antony once again showed a knack to pick up the right areas.
Unfortunately for Martial, whose only previous league appearances this season had been off the bench as he returned to fitness from two different injuries, he didn't make it to the half-hour mark without having to be withdrawn with yet another new ailment. He had exited the warm-up prematurely but still started the match, with this transpiring to be the wrong decision as the issue, seemingly with his back as per Ten Hag, failed to ease.
Given the form that he has shown when featuring, even during his brief spell on the pitch against Everton, Martial's brittleness from an injury perspective is wretched. It would appear yet another spell - his third of the season - on the sidelines could ensue.
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Ten Hag had two clear options in terms of replacing Martial, but it was Ronaldo who entered the fray instead of Rashford moving centrally and Sancho being introduced.
Some may have argued that Ronaldo being the replacement may have been a hindrance to some of the fluid and expansive football that United had been playing to regain a foothold in proceedings, but he actually proved an effective figure within United's structured attacks. He linked play well, not always on the same wavelength as he team-mates but hardly a misfit within the system as he had appeared previously.
This was only good news for Ronaldo and the United contingent given that the side were playing football most aligned with Ten Hag's preferred methods. It was a match that United enjoyed high levels of possession within, but their use of the ball was accurate and measured as opposed to wasteful, and they dominated in a proactive manner rather than showing passivity that has sometimes been on display.
There was plenty of space being found in behind the Everton defence and within the opposing penalty box, with high levels of creation a statement piece given the renowned strength of the Everton defence so far this term.
Execution of attacks wavered again at times, but Ronaldo typified developments in that regard as, on the stroke of half-time, he gave United the lead by converting an opportunity which he may have missed in his form against Omonia.
There was a definite sense that the goal was a weight off Ronaldo's shoulders, with a relieved expression worn as he celebrated - a stark contrast to his displays of fury throughout the meeting with Omonia. The goal marked the landmark 700th of his club career over 943 matches, and it was a strike that also marked him scoring in each of the last 20 seasons.
It was a vintage goal too - one that rolled back the years to Ronaldo's best years for a number of reasons. The finish was ruthless on his weaker foot, though there was a touch of Real Madrid as Casemiro broke up play and delivered a through ball assist for his former team-mate in Spain.
Casemiro's role in the goal offered signs that he was getting up to speed as the match progressed - it is clear that he requires game-time to establish rhythm and to adapt. While he ceded possession at a frequency that he will wish diminishes, he proved his virtue as a defensive body in midfield by constantly putting opponents under pressure, winning the ball with tackles and by using his ability to read the game. His bulletproof mentality was evidenced as he responded to his costly early mistake.
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Casemiro's presence was important in terms of the general functionality of United's system. Christian Eriksen, for example, was an even more free 'free eight' and was able to contribute more to the attack by picking up higher positions at times, with Casemiro responsible for marshalling the deeper areas.
The defensive platform that the Brazilian offered from midfield meant that more attacking impetus could be applied by others. The full-backs were particularly notably contributing to the attack, with Shaw offering more of a match for Diogo Dalot's attacking ability than Malacia has done so far this season (even though the new left-back's performances have caught the eye).
Shaw's performance against Omonia was encouraging, and his display against Everton certainly won't have done any harm; he has been a player over-criticised at times, so it was refreshing that many were claiming that Shaw was worth of winning man of the match. He showed the value of his technical ability as aforementioned, but he also offered security from a defensive standpoint. A major criticism over time as been his application, though he offered an intensity similar to that which Malacia has been hailed for.
United could count themselves somewhat unfortunate that they failed to extend their margin as the second period progressed. There remained spaces to exploit and they continued to invent, though an insurance goal remained elusive as some passages failed to materialise.
The epitome of their misfortune came as Rashford seemed to have certainly confirmed United's victory inside the closing stages of the match. It was an embodiment of his renewed belief and desire that he fought his way past a number of challenges to score what appeared United's third goal - he won a header following a knock-on from Ronaldo, going on to evade a James Tarkowski challenge and force his way past Jordan Pickford.
But the goal was ruled out for an alleged handball after the ball bounced up off Tarkowski and onto Rashford's arm as he bundled his way through. It was accidental, Rashford's arm was in a natural position, and he couldn't have done anything to avoid the ball hitting his arm. Albeit, by the letter of the law, the handball was judged to have influenced Rashford's goal-scoring charge.
The decision, based on the rules, was the correct one. But it was inconsistent with other similar decisions throughout the Premier League weekend, including Michail Antonio handling the ball before going on to score for West Ham United - the goal stood. More lamentable are the actual rules, which no long offer any leeway for reaction time or any similar factors. Additionally, if Rashford squared the ball to Fernandes and the latter had scored, the goal would have stood.
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Thankfully for United, the debate didn't have to be about a potentially errant decision. It did make for a nervy end as Everton put them under duress, but United showed their character to hold out well with a sequence of late blocks and crucial headers from corners. Raphael Varane was introduced after missing the match against Omonia through injury, and his impact defensively was crucial in the final minutes.
De Gea was another player that proved crucial to United maintaining their lead in the latter stages. He perhaps symbolised United's improvements himself by performing in an increasingly proactive manner, coming off his line to sweep up and commanding his area to win the ball after crosses. His passing was more crisp throughout too. He has been written off by many, but, as with others, there is scope for him to adapt.
United's grit in the closing stages rather personified their resilience as they came behind from conceding in the opening exchanges, also responding to their Manchester Derby loss. And it was done in a fashion that warranted more than just a one-goal winning margin courtesy of two transitional goals.
One of the main takeaways has to be that they stuck more to a game-plan, and that game-plan was certainly more reminiscent of that which Ten Hag favoured at Ajax.
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