Everton returned from the international break with a 1-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford last night.
Despite going down to 10 men in the opening 15 minutes, due to Idrissa Gana Gueye slapping Michael Keane, Everton were actually the better team.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had a brilliant game and was the match-winner with his stunning right-footed effort.
Who was your MOTM vs Man United?
Dewsbury-Hall has come under some criticism in recent weeks, but he answered those critics emphatically last night.
Although, former Man United striker Dimitar Berbatov believes there was an Everton player who was even better than Dewsbury-Hall.
Manchester United v Everton - Premier League
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport via Getty Images
Dimitar Berbatov says Jordan Pickford was Man of the Match vs Man United
Speaking to ESPN’s YouTube channel, Berbatov singled out Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and said he was the real Man of the Match.
“We improvise. We score a goal. Today that’s not the case,” the 31-year-old explained.
MORE EVERTON STORIES
“Even though we had chances to score, Pickford was probably Man of the Match as well. But you should win games like this if you want to go high in the table.”
This has to be one of the saves of the season!
Where would Everton be without him?
Gary Neville was also blown away by Pickford as he made one of the best saves of the season against Joshua Zirkzee.
Thomas Tuchel was in the crowd yesterday, so he would’ve been impressed by his England number one and of course James Garner, Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Jordan Pickford reveals what David Moyes said before the game
Pickford, speaking post-match, lifted the lid on what David Moyes said to his Everton players before the game.
“The manager said before the game, ‘you want to be a proper team, you want to push up the table, tonight’s the time to go and stamp your authority on it and get a result’.
“We know it’s not as easy as that, but we gave what the gaffer wanted and we got our rewards.
David Moyes on Everton’s European hopes
“I really hope I can earn the opportunity to get back into European football here at Everton.”
“Football’s weird because Man United are in form at the minute. If they had won tonight they would have been top four or something and everyone’s talking about Man United.
“We have to look at ourselves and we’ve got to put our performance on and not focus on how well Man United are doing because once we put our performance in and our shift we can get results.”
Now, with Everton just three points adrift from the top four, the objective to qualify for Europe looks well and truly on.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox