Luks like we have replaced Roo - Man U vs Everton
Wayne Rooney's emotional return to "The Theatre of Dream's" ended with a nightmare, as Lukuku and Co steal the show. As Manchester United tore Everton apart in a 4-0 Romping.
Rooney was welcomed back to his former home of 13 years with open arms. The stadium announcer said over the tanoy "Welcome back number 10 Wayne Rooney." The ex-captain and record goal scorer was cheered by both sets of fans as he came on the pitch.
However, after just 4 minutes Antonio Valencia nearly broke the net after hitting a scorching volley from the edge of the box past England U21 star Jordan Pickford. Matic set the goal up with a beautiful cross field ball that teased Valencia into hitting it, after forgotten man Ashley Young broke down the line and cut the ball back to Matic.
The early goal made Ronald Koeman tear up his game plan. From Everton's set up with 5 defenders it was clear to see that their plan was to hold off United for as long as possible. For a while Everton looked rather lost with Manchester United piling on the pressure. After the match Mourinho stated "we were ultra-dominant". He wasn't over exaggerating as Everton only has 2% of possession in the first 15 minutes inside of the Man U half and none in the final third.
The former Everton striker and their record premier league goal scorer Romelu Lukuku could of killed the game off inside the first half after Juan Mata set him free after latching on to Michael Keane's loose pass. Lukuku sublimely cut the ball back onto his left foot sending Ashley Williams the wrong way. However, he couldn't keep his composure with the finish failing to wrap his foot around the ball enough to find the far post instead shooting just wide.
Everton managed to survive the United onslaught until half time. After the break, Everton came out the blocks all Cylinders firing. Tom Davies and Gylfi Siguardson where dictating the tempo and give Wayne Rooney some much needed support. Rooney himself had two glorious chances either side of half time however he couldn't convert either. Firing past the post with the first and was denied brilliantly by the ever reliable David De Gea.
The Everton fightback was short lived with them being the masters of their own downfall. Jordan Pickford's poor clearance went straight to Juan Mata who was brought down cynically by Ashely Williams. Mata got up dusted himself offer and executed an exquisite free-kick only to be denied by the post.
This was the last let off Everton got. After Ashley Williams' poor past went straight to Romelu Lukuku who split the Everton defense apart with a neat reverse pass that allowed Mkhyitarian to open his body up and slot home past Pickford with a confident first time finished.
The romping continued, as Lukuku took a free-kick won by substitute Jesse Lingard he was jeered by the Everton fans as it struck the wall. However, 5 seconds later the Belgian got then last say as it rebounded back to Matic who put the ball back into the box only to find Lukuku himself at the back post to slot home making it 3-0. Silencing the traveling Everton faithful.
Anthony Martial added the finishing toppings with a peircing run which he weaved through 3 or 4 defenders before a trailing arm for a Schniderlin slide tackle knocked the ball away inside the box. Martial confidently picked up the ball and placed it on the spot before slotting it home.
Pickford diving the wrong way really summed up Everton's match and last few matches to be honest. They look slow going forward and defending. It looked as though the only way they where going to score was from a mistake. However, Jose's well oiled machine rarely has a blip and was powerful, pacey and creative. The win puts them joint top with Manchester City on goal difference and goals scored however they are second on the league table as it stands due to alphabetical order.
