Man United 2-0 Everton – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford score from the penalty spot after Alejandro Garnacho is fouled twice

Speaking of reasons why Garnacho might not receive the warmest reception in the blue quarters of Liverpool: that delicious strike from the reverse fixture.

Rooney was on hand to offer high praise to the youngster – but with an important caveat, which you can read about below.

Toffees will be stitching together their voodoo dolls as we speak.

2-0 leads don’t conjure up the warmest memories for United fans this season, but they will be delighted with the scoreline at half-time after a 45 minutes that by no means reflected the team at their best.

Everton will feel aggrieved, by all means, but those penalties were fairly given, and well taken. Their inability to capitalise when United were at their most muddled will haunt their manager, and it’s given them a lot to do as we head into the second-half.

Everton are really tested again after Rashford and Garnacho combine with impressive force square on goal.

Garnacho wrongfoots Branthwaite on the edge of the box, but hangs onto the ball for too long, and Everton can eventually stop the mischievous Argentina international.

Four minutes of time have been added, and Mainoo looks to pounce as he skitters away down the left and skilfully hands off to Garnacho. He cuts the ball back to Casemiro under pressure who barrels it at Pickford, but when the ball springs back, it’s Lindelof who has the final attempt in the passage of play.

Pickford makes a quick-thinking save, and Everton breathe a sigh of relief.

Set-piece wizards Everton have just had another corner that has brought them very little indeed. It’s not been the most edifying half for the travellers, and Dyche will have work to do in the dressing room at half-time.

Fernandes tries to skirt round the left of the box and set up his waiting team-mates, but he’s ushered off by Garner with little effort. In open play, United have hardly looked lethal.

Quite a fightback that Sean Dyche’s side will need now, and even more psychologically testing for the fact that both of the goals came from very little indeed, but for perpetual live-wire Garnacho.

He’s not the most popular man on Merseyside, I’d say.

He hesitates, waits a beat, runs, and scores, and Pickford is entirely wrongfooted for United’s second.

Everton fans will be howling – but football isn’t fair. A nicely struck penalty that pitted England star against England star.

But VAR is surplus to requirements this time! Everton have been so ill-disciplined here, as Garnacho the trickster gets his foot stamped on by Godfrey as he tries to slalom past him.

This time, Rashford will step up to take it.

Uproarious calls from handball from the United players and their supporters in the stands after Mykolenko pulls off a diving header to deny a clever cross from meeting its intending target.

The Ukrainian does indeed knock the ball with both his arms as he drops to the turf, but short of smashing face-first into the grass, there was little else he could do. VAR waves away the pleas.

But just as I prepare the last post, McTominay sends in a more-than servicable shot which again tests Everton’s defence, and but for Branthwaite – and the offside flag – might have doubled United’s lead.

This is an intriguing one. If Everton can’t put away their chances, United could really do some damage, from much less.

Though Everton haven’t equalised, manager Sean Dyche and his assistant Ian Woan have been clapping their encouragement in tandem.

United, particularly Casemiro, look sleepy and allowing the visitors to gain confidence.

And just like that, Man United have a lovely, almost undeserved chance, after Amadou Onana picks up a yellow card for some skulduggery and awards United a good-looking freekick just north of the box.

Fernandes thinks he’s got his second when he releases the admittedly very strong strike, but Pickford is equal to it!

Genuine bewilderment in the press box how Everton aren’t ahead here. Couple of their analysts are open-mouthed after Amadou Onana just blazed over.

They’ve battered United in this first 24 minutes and are somehow losing.

‘I think he’s given away six passes already,’ Ferdinand says on TNT of Casemiro, who isn’t having a day for the books, as things stand.

Onana is tested yet again, with Garner rattling the ball at him and forcing a springing save – only for the ball to fall to Amadou Onana, who fires it straight back.

Man United’ lead feels febrile. But can Everton do as their manager wishes and take their chances?

Harrison, tracked by Varane, steams into the box from the right, looking to pull down a looped ball with his boot but he can’t get his touch right, and it misses him for a goal kick.

But Everton come yet again, with Beto ushering the ball down the right before sending it leftwards. Mykolenko fires at Onana, with Casemiro blocking the ball out for an Everton corner.

Everton are still playing brightly, and wedging themselves in Man United’s half. Godfrey on the right has been a particular threat, sliding through the United midpack.

But as loose as United have looked at points, Varane and Evans are looking steady at the back, and Everton are lacking the clinicism at the moment to truly take advantage of the weaker performance.

Everton pick through the United midfield but only get as far as Fernandes, who passes neatly to Mainoo.

The teenager looks to play a running Rashford forward into the box, but slightly overcooks his ball, and Pickford can snuff out the looming threat.

Bruno Fernandes showed good bottle to beat Jordan Pickford from the spot having missed his last Premier League penalty against Chelsea in December.

Pickford guessed the right way but Bruno’s penalty was too accurate into the bottom right-hand corner.

No comfort at all for Dyche’s side – they have a woeful record when it comes to coming from behind in the league this season.

Pickford has no hope against the seasoned Portugal international, and the hosts are ahead!

All that early Everton pressure comes to nowt, as it’s their opponents who draw first blood.

Pickford did go the right way, but he can’t reach the tiniest of tiny right corner spot – exactly where the No 10 places it.

PENALTY! Tarkowski makes a silly mistake and hacks down a teasing Garnacho, playing right into the Argentine’s hands.

This will fall with Ferandes…

But Man United show they can play too as they hit Everton on the counter, with Rashford sneaking through the visitors’ defences with a view to taking on England team-mate Pickford.

Harrison chases down the forward well and forces a corner, which falls eventually with Casemiro to head towards the goalkeeper. He makes the save – but doesn’t need to, as there’s been some messing in the build-up, and it’s Everton’s kick regardless.

My, Man United are looking wobbly. Casemiro loses the ball tripping over the halfway line and Everton can slip away, with Doucoure forcing Onana into another quick-thinking save.

Moments later, Everton are back bothering again, and win a corner which Fernandes can knock out with minimal concern. But there’s maximum concern for United’s early laxity.

Everton are full of early fizz, and win the opening set-piece to try and strike early through a corner.

Tarkowski squabbles with Evans in the build-up, but he gets his head to the ball to send it looping out of the box – only for Everton to pounce in Man United’s half.

When the ball flies in to Godfrey in front of the six-yard box, he tries to bundle it in, but Onana makes the crucial stop. Early scares for the hosts.

We’re underway in Manchester!

Nathan Salt spots summer signing Mason Mount chewing the fat with Steve Holland a long way away from the dugout.

Rooney certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons on this morning’s coverage. But one thing remains evergreen – Rashford must see a rise in consistently strong form to quieten his critics.

You can read more into Rooney’s comments – and ponder whether he’s right or wrong – below.

Manchester United are frustratingly unpredictable this season, and neither a 3-0 win, 3-0 defeat, or 3-3 draw would necessarily cause undue shock and awe.

Everton, similarly, can both transcend their league standing and look thoroughly 16th.

But I think the home side will be able to do enough – just – to get over the line, 2-1. Your thoughts?

The gravel-throated manager has made no nonsense his watch word, and his pre-match interview certainly doesn’t stray from the expected.

Having Champions League football next season is absolutely non-negotiable for Ratcliffe, which, as he discussed in a BBC interview last month, is in turn non-negotiable for the club’s finances and staying in line with Premier League spending regulations.

Ten Hag sees no problem with this – it’s still very much on the cards. Or is it?

Mail Sport explores the possibility, below.

When asked if he has any sympathy for the player, Rooney is succinct.

He’s in a privileged position where he is playing for Man United. He is the one player that I believe can get my goal-scoring record. I hope he does but he needs to hit consistency. He is not having the best of seasons, needs to find some form and become a leader.

I don’t think he’s that type of player, a leader, his body language doesn’t sometimes look the best. Players such as Varane and Bruno should be getting that out of Marcus.

The former England international even suggested that his form could be helped with a move away from Old Trafford.

It is difficult, I have said about some of the problems I had with dealing with it. It is important the people you have around you, it can get lonely, I hope he’s not in that position, you play for united and England you will get scrutinised. You have to get ready. He is a Manchester lad and I really hope he gets back into form and has a long career here. (But) maybe he needs to move to another club.

Ferdinand added that he thought the new regime could play a role in reseting him:

I hope the introduction of INEOS can help him be a one club man. There will be transparency and a real focus on football from the top down.

But there’s no sugar-coating things from either former player.

The Toffees have only won two of their 31 Premier League clashes at Old Trafford in the tournament’s history, with their most recent one coming in 2013.

They have a slender capacity to frustrate, having drawn eight, the last one coming in 2021 – but there have been 21 defeats and they face a challenge today to avoid another.

It would be comfortable having these two (Ferdinand and Rooney). Back and front!

The focus is on this game. We can defend the box well, we concede many shots but that’s where our players feel comfortable. We have seen against Liverpool and City we can defend the box well.

I think at the back you need routines. You have to count on each other and know what your partner is going to do. We had a setback against Fulham and now we have to pick up.

Everyone is beating everyone, we have to win, it’s not in our hands, but we have to catch up. Every game is a final, we have to win this final and a lot can happen.

Ratcliffe doesn’t intend to be just a new broom at Old Trafford (or New) – the British billionaire has come in with the relative force of a turbo-charged leaf-blower.

Next on his list? An overhaul of United’s uneven recruiting strategy. CHRIS WHEELER shares more.

Certainly not Everton fans, sore after their 3-0 thumping interrupting a month-long unbeaten run, in the thick of the aftermath of their 10-point deduction.

Certainly not the travelling fans at Goodison Park who bore witness to what could end up as goal of the season, if not one of the finest goals ever scored in the Premier League.

Take it away, Alejandro Garnacho…

For a sign of how stretched United are right now just look to their bench – two goalkeepers.

The U21s playing last night and the U18s playing now hasn’t helped but Plan A best work today for Erik ten Hag as there are seriously limited options in reserve.

Manchester United XI: Onana, Dalot, Varane, Evans, Lindelof, Casemiro, Mainoo, Garnacho, McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford

Substitutes: Bayindir, Mee, Amrabat, Eriksen, Diallo, Antony, Kambwala, Collyer, Ogunneye

Everton XI: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Harrison, Onana, Garner, McNeil, Doucoure, Beto

Substitutes: Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Calvert-Lewin, Young, Gomes, Coleman, Chermiti, Dobbin

Both sides are unchanged from their last Premier League meetings, ahead of their three-week league break.

What an rebound they could claim if they snuck away with all three points this afternoon.

A riposte from Merseyside! Ratcliffe is full of bombast about making Manchester the centre of northern football, but could he pick up some resistance from Liverpool?

Carragher makes an interesting point, below.

It’s a busy old press room here packed with former players. Danny Simpson, Jaap Stam, Alan Stubbs, Jermaine Beckford and Mickey Thomas are all in here. Staying warm, presumably. It’s freezing in Manchester today.

Erik ten Hag was on typically bullish form on Friday when he spoke to the press ahead of today’s clash, as he underscored how badly his team have been impacted by injury this season.

CHRIS WHEELER has the report from Carrington.

… than the man himself. The former Birmingham City manager has some time on his hands after his igniminious sacking earlier this year, and he’s on hand to assist former team-mate Rio Ferdinand on TNT.

They open coverage with a sketch that’s a hat-tip to one of Rooney’s best moments on Twitter (now X) – a platform mastered by his whole household.

As Mail Sport’s own NATHAN SALT has captured below. But there’s nothing like a foreboding sky to ramp up the tension ahead of what should be an intriguing clash.

The hosts need a statement win, and fast, after conceding late to Fulham the last time they were on home soil. It might not entirely ease off speculation over whether Ten Hag has long in his current position – Everton are languishing in 16th after all – but their visitors can prove a tricky prospect and overcoming them decisively would help add vital credit to the bank.

After a steadying run of form that has seen them record four draws in their last six, Everton have the chance to spring back quickly after having their noses bloodied by West Ham last weekend.

Their previous deduction may have been reduced to see them take an extra foothold climbing out of the relegation zone, but with another sanction set to be handed out next month, Dyche’s side could yet topple right back down into jeopardy in what feels like this unending game of Premier League Snakes and Ladders.

All that is to the say, this feels very finely poised.

Welcome to… New Trafford? New minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has some big plans up his sleeve in his quest to see Man United’s crown become the jewel of the North.

You can read Mail Sport’s CHRIS WHEELER’s report on his machinations below.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of the first match of this Premier League weekend, which sees Sean Dyche’s Everton travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

On the heels of a sobering derby defeat, Erik ten Hag’s side will be hunting a statement win – but Everton continue to have no shortage of motivation for all possible points, with another looming PSR sanction floating over their heads.

Kick-off is at 12.30pm, but stick with us as we bring you all the build-up and team news ahead of this afternoon’s action.