Manchester United vs Everton result: Five things we learned as Mason Greenwood salvages hosts a point

Manchester United 1-1 Everton: A Victor Lindelof own goal had put Everton ahead before Greenwood found the bottom corner to earn the home side a point

Mason Greenwood found the bottom corner to earn Manchester United a point (Getty)

1. Everton’s midfield injury crisis leads to cunning ploy from Ferguson

After finding such stability and success in the simple 4-4-2 employed by Everton last week, Duncan Ferguson’s second selection in interim charge threatened to catch a few by surprise.

With as many as five senior central midfielders out, it seemed Ferguson had selected a 5-3-2, with Alex Iwobi and Bernard alongside Tom Davies centrally.

But Ferguson had an even quirkier tweak in mind. Keen to maintain a consistent formation, the Everton boss pushed Mason Holgate, who has impressed at the back this season, into central midfield to retain the 4-4-2.

Ferguson had suggested pre-match that it would be a five across at the back, and the ruse was maintained even at kick-off, with the players first assembling themselves with Holgate in the backline before he jogged forward to join Davies in midfield. It was a cunning ploy from the interim manager.

2. A visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past for David De Gea

There was a time when David De Gea was regarded very differently by Manchester United fans. Now lauded, rightly, as one of the great Premier League goalkeepers, for much of his first season at Old Trafford the Spaniard was dismissed as frail and indecisive, with the errors coming all too regularly after arriving from Atletico Madrid.

He had particularly difficulty in commanding his box, struggling to take charge of aerial encounters and generally looking uncertain when crosses came in. An extended poor spell of form eventually resulted in the dropping of De Gea, with Anders Lindegaard taking the goalkeeper’s shirt towards the close of the Christmas period in 2011.

While De Gea has since evolved into a more secure operator in all facets, Everton’s opener served as something of a tableau of that tumultuous time. De Gea flapped horribly as an inswinger curled close to him under pressure from two Everton jumpers, and Victor Lindelof was helpless as the slightest touch from the goalkeeper sent the ball careering into his knee.

David De Gea’s aerial error gave Everton a first half lead (AFP via Getty)

Into the empty net the ball trickled, and Manchester United were behind.

3. Manchester United struggle to break Everton down

Perhaps the greatest problem for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is how his Manchester United team only seem capable of playing in one manner.

With a front four of such athleticism and drive going forward, they are a fine team on the counter and exploit open spaces well, but when asked to control possession and unlock defences built solidly, they lack the intricate playmakers to find narrower creases.

These are both sides who are better out of possession than in it, but with the onus on United, at home and as the “bigger” club, to dictate, Everton were content to sit in and invite the hosts to find a way between the bodies.

And for most of the game Manchester United struggled. Most of their better opportunities came from distance, with Jordan Pickford equal to efforts from Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw and Daniel James.

4. Greenwood’s superb finish salvages a point

Mason Greenwood’s shot found the bottom corner to secure a draw (Manchester United via Getty) (Manchester United via Getty Imag)

It looked like it would be another afternoon of frustration at home for Manchester United for most of the game. A flurry of attacks came as the second half deepened, but they came largely uncoordinated, with Everton well set-up to repel, and always able to get bodies in the way.

But just as hope began to wane and Everton threatened on the counter, Mason Greenwood found a superb equaliser. The youngster is such a refined finisher, equally comfortable on either foot, and jinked inside on to his left to find a crack through which a fine near-post finish could be threaded.

It was another indicator of the 18-year-old’s talent. Here he was turned to by Solskjaer to find something where his stars could not, responsibility thrust on his shoulders with United’s cupboard bare of impact substitutes.

He delivered, and while a point should, and will, disappoint the home side, Greenwood’s continued development is a positive to be taken.

5. Moise Kean’s peculiar season continues

Moise Kean is a peculiar figure at Goodison Park. Procured to much fanfare by Everton in the summer, there are still those in Italy who view him as the forward of the future for the national team, and there are plenty in Turin who believe his departure from Juventus was hasty.

He has done little to prove those supporters right, however, and already appears a man headed for the exit door in January, perhaps on loan. Kean has failed to secure a regular first-team place and been ineffectual in his chances in the side.

This was another nadir. Having been introduced in the 70th minute by Ferguson, he suffered the ignominy of then being taken off in the 88th, with Oumar Niasse brought on in his stead as Everton chased a winner. Kean did not appear injured.

In his short time at Everton, Kean now appears to have lost the faith of two managers, having fallen down the pecking order under Marco Silva too. A return to Italy surely beckons in January, for he looks likely to be a periphery figure from now on at Goodison Park.