..::Football IV::..

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    Tottenham 0 Swansea City 0: Spurs wait for league Wembley win goes on

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    Tottenham remain without a Premier League win at Wembley after a dominant performance against Swansea City yielded only a 0-0 draw.Spurs delivered a fine performance at England's national stadium in the Champions League on Wednesday by beating Borussia Dortmund 3-1.

    But they could not match that display in Saturday's contest, with Harry Kane hitting the crossbar as Spurs failed to score in a home league game for the first time in 30 outings.

    Having failed to score a first-half goal for the third home game in succession, Mauricio Pochettino's men carried more of a threat in the second half but found Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski in impressive form.

    Son Heung-min was Kane's chief lieutenant in attack, but both failed to find a way through, with Spurs' frustrations magnified by two strong shouts for a penalty being waved away by referee Mike Dean.

    Swansea did not register a shot on target but an away point represents a decent response following their 1-0 home defeat to in-form Newcastle United last weekend.


    Kane was the first to test Fabianski in the Swansea goal in the ninth minute as his low free-kick forced the Pole to save down to his left. Two minutes later, Fabianski was called upon again to turn Son's powerful effort behind after neat build-up play involving Moussa Sissoko.

    But Tottenham lost their early momentum and Swansea reached the interval without having their goal threatened any further. Indeed, the Swans could have gone into half-time ahead had Mike van der Hoorn controlled the height on his header from Tom Carroll's corner.

    Spurs ratcheted up the tempo in the second half and saw an appeal for a penalty turned down despite Martin Olsson appearing to handle in the area.
    Son was then thwarted again by Fabianski at the near post, with Kane hitting the crossbar from close-range moments later after Sissoko's lay-off.

    South Korea striker Son displayed excellent close control to keep the ball from crossing the byline before forcing Fabianski into action again from a tight angle and Kane had a header tipped over from the resulting corner as Spurs continued to pile on the pressure to no avail.

    Dele Alli somehow contrived to send a free header sideways from Christian Eriksen's excellent cross, and Kane failed to find the target with a low drive.
    Spurs were incensed when Jordan Ayew clipped Serge Aurier in the area late on, only for Dean to punish the full-back for a questionable handball as he burst towards goal.

    Spurs grew more desperate and their final chance passed by as Kieran Trippier fired wide from 30 yards, with Swansea holding firm for a point few inside Wembley will have believed they merited.

    Kane was the first to test Fabianski in the Swansea goal in the ninth minute as his low free-kick forced the Pole to save down to his left.

    Two minutes later, Fabianski was called upon again to turn Son's powerful effort behind after neat build-up play involving Moussa Sissoko.

    But Tottenham lost their early momentum and Swansea reached the interval without having their goal threatened any further. Indeed, the Swans could have gone into half-time ahead had Mike van der Hoorn controlled the height on his header from Tom Carroll's corner.Spurs ratcheted up the tempo in the second half and saw an appeal for a penalty turned down despite Martin Olsson appearing to handle in the area.

    Son was then thwarted again by Fabianski at the near post, with Kane hitting the crossbar from close-range moments later after Sissoko's lay-off.

    South Korea striker Son displayed excellent close control to keep the ball from crossing the byline before forcing Fabianski into action again from a tight angle and Kane had a header tipped over from the resulting corner as Spurs continued to pile on the pressure to no avail.

    Dele Alli somehow contrived to send a free header sideways from Christian Eriksen's excellent cross, and Kane failed to find the target with a low drive.
    Spurs were incensed when Jordan Ayew clipped Serge Aurier in the area late on, only for Dean to punish the full-back for a questionable handball as he burst towards goal.

    Spurs grew more desperate and their final chance passed by as Kieran Trippier fired wide from 30 yards, with Swansea holding firm for a point few inside Wembley will have believed they merited.
     

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    Koeman: Lukaku's goals almost impossible to replace


    Romelu Lukaku was almost impossible to replace at Everton, according to manager Ronald Koeman.

    Lukaku, 24, joined Manchester United in July for a reported £75 million, ending a four-season stay at Goodison Park.The Belgium international scored 25 league goals last season, and he has netted six in six in all competitions for United.

    Koeman, whose team have made a slow start to the campaign and visit Old Trafford on Sunday, said replacing Lukaku was always going to be a huge ask.

    "I don't say impossible, but that was close to impossible to get someone in who will score that amount of goals that Romelu scored for Everton," the Dutchman said, via the Liverpool Echo ."With Romelu we had enough fights about how he needs to press, how he needs to run, how he needs to move but in the box, with opportunities to score, he is one of the best.

    "It is always difficult to replace players like him because of the person he was, the physical boy that he is, the number of goals that he scored. It is difficult."Everton made numerous signings, adding the likes of Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Davy Klaassen and Sandro Ramirez.

    However, they have scored just two goals in their first four league games, and were humbled 3-0 by Atalanta in the Europa League on Thursday.
     

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    Mourinho: Premier League the hardest to win


    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes it has never been more difficult to win the Premier League title.United have made a flying start to the season, scoring 12 goals to collect 10 points from their opening four league games.

    Mourinho, whose team host Everton on Sunday, led Chelsea to three Premier League titles, but the Portuguese tactician feels it has never been tougher in England."I think it is more difficult now," he said. "The economic power belongs to everyone.

    "When you speak about economic power, it is not just to buy but to keep players and say, 'No, we don't sell'. That power belongs to every club in the Premier League, so the teams are potentially strong."But it was always difficult for different reasons. It is difficult because this is the country with more teams that fight for the title.

    "And with more teams outside that group of six or seven who have conditions to give you hard matches and to take points off you."It is difficult because it is competitive. It is the most difficult country in which to win the title."United showcased some of their economic power in the off-season, including buying Romelu Lukaku for a reported £75million from Everton.

    Mourinho played down his impact in landing the Belgium international, who has already netted six goals this season, amid apparent interest from Chelsea.

    "I don't think it was my influence, no," he said."I think that we paid the money that Everton asked for and we paid the player the wages that his agent asked for and we paid the agents the commission that they asked for."I don't see another reason."
     

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    :)Lukaku branded a 'pure No.9' as Man Utd legend Van Nistelrooy sees similarities with himself


    Romelu Lukaku has been billed as a “pure No.9” by a man who knows a thing or two about filling that role at Manchester United, Ruud van Nistelrooy.

    The Red Devils spent big over the summer in pursuit of a proven goal-getter, with £75 million paid to Premier League rivals Everton for a man considered to be one of the best in the business.At 24 years of age, Lukaku has already achieved plenty and is yet to reach his prime.

    He is a player that excites United legend Van Nistelrooy – a man who netted 150 times for the club in his heyday – with the iconic Dutchman seeing similarities between Lukaku’s game and his own.“Lukaku has made a good start at dealing with the pressure as a striker at United,” said Van Nistelrooy.

    “There is always a price ticket around your neck, ­especially in the early matches. If you don’t score, people say, ‘Hey, he’s not scoring’. But Romelu is scoring goals and I’m certain that will continue.“Like me, I think he is a pure No.9, playing through the ­middle. You wouldn’t put me on the wing. The same with him. I was the same type of player, making runs ­behind, dangerous in the box and holding the ball up.

    “He has made a real difference to United. He has scored goals from the off and has the right boss, in Jose ­Mourinho, to guide him.“There will be ­difficult phases to come. But Mourinho has been there and done it and will know how to guide him through any rough patches.”

    If Lukaku continues to deliver for United, having netted six times in as many games so far, then Jose Mourinho’s side should be there or thereabouts when the biggest prizes are handed out.

    Van Nistelrooy sees them contending for top honours, with solid foundations having been laid last season as the Red Devils secured Community Shield, EFL Cup and Europa League triumphs.

    He added: “It was great to see United win trophies last season.“This time around, with the squad they have, I think they are capable of ­competing in both the Premier League and the ­Champions League.

    “They ­definitely have the squad. It’s also important that they have width and quality in the side.“They look rock-solid, have creativity and goals up front. And soon they will also have Zlatan Ibrahimovic back. It will be great to have his ­quality and ­experience.”

    United and Lukaku will be back in action on Sunday when they are reunited with the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, Wayne Rooney, and his current employers at Everton.
     

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    Klopp: Liverpool could have won every game


    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side could have won all of their first five Premier League games this season, despite coming out on top in only two of them.

    A 1-1 draw against Burnley at Anfield left the Reds without a win in their last three matches in all competitions and they face a gruelling schedule of away matches in the League Cup, Premier League and Champions League over the next few weeks.

    Mohamed Salah's 30th-minute goal ensured the points were shared against Burnley, who took the lead three minutes earlier through Scott Arfield, and Klopp attempted to ease the concerns of supporters who are still reeling from Liverpool's 5-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City in their previous Premier League outing.

    "We have quality and now we have to use this quality consistently, that should be the plan," said Klopp."We still have space for improvement, that was clear before the season, but we could have won pretty much all our games so far when you think about the performance.

    "That's a very important thing, so we have quite a good form or shape. We didn't win all of them and we lost one [to a] really high [score], but everyone who was there [saw it was a] strange game – it was not that we performed from the first second like you would imagine when somebody loses 5-0.

    "Yes, we have to improve, but [there are] a lot of really positive things.Unfortunately, I still don't feel any positivity in this moment, I am still in the 1-1 mood, but it is easy to see all the positive things from tomorrow on again. They are there."

    Liverpool travel to Leicester in the EFL Cup on Tuesday and then again in the Premier League on Saturday, before playing away at Spartak Moscow in the Champions League and then returning to league action at Newcastle United.

    Klopp insisted he is optimistic about his side's chances of taking points from a difficult run of games, saying: "Now we go to Leicester, Leicester again, then we go to Moscow and then Newcastle and if we can keep the shape and improve the other things, I think everybody has seen already we can be really strong.
    "We have to be strong, I know that, but we really can be strong."
     

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    Spalletti praises Inter 'leader' Perisic


    Inter Milan manager Luciano Spalletti lauded the selflessness of Ivan Perisic after the star attacker helped overcome a dogged Crotone on Saturday.Perisic added stoppage-time polish to a 2-0 away win to continue Inter's perfect start in Serie A.

    The Croatian, who was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United over the off-season, has been at the forefront of his team's flying start to the campaign with three goals in four straight victories.

    And Spalletti says the 28-year-old's influence extends well beyond the scoresheet.
    "Perisic sacrificed himself a lot," Spaletti told Mediaset Premium."Leaders show themselves when the team needs them and Ivan has shown that he is important in these opening matches.

    "Teams that want to get results think this way, by dividing up strengths and weaknesses and by taking on responsibility when their teammates are in difficulty."
    Slovakia international Milan Skriniar earlier broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute to set Inter on their way at Stadio Ezio Scida.

    The defender echoed his manager in stressing the value of the team's tight-knit bond. "I am very happy for the goal but the most important thing is that we won even if we were not at our best," Skriniar said.

    "Now we are thinking of the next match and we will continue like that. We are a great group and a strong team, all the guys are great and we know that the collective comes before the individual."
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    :love:Angel Gomes inspires Man Utd to remarkable comeback win over Arsenal



    Angel Gomes enhanced his reputation further on Saturday as he helped Manchester United’s U18 side to stage a remarkable comeback against Arsenal.
    The 17-year-old has been generating a buzz around Old Trafford for some time with his performances within the academy ranks.

    Jose Mourinho is among those to have been impressed by the young forward’s potential and handed him a first-team debut on the final day of the 2016-17 campaign.

    Fittingly, Gomes replaced Wayne Rooney against Crystal Palace back in May, with United getting a glimpse of the new as the old prepared to head for the exits.
    The England U18 international has returned to the youth ranks this season, and continues to catch the eye.

    His latest outing saw him put in a talismanic display as United recovered from three goals down to edge out Arsenal 4-3 in the U18 Premier League Cup.

    Gomes showed that not only does he have the ability for the big occasion, he also has the mental strength. With United having staged a stunning fightback to pull within one of the Gunners with seven minutes left on the clock, D’Mani Bughail Mellor was felled inside the penalty area.

    Gomes confidently stepped up to the spot to restore parity, before being given the opportunity to settle the contest in the 89th minute.

    Once again, he kept his composure from 12 yards out to complete a stunning turnaround.

    It remains to be seen whether Gomes will see more senior minutes this season, but he is doing his cause no harm with his outings in the youth ranks and is unquestionably an exciting prospect for the future.
     

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    Barcelona fear hamstring tear for injured Dembele


    Ernesto Valverde says Barcelona suspect star signing Ousmane Dembele suffered a torn hamstring against Getafe.

    Dembele had to be withdrawn in the first half of his side's dramatic 2-1 victory on Saturday, leaving the field after sustaining the problem while attempting a back-heel near the corner flag when the match was still goalless.

    Barca confirmed during the game that the 20-year-old had suffered the problem in his left hamstring during what was his full La Liga debut and would undergo tests to determine the severity of his injury.And Valverde fears it is a muscle tear, although he will wait until he has a definite diagnosis before speculating over how long Dembele will be out.

    "He is going to have to spend some time on the sidelines," Valverde told reporters after the match."It is a muscle problem. We think it is a tear, but we will do more tests on Sunday.

    "It is a shame because he was just getting up to scratch with the team's dynamic. We hope he won't be out for a long time."

    Barca, who have won all four of their La Liga matches to start the new season, have clashes against Eibar, Girona, Sporting CP and Las Palmas before the next international break, after which they are away to Atletico Madrid on October 14.

    Signed for an initial €105 million, ex-Borussia Dortmund winger Dembele had made his first Barca start against Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday, having come on as a substitute at home to Espanyol last week, his first game in the club's colours.
     

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    Lewandowski sets Bundesliga goal record after reaching 100 appearances at Bayern


    Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has set a new Bundesliga record for the most goals scored by a player reaching 100 appearances for one club.The Poland international has been prolific throughout his time in Germany, having previously starred for four years at Borussia Dortmund.

    His efforts there earned him a move to the Allianz Arena, and the 29-year-old has maintained a remarkable strike rate in Bavaria.Lewandoswki was among the goals again on Saturday, as he became a Bayern centurion, with a brace bagged in a 4-0 victory over Mainz.

    Those efforts took him onto 82 for the club in German top-flight competition – a record haul which has eclipsed the 73 efforts managed by World Cup winner Rudi Voller for Werder Bremen in the same period of time.

    While Lewandowski remains a talismanic presence for Bayern, there have been signs of late that cracks could be appearing in the relationship between club and player. The Pole has been outspoken in his views of a transfer policy he fears will leave the reigning Bundesliga champions trailing in the wake of their big-spending European rivals.

    Bayern have not taken too kindly to the comments, with CEO Karl Heinz-Rummenigge telling Bild: “Obviously Robert was irritated by PSG's transfers. He is employed with us as a football player and earns a lot of money. I regret what he said. Whoever publicly criticises the club or his team-mates will get in trouble with me personally. He already made false claims last season following the Freiburg match, where he claimed he had not been supported enough.”

    Lewandowski suggested at the end of the 2016-17 campaign that he had been unable to snatch the Golden Boot away from Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang due to a lack of support from his team-mates.He still managed to net 30 league goals, and 43 in all competitions, and already has nine in seven appearances this season.
     

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    Sassuolo 1 Juventus 3: Dybala marks 100th appearance with stunning hat-trick

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    Paulo Dybala marked his 100th Juventus appearance with a sensational hat-trick as the Serie A champions claimed a 3-1 win at Sassuolo.

    The Argentina international produced a superb performance at MAPEI Stadium on Sunday to inspire his side to a fourth victory in four league games and return to the top of the table.

    Sassuolo had not lost at home since April but their chances of springing a surprise were dealt a blow just 16 minutes in, as Dybala brilliantly swept home his 50th goal for the club.

    The 23-year-old scored five goals in his first three league games and struck again shortly after the interval to put Juve in control, expertly prodding home from a Juan Cuadrado pass.

    Matteo Politano hit back two minutes later, scoring from close range after the returning Giorgio Chiellini prevented Claud Adjapong's effort from crossing the line, but a sublime Dybala free-kick made the points safe.

    Juve climb back above Inter, who are also on 12 points following Saturday's win over Crotone, while Sassuolo remain just a point above bottom-club Benevento.


    Andrea Consigli was twice called upon to keep out Juve in the first 10 minutes, making a flying save to his right to deny Miralem Pjanic before reacting superbly to block Gonzalo Higuain's volley from close range.

    But Consigli was powerless to stop Dybala putting the visitors ahead in the 16th minute. Fit-again forward Mario Mandzukic sent a low pass into Dybala's path and the Argentina star swept a curled first-time strike into the bottom-right corner from 20 yards out.

    Sassuolo looked bright going forward, with Politano testing Gianluigi Buffon, but they looked exposed to the Juve counter-attack and a better finish from Higuain after Dybala and Cuadrado combined would have made it 2-0 before the break.
    The home side finished the half in encouraging fashion but, four minutes after the restart, they were undone by more Dybala brilliance.

    Cuadrado fed the forward just inside the penalty area and, when it looked as though he had no route to goal, he produced an impudent toe-poke finish into the bottom-right corner.The visiting fans were in full voice but Sassuolo hit back two minutes later, Politano converting from point-blank range after Adjapong had prodded the ball beyond Buffon at the keeper's right-hand post and forced Chiellini to cover on the line.

    The resistance was short-lived, though. Having earned a free-kick 20 yards out, Dybala stepped up and whipped a fine finish past Consigli to complete his hat-trick just past the hour mark.

    Blaise Matuidi went close with a volley and Cuadrado saw a late chance for a fourth deflected over, but the day belonged to Dybala, who was replaced to a standing ovation in the closing minutes after taking his tally for the season to 10 goals in six appearances in all competitions.
     

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    Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0: David Luiz sent off as champions are held

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    David Luiz was sent off in the closing stages as Arsenal held Chelsea to a 0-0 Premier League draw at Stamford Bridge.

    Both sides were left to rue missed first-half opportunities in a match between two London rivals that failed to catch fire until the Brazil defender received his first-ever Premier League red card with three minutes remaining.

    The Gunners had the better of the opening half and should have gone into the break ahead when Aaron Ramsey hit the post and Alexandre Lacazette somehow fired over from the close-range rebound.Chelsea had earlier missed a one-on-one opportunity from Pedro, who was foiled by Petr Cech.

    The second half lacked the excitement of the first and the introductions of Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez from the two substitutes' benches did not provide the desired spark.

    And David Luiz saw red for a high challenge on Sead Kolasinac as the game neared its conclusion, marking the third straight match Chelsea have had a player sent off against Arsenal and rounding off a poor performance from Antonio Conte's men.Chelsea's run of five straight home league wins over Arsenal is ended by the draw, which leaves the champions three points behind Manchester City.

    Arsenal have now won just two of their first five league games this season. The point means they remain three adrift of their rivals and six off Manchester City at the top, having gone 14 matches without beating a top-six team away from home in the top flight.


    Chelsea threatened first with both Pedro and Cesc Fabregas forcing former Blues goalkeeper Cech into early action.Arsenal responded with two swift passing moves, Danny Welbeck heading wide to conclude the first before Hector Bellerin, the creator of both opportunities, fed Lacazette to force a good low save from Thibaut Courtois.

    The Gunners threatened again when Kolasinac's 20-yard drive tested Courtois, who parried to safety, but it was the hosts who should have been ahead when Pedro was played in on goal by a superb Fabregas throughball, only to send his shot too close to Cech.

    The intensity of the match slowed as the first half progressed, but Granit Xhaka's 25-yard drive narrowly missed the target and Arsenal then missed a golden chance to take the lead just before half time.

    After collecting a pass from Iwobi, Ramsey kept his footing in a solo run to beat Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz, before digging out a shot that struck the inside of the post, with Lacazette firing the rebound over when it looked easier to score, a miss that left the Arsenal bench looking on in disbelief.

    Conte brought on Tiemoue Bakayoko for Pedro, who had taken a knock, at half-time and Willian fired an effort at Cech as the Blues looked to make a fast start after the break.

    But the second half was not producing the same attacking action as the first, resulting in Arsenal making their first change with 24 minutes remaining, Sanchez replacing Lacazette, with Chelsea promptly responding by introducing Hazard in place of Willian.

    The Gunners then suffered a blow when Welbeck was lost to injury, Olivier Giroud coming on, but the substitutes could not liven up proceedings.Arsenal did have the ball in the net when Shkodran Mustafi headed in, but the defender was well offside when Xhaka played in his free-kick.

    Hazard cut inside and fired at Cech at the other end, but a disappointing second half did have a dramatic sting in the tail when David Luiz lost possession and jumped in high on Kolasinac as the Blues ended another match against Arsenal at a numerical disadvantage.
     

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    :love:Manchester United 4 Everton 0: Lukaku inspires late surge to pile pressure on Koeman

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    Wayne Rooney's first return to Old Trafford since leaving Manchester United in the close-season ultimately ended in a 4-0 thumping thanks to three late goals, as Romelu Lukaku scored against former side Everton to heap the pressure on Ronald Koeman.

    United were poor for much of Sunday's Premier League match, but blew Everton away in the final stages, with Rooney – who previously missed a couple of good chances – powerless to help following his substitution in the 82nd minute.Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial all netted after Rooney's exit to condemn Everton to a fourth successive defeat in all competitions.

    Unsurprisingly, most of the pre-match attention was on Rooney and Lukaku, but within four minutes of kick-off Antonio Valencia had successfully made himself the man of the moment with a simply spectacular 20-yard strike.

    Everton did improve as the first period went on, with Rooney squandering a decent chance, but United remained the bigger threat and Lukaku should have scored on two separate occasions.United were poor after the break, however, with their attacks becoming predictable and slow, while David de Gea twice bailed them out when denying Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

    But in the final seven minutes United came to life once again, as Lukaku set up Mkhitaryan, scored himself and then saw Martial fire home a penalty, extending Everton's winless run to six games in all competitions to further increase the scrutiny on Koeman.

    After woeful performances against Tottenham and Atalanta in their last two outings, Koeman set his side up defensively at Old Trafford, presumably hoping to frustrate United for at least a short while.

    But a moment of magic meant their resistance lasted a paltry four minutes, as Valencia received Nemanja Matic's pass just outside the area and sent a ferocious half-volley beyond the helpless Jordan Pickford.An isolated Rooney endured a difficult opening upon his Old Trafford return. But he did go close 21 minutes in, meeting Cuco Martina's cut-back and sending it agonisingly wide of the bottom-left corner.

    Lukaku was similarly culpable at the other end a few moments later, inexplicably missing the target when played through on goal by Juan Mata after a Michael Keane error.The Belgian was in again seven minutes before the break, but this time Phil Jagielka got back to make a vital block with Pickford seemingly beaten.

    Everton began the second half brightly and Rooney spurned an even better chance than his last, as he charged into the box, rode an Eric Bailly challenge and then shot straight at De Gea. United, on the other hand, became laboured and ponderous in possession, as they struggled to craft goal-scoring opportunities.

    And they were let off the hook again after an hour, as Sigurdsson fought his way into the area and saw De Gea make another vital block. Everton had a lucky escape shortly after, though, with Pickford's right-hand post keeping out Mata's 20-yard free-kick.

    Rooney's hopes of making a telling impact against United were ended with his withdrawal for Kevin Mirallas eight minutes from time.And United then exploded into life to finish Everton off.

    First, Lukaku pounced on an Ashley Williams error and set up Mkhitaryan for an easy finish, before then smashing in from close range to silence Everton supporters who widely jeered him, celebrating by raising a cupped hand to his ear.And Martial wrapped things up right at the end, converting a spot-kick after his mazy run had been brought to a halt by the hand of former United man Morgan Schneiderlin.