MAN UNITED 1, EVERTON 1
A penalty from Zlatan Ibramihovic four minutes into stoppage time extended lack-lustre Manchester United’s unbeaten run in the Premier League to 20 games.
But just as was the case against West Brom on Saturday, it was a case of two more points squandered at home, this time against Everton as the Reds stay sixth and four points adrift of their neighbours who are in the last Champions League place.
And the continual slips at home – this was the ninth home draw in the league – and the 21 points discarded at Old Trafford will surely cost them a top-four spot.
The home games against West Brom and Everton lacked spark as United toiled to break down well organised and resolute opponents.
Apart from defending heroically, Everton were dangerous on the break and held the lead given to them by centre-back Phil Jagielka for more than 70 minutes.
While United had 18 goal attempts only three were on target as Everton keeper Joel Robles was hardly overworked with United again lacking a cutting edge. And Everton managed four on target from 11 attempts as they were the more threatening side.
United manager Jose Mourinho admitted some of his players are lacking confidence which is why he adopted a more direct approach. But he could not fault the attitude of his players.
“When they give everything and leave the field absolutely dead, it is fine for me,” he said.
Mourinho added that the referee’s assistant got it wrong to disallow a goal scored by Ibrahimovic, but added it was a difficult one and he had no complaints about it.
The Reds’ manager added next season they must improve in front of goal having had 36 goal attempts in the last two games, but managed to score only one penalty.
He explained: “We always start every game with a big chance that we miss.
“We have had lots of unlucky performances, lots of amazing performances by opposing goakeepers and lots of ultra defensive teams coming here.
“We are having chances, but need to score goals. Opponents have three chance, score twice and it’s job done. We need seven chances to score once.”
Everton manager Ronald Koeman, who could have become the first manager to win his first three games at Old Trafford, thought his side controlled the game.
He said: “We had a lot of space to counter attack and had to score a second goal. But not scoring a second, we were comfortable.
“It was the right decision for the penalty, but one minute and we would have won the game.
“It was painful as the boys did a great job. It is one point. And if you don’t win, it is important not to lose.”
Mourinho made three changes from Saturday’s home goalless draw against West Brom.
Ibrahimovic returned after a three-match ban and there were also recalls for Daley Blind and Ander Herrera as Anthony Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were relegated to the bench and Antonio Valencia rested.
Paul Pogba was back after injury, but only on the bench.
And Ibrahimovic had an early chance as he broke free only for Williams to block the Swede’s shot.
It was a lukewarm opening in terms of chances created, though Jesse Lingard let fly, but he shot wide from 22 yards.
But it was Everton that snatched a 22nd minute lead to silence the home fans.
David De Gea made a save with his legs from Kevin Mirallas’ angled shot.
And from Mirallas’ corner, Everton took the lead. Williams’ looping header went toward the far post when Jagielka, with his back to goal four yards out, flicked the ball beyond marker Marcos Rojo and through the legs of De Gea.
It enabled Everton to become the first club to score 250 top-flight goals against United.
The Reds had a great chance to equalise after half an hour when Blind’s free kick was kept out by Robles who was hurt as he crashed against the upright. Herrera, following up, shot against the bar from a tight angle.
Robles, who continued after treatment, pulled off a super save to turn Herrera’s drive from 25 yards round the post for a corner.
United made a change at the break as Pogba replaced Blind with Herrera dropping back from midfield to left back.
But within minutes Herrera and Ashley Young swapped full-back positions.
United were denied an equaliser after 55 minutes when Pogba headed against the crossbar after Young’s free kick glanced off the head of Romelu Lukaku. It was the sixth time this season Pogba had been denied by the frame of the goal.
Desperate times called for desperate measures and just after the hour came United ‘s last two changes as Mkhitaryan and Luke Shaw replaced Michael Carrick and the injured Young. Martial had been about to come on until Young was injured.
United thought they had equalised after 71 minutes, but Ibrahimovic’s header, from Herrera’s cross, was ruled out for offside.
Marouane Fellaini then shot over as United start to crank up the pressure in pursuit of an equaliser.
Ibrahimovic headed over in the 89th minute from seven yards as United looked to be heading for their first league defeat since the 4-0 loss at Chelsea in October.
But the equaliser finally arrived in the fourth and final minute of stoppages from an unlikely source.
Shaw, whose attitude was questioned by Mourinho on Saturday, unleashed a terrific goalbound shot that kept out by the hand of Williams as he dived to cut out the ball.
Referee Neil Swarbrick pointed to the spot and showed Williams a red card before Ibrahimovic sent Robles the wrong way from 12 yards with almost the last kick of the game.