Manchester United continued their push for Champions League qualification with a dominant 2-0 victory over Everton which was marred by injury to Marcus Rashford.
United registered a staggering 21 shots on goal in the first half but only found the net once with Scott McTominay lashing in his third goal of the season (36) to give the hosts a deserved half-time lead, before substitute Anthony Martial sealed the victory with his eighth career goal against Everton (71).
The victory, which temporarily moved United above Newcastle, had some of its gloss taken off by an injury to in-form striker and top-scorer Rashford, who hobbled from the field with nine minutes to play with a suspected groin injury.
A first defeat in five Premier League games for Everton, who saw striker Ellis Simms waste a glorious first-half chance, leaves them outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
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Man Utd strengthen top-four challenge
United arrested a three-game winless run against Brentford in midweek and that momentum flowed into this contest, with the hosts laying siege to the Everton goal.
United should have been two up inside the opening 12 minutes but a brilliant smothering save from Jordan Pickford denied Rashford the opener, before Aaron Wan-Bissaka sliced wide of an open goal after Antony's shot had cannoned back off the post.
Their profligacy was matched by Everton, who saw striker Simms drag a glorious chance wide of goal after driving unopposed into the United area on 19 minutes.
United continued to pepper the Everton goal to no avail. Marcel Sabitzer's near-post drive and a poorly-executed attempt from Antony proved no match for Pickford before excellent defensive cover from Ben Godfrey prevented Antony converting after goalkeeper David de Gea's quick release had played him through on goal.
Everton's resistance was finally broken on 36 minutes as an intricate attacking move ended with Jadon Sancho threading McTominay in behind to ram the opener past Pickford at his near post.
It could have been two before the break but another superb save from Pickford tipped Antony's curled effort behind to keep Everton in the contest.
In a more subdued second half where Everton grew in confidence without truly threatening the United goal, Bruno Fernandes' header and Wan-Bissaka's shot from a quick corner routine forced further saves from Pickford.
Martial came off the bench to wrap up the three points, slotting past Pickford after Lisandro Martinez and Rashford had combined down the left flank.
United welcomed Christian Eriksen back from a lengthy injury lay-off but just four minutes after his return the gloss was taken off proceedings by the sight of Rashford being forced off injured.
Man Utd continue Everton dominance - Opta stats
- Manchester United have won 39 Premier League games against Everton, the joint most victories one side has against another in the competition's history (also 39 wins for the Red Devils against Spurs).
- Everton have lost three games against Manchester United in a single campaign for just a third time (1993-94, 2015-16 & 2022-23), with this the 18th season the two sides have met 3+ times.
- Manchester United have won 23 of their 28 home games in all competitions this season (D3 L2), their highest total of wins in a single campaign at Old Trafford since 2010-11 (26).
- Everton have won just one of their last 17 away Premier League games (D7 L9) and remain winless on the road since a 2-1 victory at Southampton in October (11 games since).
Ten Hag praises Man Utd mentality
Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag: "As long as you don't score the second there is fear. But we conceded only one chance in the game, so two chances in two games [including Brentford]. We created a lot of chances in what was a third game in six days which is a credit to the team performance.
"In two really good results we've shown great mentality and character, so we are happy with that. We taker things game by game, we know what we are capable of, and you can see we are still improving.
"Today we played brilliant football, created so many chances, the midfield played really well with a lot of speed and direct play. We just needed to be more clinical and score more goals."
Dyche: Everton didn't do basics well enough
Everton manager Sean Dyche: "There were too many mistakes from us to be honest. They were the dominant force in the first half, where we were getting done by straight balls which we didn't deal with very well by our standards. It was pretty simplistic what we could have done better.
"There was some really good last-ditch defending, Jordan [Pickford] made some really good saves, but the reality was not doing the basics well in the first half as a collective. They did go in front and should have been further ahead, although ironically we had the best chance of the game with Ellis Simms, which may have changed the feel of the game at that stage."
What's next?
Manchester United face Sevilla in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday at 8pm, before travelling to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Super Sunday on April 16, live on Sky Sports. Everton host Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday at 3pm.
Man Utd's remaining fixtures
April 13: Sevilla (H) - Europa League, kick-off 8pm
April 16: Nottingham Forest (A) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports
April 20: Sevilla (A) - Europa League, kick-off 8pm
April 22: Brighton (Wembley) - FA Cup semi-final, kick-off 3pm
April 27: Tottenham (A) - Premier League, kick-off 8:15pm
April 30: Aston Villa (H) - Premier League, kick-off 2pm
May 4: Brighton (A) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 7: West Ham (A) - Premier League, kick-off 7pm
May 13: Wolves (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Bournemouth (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: Fulham (H) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
TBA: Chelsea (H) - Premier League
Everton's remaining fixtures
April 8: Man United (A) - Premier League, kick-off 12.30pm
April 15: Fulham (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 22: Crystal Palace (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 27: Newcastle (H) - Premier League, kick-off 7.45pm
May 1: Leicester (A) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 8: Brighton (A) - Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm
May 13: Man City (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Wolves (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: Bournemouth (H) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm