MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 01: James Tarkowski of Everton looks dejected after Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United (not pictured) scores his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Everton FC at Old Trafford on December 01, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
James Tarkowski looks to the sky in despair after Everton fall 4-0 behind at Manchester United
Everton’s daunting start to December got off to an awful start as they were hammered 4-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford. the The result extended the Blues’ scoreless streak to four matches but what was perhaps more concerning here was the dramatic collapse of what is usually a resolute defence.
Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite who was the subject of two rejected offers from United over the summer, deflected a Marcus Rashford shot beyond his goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for the opener and then gifted the hosts a second with a mistake that allowed Amad to race clear and pick out Zirkzee.
Rashford added a third just after the Blues had kicked off the second half before Zirkzee completed the rout after another individual error, this time from James Tarkowski.
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Jordan Pickford 6
Found himself horribly exposed by the defence in front of him and had to be alert several occasions to prevent the scoreline from being worse, rushing out to intercept from Bruno Fernandes, there was little he could do when Branthwaite changed the direction of Marcus Rashford’s shot to direct it into his own net to open the scoring, but being nutmegged by Rashford for the third will have hurt.
Ashley Young 5
A painful return to Old Trafford for Everton’s oldest ever outfield player who had his hands full against Diogo Dalot, he couldn’t get close enough to Zirkzee for the second and was booked in the second half with his side already 4-0 down for chopping down United substitute Alejandro Garnacho.
James Tarkowski 5
Followed up centre-back partner Branthwaite in making an individual blooper as for once he wasn’t as aggressive as usual and allowed Amad to nick a back pass from Vitalli Mykolenko off him and feed Zirkzee for the fourth goal after earlier allowing a shot Rashford to be poked through his legs from a corner kick, leading to the opener, and for a player who prides himself on his durability, he was hooked before the end.
Jarrad Branthwaite 4
It seems harsh as for the first half an hour, Everton’s breakthrough star of last season oozed class, making a couple of crucial interceptions and it was his perfectly place through-ball to McNeil that started the move for Beto’s big chance one on one, so he was desperately unfortunate to deflect Rashford’s shot beyond Pickford to open the scoring, but there could not be any excuses for having his pocket picked by Amad to gift United the second.
Vitalii Mykolenko 3
Hopelessly out of position on far too many occasions, he unfortunately endured a personal nightmare on a day of collective woes, it seems inexplicable that he had drifted so far forward into a central area just seconds after the restart as United found Amad in acres of space to pick out Rashford for the third goal and then it was his back pass towards Tarkowski that gifted a fourth, the closest he got to the Ivory Coast international was getting booked for hauling him down shortly before the break.
Jesper Lindstrom 5
Another lacklustre outing, he admitted before the game he needs to be doing more in the final third and while he’s learning the discipline to play wide in a Dyche team, we’re still waiting to see those flashes further forward.
Idrissa Gueye 6
One of the few Everton players to emerge with much credit from this contest, he did well to calm the situation when Mykolenko got skinned by Amad and Pickford came rushing out, and was tenacious in the engine room before making way.
Abdoulaye Doucoure 5
Started brightly, but like so many others in a royal blue jersey, he faded having bulldozed his way through early on and being clever enough to pick out both Beto and Dwight McNeil for chances, but he played his part in the collapse as it was his under-hit pass that put Branthwaite into trouble for the second goal.
Iliman Ndiaye 5
While United’s wide men were tormenting Everton further down his side of the pitch, were only a few flashes from the visitors’ magic man as despite working hard, there were few openings for him.
Dwight McNeil 6
Was left to rue not showing more conviction with an early chance when cutting inside from the right wing and he also picked out Beto for his inviting opportunity, as once United got themselves in front, his influence dipped sharply.
Beto 5
We saw a lot of what we already knew about Beto as while he found himself on the end of several more chances than Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been getting, he needed to be more composed with his finishing having skewed an early left foot chance high over the bar and then shooting wide when one-on-one with Andre Onana, more quality must be shown to be a success in the Premier League.
Substitutes
Orel Mangala (on 67 for Gueye) 6
A solid display in the final quarter in the centre of the park as United eased off.
Jack Harrison (on 67 for Lindstrom) 6
A willing runner down the right wing but it was damage limitation by this stage.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (on 67 for Beto) 5
Will have been disappointed to be dropped but was unable to show much of a reaction to that.
Nathan Patterson (on 74 for Young)
A first game of the season for the Scotland international right-back, brought on to share in the misery.
Jake O’Brien (on 82 for Tarkowski)
With no way back for Everton, Dyche gave him a late run out as a replacement for captain Tarkowski with Pickford taking over the armband.