It began with a comical blunder and ended amid confusion and controversy. The points were shared, the game even, the goalkeeping mistakes level at one apiece, the brightest sparks in both attacks scoring. And yet when the final whistle blew, there were contrasting feelings. Manchester United were relieved and reprieved, spared defeat in fractious fashion. Everton were fuming, Blues who saw red.
A winner had been chalked off and Carlo Ancelotti, a man whose reaction rarely stretches beyond a raised eyebrow, was sent off by referee Christopher Kavanagh for his protests. “I didn’t disrespect him,” said Ancelotti. “There was a misunderstanding on the pitch.”
It was not the only mix-up. Harry Maguire deflected Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s shot past a wrong-footed David de Gea. Gylfi Sigurdsson, on the ground and in an offside position after seeing a drive seconds earlier repelled by the goalkeeper, managed to lift his legs to avoid getting a touch. And yet, after Kavanagh awarded the goal, VAR Jonathan Moss disallowed it. A triumph of technology? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thought so.
“David said he was distracted by the boy in his sights,” he said. “Though he might not have saved it.” Ancelotti disagreed though he accepted it: “Honestly, it was a difficult decision. In our opinion, it didn’t affect the vision of the goalkeeper.”
If United, seemingly beaten at Goodison Park and then saved by Stockley Park – the VAR hub – could take solace in procuring a point at the scene of a 4-0 thrashing in April, both goalkeepers have been grateful for a different talking point.
Only two shot-stoppers could enjoy the day: Tim Howard, a popular half-time guest, and Dean Henderson, an alternative to Jordan Pickford in the United goal and who, when his loan at Sheffield United ends, could displace De Gea at United.
Certainly, both Solskjaer and the watching Gareth Southgate were given food for thought.
Of the two mistakes, one was diabolical, the other merely disappointing. On the 40th anniversary of the death of Everton’s greatest goalscorer, Dixie Dean, their modern-day No. 9 scored in unorthodox fashion. United had only let in one goal in seven previous games. The manner in which De Gea conceded made a mockery of that statistic.
“David is for me the best goalkeeper in the world,” insisted Solskjaer loyally and ignoring the evidence of Alisson’s excellence. “David has been very, very good this season and I trust him 100 percent.”
Yet he has made seven errors that have cost United a league goal in two years. This was one of the most grievous as De Gea dallied in possession to allow Calvert-Lewin to charge down his clearance, the ball cannoning past the Spaniard. “That is Dominic Calvert-Lewin, he chases everything,” said Solskjaer, giving the striker credit. “He chases paper on a windy day.”
Pickford, meanwhile, allowed Bruno Fernandes to level. The Portuguese brought class and purpose again. His third goal in as many games was his first in open play also came with the assistance of Djibril Sidibe, who gifted possession to Nemanja Matic.
Fernandes’ subsequent 25-yard shot was struck well and bounced awkwardly but Pickford was still culpable as it went in at his near post.
For both goalkeepers, the rest of the game amounted to partial redemption but no more, despite their managers’ appraisals.
“He did well,” argued Ancelotti of Pickford.
“You can see the way David made amends,” Solskjaer claimed after De Gea made two sharp stops from Calvert-Lewin; one a minute after his opener after he was released by Michael Keane’s clearance and evaded Victor Lindelof and then a trademark stop with his feet at the near post.
But Calvert-Lewin’s capacity to trouble the United defence – both centre-backs were booked for fouling him – or evade them showed he has become a marauding presence under first Duncan Ferguson and then Ancelotti
Both sides hit the woodwork, with Matic’s early curler for United and Sigurdsson’s later free kick for Everton. Pickford made a fine last-minute save from substitute Odion Ighalo. Still later drama was to follow, going from the pitch to the dressing room where Ancelotti and Kavanagh continued their conversation. “We spoke friendly,” the Italian said. “If I am banned, I will be disappointed.”
