Manchester United failed to score, despite playing for 81 minutes against Everton's 10 men on Monday night, and one player was picked out for his uninspired performance
A dejected Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United
Joshua Zirkzee didn't take his opportunity against Everton(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt/Getty Images)
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Joshua Zirkzee has received a less-than-glowing assessment from Michael Owen after his performance against Everton. Zirkzee was handed his first start of the Premier League season by Manchester United on Monday but it did not go to plan for the Dutch striker or his side in a 1-0 defeat.
Zirkzee has been stuck on the substitutes’ bench this season, with Ruben Amorim preferring to start summer signings Matheus Cunha or Benjamin Sesko up front. But with Sesko out injured and Cunha pulling out last-minute due to a knock in training, Amorim had little option but to trust Zirkzee against Everton.
The Toffees were reduced to 10 men after just 13 minutes when Idrissa Gueye was sent off for slapping his team-mate Michael Keane. But United couldn’t take advantage, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s goal earning the away side all three points as Everton repelled pressure.
United dominated the ball and had 25 shots, but couldn’t find a way past Jordan Pickford, who made an impressive late save to keep out Zirkzee’s header. The 24-year-old is yet to score or assist in six appearances this season and Owen has suggested he doesn’t have a future at the club.
“I can’t watch him and get excited, I must admit,” Owen told Premier League Productions. “Cunha missing today was a big blow. He was the closest to scoring for Man United but they are almost resorting to playing like this with hopeful crosses because he’s in there.
“If you have Cunha playing, a different profile of player, you probably don’t go knocking crosses in all game. It’s not how Manchester United want to play and I always think if you start lumping the ball it becomes desperation.
“One or two landed on Zirkzee’s head but the way Man United are playing prior to tonight, it’s not the right profile of player, he doesn’t excite me at all.”
Joshua Zirkzee
Zirkzee has struggled for minutes this season
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Zirkzee joined United for £36million from Bologna in July 2024. He has managed just seven goals and three assists in 55 appearances for the club since then and has been strongly linked with a move away from Old Trafford in 2026.
The arrivals of Sesko, Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo for over £200m in the summer has seen Zirkzee relegated in the pecking order, with United’s exit at the hands of Grimsby in the Carabao Cup and their lack of European football giving him even fewer opportunities to play.
However, with Sesko currently injured after being forced off in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham earlier this month and Mbeumo heading to the Africa Cup of Nations next month along with Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo, Amorim may have to deny Zirkzee a move away in the January transfer window and use him more often.
United are next in action against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday when they will be hoping to have Cunha back. Amorim’s side are 10th in the Premier League after Everton ended their five-game unbeaten streak in the league.
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