United failed to make the most of their one-man advantage in humiliating 1-0 loss to Everton

Manchester United fell to a humiliating 1-0 loss to Everton at Old Trafford on Monday night. Despite enjoying a one man advantage for most of the game, Man United were unable to make the most of it, slumping to a defeat thanks to their inability to make the most of their attacking momentum. First half The opening minutes felt like a game of pinball, with both teams thumping hard passes and long balls from one end of the pitch to the other, but neither side managed to establish possession. Joshua Zirkzee lost his cool when James Tarkowski clattered into him. With the referee refusing to book the Everton defender, it seemed apparent that Tarkowski’s goal was to rattle the United forward. Zirkzee needed to shake off the incident quickly in order to get back into the swing of the match. Finally, United’s attack sparked to life when Bryan Mbeumo rushed into the box, cutting the ball back to Bruno Fernandes, whose shot veered just wide. Then, a moment of madness unfolded. Everton’s Idrissa Gueye was reprimanded by Michael Keane due to his defensive lapse during the build-up. Gueye then physically pushed Keane and verbally scolded him, earning himself a red card for his inappropriate behaviour. After just 13 minutes of play, Everton were a man down, handing United an ideal opportunity to put on the pressure and take full advantage. While United certainly upped the pressure in the visitors’ final third, they didn’t quite seem to have the final product. They were unable to get any attempts on goal. In the 29th minute, the visitors shocked the Old Trafford crowd into silence. Kieran Dewsbury-Hall took a stunning shot from the edge of the box that curled into the top corner on the far side of the goal. Suddenly, the underdogs were in front, despite being a man down. Straight after kick-off, Amad attempted a quick reply, dribbling past two players before taking a shot that was blocked on the edge of the box. 32 minutes in, Zirkzee received a through ball on the right flank. His cross made its way across the face of the goal and into the path of Patrick Dorgu, who blasted the ball shockingly wide despite being in close range of the goalposts. With eight minutes left until the break, Mbeumo hit the ground hard when tackled by Keane. The United bench appeared worried as Mbeumo clutched his shoulder, although the player returned to his feet moments later. United were pushing hard for a goal in the final few minutes of the half, with Fernandes taking a blistering long-range effort that Jordan Pickford tipped over the crossbar. Four minutes of added time were announced, meaning United still had some time to find the equaliser they desperately sought after. Mbeumo was shown a yellow card for pushing James Garner. Unfortunately, United were unable to find a breakthrough, meaning that they would go into the break trailing 1-0 despite being a man up. Clearly, manager Ruben Amorim needed to make some changes to his tactics in order to swing the game in United’s favour. Second half United returned to the pitch with Mason Mount in place of Noussair Mazraoui. Clearly, Amorim understood that more attacking firepower was needed in order to level the score. Casemiro received a yellow card just three minutes into the second half due to his rough tackle of Jack Grealish. Dorgu thumped a cross into the box that was headed toward Casemiro on the edge of the box. The Brazilian attempted a volley, but his shot was fired wide. Luke Shaw got on the end of a through ball from Amad Diallo, sprinting down the left wing and hammering a ball into the box that was deflected out for a corner. Fernandes’s short corner found Mount, who passed back to Fernandes. While the United skipper played a threatening pass into the centre of the box, a blue shirt found the ball before any of his teammates. With 33 minutes to play, Amorim made a double change. Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo came on for Casemiro and Dorgu. Mbeumo took a fiery shot that was blocked by a resolute Pickford. Mount pounced on the rebound, hitting his shot barely wide of the far post. With 20 minutes left on the clock, Mount laid off an opportune ball to Fernandes, who failed to keep the ball low enough to go into the net from close range. It was yet another frustratingly close effort that failed to get United on the scoresheet. Surely, with continued persistence, United would find a long-overdue breakthrough. In the 79th minute, Zirkzee got on the end of a Luke Shaw cross, heading the ball toward the left post, only for the keeper to tip it out for a corner. With four minutes left on the clock, Zirkzee was on the receiving end of another cross, this time from Mainoo, which he flicked wide with another header. Yet again, he came agonisingly close to scoring. Yet again, Zirkzee took another header, this time flicking his effort over the bar. Four minutes of added time were illuminated on the electronic board, meaning that United still had some time to find a dramatic late equaliser. Mount rushed down the left flank, blasting a ball into the centre of the box where Mbeumo lay in wait, only for Mykolenko to clear the ball out of danger. Amad took a speculative shot in a crowded box, with his shot being deflected in De Ligt’s direction. While the defender took a rapid shot, Pickford reacted in time to make the save. The subsequent corner found De Ligt again, whose volley was blocked just inches away from the goal line. Starting XI: Lammens, Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw, Mazraoui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu, Mbeumo, Amad, Zirkzee Subs: Mount, Dalot, Mainoo Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Mathew Cohen A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.