Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial both scored their first Premier League goals of the year as Manchester United eventually found a way to beat defiant Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Pickford had already pulled off a number of excellent stops before McTominay, who has been in good recent scoring form for Scotland, fired them ahead shortly before half-time.
Martial came off the bench to add a second as United comfortably maintained their unbeaten home record that stretches back until September.
The return of Christian Eriksen off the bench for his first action since January was further good news for Erik ten Hag though there will be concerns over Marcus Rashford who headed straight to the dressing-room walking gingerly after he was replaced late on.
Meanwhile, Everton boss Sean Dyche will rue another poor away result with their next two matches against Fulham and Crystal Palace look vital in their bid to beat the drop.
Scott McTominay opened the scoring on 36 minutes with a fine finish from inside the box as he continued his goal scoring form
Anthony Martial doubled the scoreline after the break with his first Premier League goal of the year after replacing Antony
Marcus Rashford left the field deep into the second half with what looked to be a groin injury and headed straight down the tunnel
Dyche drafted in centre-forward Ellis Simms to replace the suspended Abdoulaye Doucoure with Demarai Gray and Alex Iwobi shifting positions.
Ten Hag opted to use Bruno Fernandes as a deep-lying midfielder in a bid to control the game and the tactic worked well though Pickford was the outstanding performer of the opening half-hour.
Rashford hadn’t scored in 12 previous games against Everton itmight have preyed on his mind when Michael Keane misjudged a header and he muscled his way past James Tarkowski to run in on goal.
A low finish either side of Jordan Pickford would have done the job but Rashford hit his shot straight at his England team-mate. His frustration was increased when United recycled the ball but Rashford couldn’t keep Fernandes’ cross on target.
Wan-Bissaka missed a gilt-edged chance from six yards after Antony’s shot had struck the post and rolled to him, unfortunately on his unfavoured left foot.
Martial has now scored eight goals against the Toffees in his last 16 appearances against them
Jordan Pickford made a number of excellent saves for Everton but was unable to prevent his side’s defeat
Sean Dyche’s side find themselves stuck in the relegation battle above the drop zone on goal difference alone after another defeat at Old Trafford
From there, Pickford excelled again. Marcel Sabitzer, starting as a No10, had a couple of attempts and Everton’s No1 also parried Antony’s strike after the winger had cut in dangerously.
Antony regularly found his way past marker Ben Godfrey with Fernandes pulling the strings. The Everton defender recovered on one occasion to make a fine intercepting tackle but relied on Pickford in another attack to make a flying save.
Everton, without an away win since the start of October, briefly showed attacking teeth when Amadou Onana headed over a Gray free-kick and Simms dragged a finish wide when given space.
Gray’s tangle with Harry Maguire led to the winger appealing for a penalty but referee Michael Oliver correctly spotted the Everton player had initiated the contact.
Pickford saved from Rashford again with a dramatic star jump after Fernandes had played United’s top scorer in but the Everton dam finally burst after 36 minutes.
Rashford was important fighting for possession in the build-up fighting and laying off to Sancho near the edge of the box.
Sancho threaded a clever ball to find McTominay’s run and his right-foot finish into the far corner was too accurate for Pickford to do anything about.
Although the midfielder scored four times for his country in the last international break, this was his first Premier League goal since December 2021 – ironically also against Dyche in a 3-1 win against Burnley.
Godfrey didn’t reappear for the second half as Dyche made changes. He also brought on Tom Davies and ex-United midfielder James Garner but it was ten Hag’s change, Martial for Antony, that had the greater impact.
After 72 minutes, Everton were culpable in their downfall. Lisandro Martinez’s long ball should have been dealt with by Coleman but he allowed it to slide under his feet allowing Rashford to race away.
Rashford and United carved a number of good opportunities out for themselves in a blistering first half performance
Christian Eriksen made his Old Trafford return after over two months with an ankle injury suffered against Reading in January
Harry Maguire impressed on his return to the starting line-up for the first time since February 12 and led United to a clean sheet
The forward, who had gone to the left when Martial replaced Antony, unselfishly squared for the Frenchman to tap in for his first Premier League goal since December.
It hadn’t been a good few minutes for Coleman who had earlier been involved in a scuffle with McTominay who kneed him the back, though referee Michael Oliver was able to diffuse the situation before a full-on melee broke out.
United could have had more. Pickford tipped over from Fernandes and there were big cheers for Eriksen when he re-entered for the final 13 minutes, the Dane having recovered from a serious ankle injury caused by Andy Carroll.
Rashford limped out a few minutes later though United will hope it’s only precautionary. For Everton, now 13 league games without an away win – their worst run since 1981 – they can’t welcome back their talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin soon enough.
