Ibrahimovic salvages a point as Man Utd thwart Everton
An injury time penalty maintains United's unbeaten run, but Jose Mourinho is left to lament another frustrating evening
Manchester United 1 Everton 1
A ninth draw in 16 Premier League home games this season cost United the opportunity to close the gap on Manchester City, but after equalising in the 94th minute they will be grateful to have salvaged a point against Everton.
The result leaves Jose Mourinho's side in fifth, four points adrift of the neighbours and three ahead of Arsenal, who will climb above them on goal difference if they beat West Ham this evening.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It was another frustrating performance for the United manager, who has seen his team score just 21 league goals at Old Trafford this season, fewer than Burnley, Bournemouth, Leicester, Watford and West Brom. Asked to explain the poor return, Mourinho admitted there was a problem with the "confidence levels" of his players. "How many goals have Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba scored? How many goals from the attacking players? Not enough."
The Special One was also quick to apportion blame elsewhere: "We've had lots of unlucky decisions by referees," he said. "We've had lost of amazing performances from opposing goalkeepers. We've had lots of ultra-defensive teams coming here, but we need to score goals. We have chances and we need to score goals."
One player who definitely is scoring goals for United is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and it was his stoppage time penalty that levelled the scores after Phil Jagielka had given the visitors the lead when he got on the end of a flick from Ashley Williams.
It was Ibrahimovic's 27th goal of the season and but for his contribution United would be a long way off qualification for next season's Champions League. There was a hint in the post-match interview that the Swede, who stroked home his spot kick on 94 minutes after Williams was sent off for handling the ball, wants his teammates to roll up their sleeves between now and the end of the season.
"We have to do more," he said. "We need to keep focus, we cannot afford these mistakes, especially now in the end [of the season] because it's very important points especially when the table is like it is. We are close, but still we don't get the points that we need."
Ibrahimovic thought he had equalised for United earlier in the game but the effort was disallowed for offside, a decision he cast doubt on. "I thought it was goal because I came from the right side of the defender when he played back and I thought it was a goal, " he said.
Characteristically, Mourinho believed the goal should have stood, saying: "We scored two legal goals but I tell you with a smile on my face because I am not upset with the linesman. A really difficult decision for him, only video assistant replay could help this."
Nonetheless, United didn't deserve the three points after another shapeless performance in which they dominated possession - 61.5 per cent - but managed only three shots on target. It's not good enough for a club with Champions League aspirations and in terms of points amassed this season, Mourinho is trailing the number accumulated by Louis van Gaal in his first season at Old Trafford.
"I am very pleased with the effort," said Mourinho, "but the performance from a football point of view was not good."
Betfair - new customer offer - bet £10 and get £10 in free bets
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
Manchester United and Mason Greenwood: duty of care or double standards?
Talking Point The 21-year-old footballer’s possible return has provoked an outpouring of dismay from supporters
By Jamie Timson Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published