Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made five changes from the team that beat Club Brugge in midweek, with Anthony Martial returning to the line-up after a slight injury kept out of the midweek clash.
David De Gea came back into the side in place of Sergio Romero but the Spaniard endured a nightmare start to the game.
The Spaniard took too much time dwelling in possession and Dominic Calvert-Lewin charged down his angles. The United stopper slammed his panicked clearance against the Everton striker and it ricocheted into the back of the net after just three minutes.
Calvert-Lewin nearly doubled the damage only a minute later, breaking through on goal but this time De Gea foiled his effort with a fine fingertip save. One error, one top save – all in the space of a minute.
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United were looking to hit back immediately and were only denied by the woodwork as Nemanja Matic curled his effort against the upright .
Curiously, it was Matic again who had a chance to equalise, firing a low shot which Jordan Pickford did well to push away as United ramped up the pressure.
On the half-hour mark, it finally paid dividends. Everton made a hash of playing out from the back and when the ball came to Bruno Fernandes, there was only one thing on his mind, striking with venom from 36 yards to beat Pickford, although the goalkeeper will be disappointed not have kept out the shot.
The first half ended with a flurry of yellow cards as both sides struggled to keep a lid on their tempers but after the interval, it was a lot quieter as the tempo died down.
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That was until Gylfi Sigurdsson, with a free-kick on the edge of the box, shattered the woodwork with a pinpoint free-kick and United suddenly found themselves on the back foot.
Solskjaer sent on Odion Ighalo and Juan Mata late on in search of a goal and they very nearly found the winner when Pickford made a crucial double save right at the death to deny Fernandes and then Ighalo at point-blank range.
Everton thought they had won it deep into stoppage time only for VAR to rule out Calvert-Lewin’s deflected strike for offside as the Red Devils settled for a point.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on VAR decision (BBC Sport)
“It was a lively end to the game – we thought we could and should have won it and then it was drama at the other end.
“David [De Gea] told me he gets distracted because he [Gylfi Sigurdsson] is there. His save to his right was fantastic – I was % sure that would be a goal. “
“We showed a great reaction and dominated the game from when they scored and deserved to come in level at half time. We dug in deep and if you can’t win three you take one point. “
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Everton striker Dominic Calvert- Lewin speaks to Sky Sports:
“In the moment, I wasn’t sure but seeing it back it was in the line of sight. It took a deflection and the keeper’s already going the other way, if he moves his legs it doesn’t really matter.
“For me, being a striker it’s a goal but VAR cancels out it and there was a lot of emotion at the end. “
Everton celebrate wildly as they think they’ve won it in the dying moments when Calvert-Lewin’s strike is deflected by Maguire and it rolls past Sigurdsson into the net.
But VAR rules the Icelandic midfielder was interfering with play and it did feel like the right decision. Everton are furious of course.
mins: Everton are finishing strongly here and United are having to dig deep, with Maguire saving them on a number of occasi ons in the last few minutes.
The Toffees have a corner now and it’s going to be Baines to whip in the delivery.
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mins: Fred, already on a booking, clips Richarlison on the left and is perhaps fortunate to escape a second booking.
Then again, he never should’ve been booked in the first place for that non-handball. That’s evened out now.
mins: Another game unscathed for Andre Gomes and he gets a big ovation as he comes off to be replaced by Moise Kean.
YELLOW CARD
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mins: Bizarrely, Sidibe comes back onto the pitch without permission from the referee and goes into the book.
What a dreadful rule that is.
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mins: Some concern here for Sidibe, who slides into the advertising hoardings and does not get back up.
He’s receiving treatment off the pitch and Everton are currently down to (men.
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mins : Bruno Fernandes is continuing to prove a menace on the counter for United and this time the Portuguese tries to pick out Martial at the far post, but it’s an excellent clearance from Keane.
mins: Fred is incensed after being penalized for handball but it came off his knee!
The Brazilian protests furiously and earns a yellow card for his choice of words. He had every right to be angry with that, though. A poor decision.
Sigurdsson takes the free-kick but it hits the wall.
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mins: (Calvert-Lewin beats the offside trap and races away from Maguire.)
With very few options in the middle, he makes De Gea work at the front post to push his effort wide. Corner to Everton, who look the more dangerous team at the moment.
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