Manchester United 2-0 Everton: Ineffective

Everton lost their second consecutive match today, falling 2-0 to Manchester United at Goodison Park. The Blues showed an interest in attacking the game, which was refreshing, but a howler of an afternoon from Mason Holgate and an ineffectiveness in front of goal resulted in a deserved loss.

• Everton played the first half as brightly as any 45 minutes all season. Yannick Bolasie and Nikola Vlasic were filled with clever tricks and attacking verve, but no end product whatsoever. At the least, it was encouraging to see the Blues go after someone in attack.
• Bolasie in particular was excellent going forward, including a double homicide of Nemanja Matic and Marcos Rojo. Problem is, Yala isn’t fully fit, and Everton needed more quality in front of goal to make the Congolese winger’s hard work pay off.
• It was probably the best performances of the season from Cuco Martina and Tom Davies. Martina did well to shackle the threats of Lingard and Mata, while Davies showed a discipline and ability on the ball he’s been missing.
• Unfortunately, due to fatigue, game plan, or both, the Blues came out in the second half decidedly on the back foot. That was illustrated by the the decision to remove Wayne Rooney for James McCarthy when down a goal, but the problems arose before that.
  
  Mason Holgate was absolutely incapable of dealing with any attacker, and a bad turnover in midfield led to a free shot on Pickford by Anthony Martial that landed past Jordan Pickford.
• Everton had a good go in the final twenty minutes or so, but here again, the lack of final product from the forwards and creativity from the fullbacks betrayed them.
• That failure to score during a good five or ten minute stretch allowed United to open the game back up, and Jesse Lingard made Everton pay by skipping past Holgate and firing past Pickford.

Between Saturday and today, any questions about whether or not the Blues need to invest during the newly-opened transfer window should be gone. A striker is needed, a left back is needed, and for the love of God, come back soon, Seamus.