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Mike Egerton
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Man United vs Everton, Premier League

Manchester United welcome Wayne Rooney back to Old Trafford as Jose Mourinho’s side take on Everton.

Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.

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Kick off is at 4.00pm.

Here are the teams:

Man United: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Jones, Young, Fellaini, Matic, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Lukaku

Subs: Romero, Smalling, Darmian, Carrick, Herrera, Lingard, Martial

Everton: Pickford, Keane, Jagielka, Williams, Martina, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Baines, Davies, Sigurdsson, Rooney

Subs: Stekelenburg, Sandro, Besic, Calvert-Lewin Holgate, Mirallas, Klaassen

Today’s game sees Wayne Rooney return to Old Trafford for the first time since departing Man United during the summer.

The player scored 253 goals in 559 games during 13 seasons at the club, winning five Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a Uefa Champions League.

Rooney has settled in well at Merseyside — on the pitch, at least. The striker scored on his second Everton debut against Stoke on the opening weekend of the season and followed that up with another strike against Manchester City.

All eyes will be on the 31-year-old as he makes his first appearance at Old Trafford playing against Man United since Boxing Day 2003, when United came out 3-2 victors against the Toffees.

The man of the moment Wayne Rooney warms up at Old Trafford. Just over 10 minutes to go before kick-off.

“I’m here to get a result for Everton,” he told Sky Sports, “I’m an Everton player.”

Manchester United v Everton - Premier League - Old Trafford PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

We’re under way…

A good opening spell from United as they stroke the ball across midfield. A cracking atmosphere which pits three players against their former clubs – Rooney, Romelu Lukaku and Michael Keane.

GOAL! MAN UNITED 1-0 EVERTON (VALENCIA 4)

What an incredible hit from Antonio Valencia! A cross into the box is poorly cleared from Everton and straight into the path of the number 25 on the edge of the box.

Wearing the captain’s armband for this evening’s game Valencia smacks his shot first time and it flies thundering into Jordan Pickford’s top corner. Utterly unstoppable.

That goal was Antonio Valencia’s first at Old Trafford since January 2014. It was certainly worth the wait for the 32-year-old. A cracker.

A dismal start for Ronald Koeman. He will certainly want to put his side’s awful Europa League defeat to Serie A side Atalanta behind them as soon as possible with a result heretoday.

But even he could not prevent such a stunning goal as was Valencia’s strike. Some say he shinned it, but you simply cannot deny how sweetly he hit it. Jordan Pickford looked despondent after it flew in.

Now Everton must take the game to their opponents. What are the Toffees made of?

Manchester United v Everton - Premier League - Old Trafford Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

Everton have now conceded nine goals in their last four games and are without a single win in all competitions since their Europa League first leg qualifier victory against Hajduk Split on 17 August. Grim.

Good pressure from Mkhitaryan sees the ball fall to Marcus Rashford. The player is in fine form and is making a name for himself scoring on his (i) England (ii) Premier League (iii) Europa League and (iv) FA Cup debuts.

His cross this time, however, is poor and is claimed easily by Pickford. It’s still all United as the clock nears the 20 minute mark.

Some more good work from United thanks to a surging run from former Everton man Lukaku. His side’s crossing is poor, however, and comes to nothing.

United know they have a profound physical presence this season — their inability to create chances inside the box in spite of their dominance will irk manager Mourinho undoubtedly.

A chance for Everton sees that man Wayne Rooney drag an effort just wide of the post. A quick counter sees the former United captain’s run perfectly timed, but his effort right on the edge of the area misses the post by an inch.

A CHANCE! Ohhhhh Lord Romelu Lukau will not want to see that one again. The striker does brilliantly to create some space for himself — he dummies the challenge of Michael Keane but, with the goal at his mercy, amazingly drags his effort wide.

A real sitter for a forward so cool and collect in front of goal. It should have been 2-0. It really, really should.

A good chance on goal for Tom Davies but he is ruled offside. David De Gea had it covered and saved well low in the middle of his goal.

Despite United having the most clear-cut chances in this game, Everton are starting to rebuild their confidence as we reach the half hour mark. They are not done and dusted yet.

Everton really struggling any time United push their midfield unit forward and compress a fragile and nervous-looking Toffees’ defence into itself. Matic and Fellaini imposing themselves with ease.

Marcos Rashford tries to do it all on his own — and he nearly did! The forward dribbles into the box but takes a touch too many trying to find an opening to offload his shot.

Everton bodies are throwing themselves in the way and, ultimately, Rashford’s effort is cleared. A promising chance and Rashford is looking very, very lively along this left wing.

ANOTHER close chance for United! Rashford is running riot here.

Phil Jagielka is back-peddling and manages to get a crucial touch on Romelu Lukaku’s effort at the near post.

A brilliant one-two between the two United forwards tears this Everton defence apart — however there is no end product at the byline. Close, though.

Everton are holding on at the moment. They have had their chances and did seem to grow in stature after their early set-back, however as the clock ticks on they look desperate for the referee’s half-time whistle.

Three minutes to go plus stoppages as crosses reign down on Pickford’s box.

There will be just one minute of added time to come as the ball is lumped back and forth, back and forth between both sides.

HALF-TIME: MAN UNITED 1-0 EVERTON

The second half has begun…

CHANCE! Wayne Rooney goes right up the other end immediately following some brilliant work from Tom Davies.

Rooney slides the ball around a hoard of United defenders and, losing his balance, still manages to test De Gea who must get down low to save with his right leg. So close to bringing us level right from the tip-off!

Rooney is all over this game. He bears down on goal again before beating Eric Bailly. With the ball on his left boot the striker sees it swept away at the last second by Phil Jones. A necessary interception, but Rooney really looks lively at the minute!

United go up the other end via Marcus Rashford. His shot is loose and flies well wide of the target. He tried to sweep it into the far top corner, but he made a poor connection and ultimately squandered the break.

Romelu Lukaku takes down a cross with his chest expertly but his acrobatic attempt flies well short of the target to the relief of a frantic Everton defence which is struggling to keep their opponents at bay and the scoreline at just 1-0.

Will this man grab a goal on his return to Old Trafford?

Manchester United v Everton - Premier League - Old Trafford Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

Substitution for Man United: Jesse Lingard replaces Marcus Rashford

CHANCE AGAIN! This time it’s Gylfi Sigurðsson after Phil Jones failed to clear a corner. David De Gea races abruptly from his line and closes down the space just in time.

The Everton playmaker can’t get the ball out of his feet to offer a clean strike at goal.

That said, Everton really should be level. They have wasted a litany of chances as United begin to rest of their lead and sit down to invite pressure. It’s still all to play for with under half an hour to go.

Yellow card for Everton: Ashley Williams is booked after hauling down Juan Mata on the edge of the box.

CLOSE! Juan Mata cracks a superb free-kick off Jordan Pickford’s post. So very, very close to doubling his side’s lead.

Substitution for Everton: Sandro Ramirez replaces Tom Davies.

Jesse Lingard almost doubles United’s lead! Ashley Young performs brilliantly along the left wing. He cuts his marker to pieces before whipping in a rasping cross which Lingard just cannot keep down, as he sees his effort fly high and wide.

Sandro is trying to help the Everton attack here. In large portions it’s been Rooney and Rooney only doing it all up front for Everton. The substitute cuts inside but a handful of United bodies fling themselves to block.

United had the chance to build on their lead but should Everton draw level, you couldn’t say they haven’t deserved a point here today. Just over 15 minutes to go.

Matic with an effort from range which has Pickford stretching, but ends up comfortably wide of the target.

Substitution for Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin replaces Idrissa Gana Gueye.

Substitution for Man United: Ander Herrera replaces Juan Mata.

Jesse Lingard claims a penalty as he finds himself in-between a set of challenges from Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams but referee Andre Marriner waves play on.

Substitution for Everton: Wayne Rooney is replaced by Kevin Miralles and is given a standing ovation by the Old Trafford faithful.

GOAL! MAN UNITED 2-0 EVERTON (MKHITARYAN 84)

On their last legs Everton sloppily give the ball away to Romelu Lukaku.

The forward slides the ball to his left where Henrikh Mkhitaryan is happy to slide it into an empty net as Jordan Pickford comes from his line.

That should now be a wrap and another three points for United.

Substitution for Man United: Goalscorer Henrikh Mkhitaryan is replaced by Anthony Martial. 

GOAL! MAN UNITED 3-0 EVERTON (LUKAKU 89)

Lukaku sees his free-kick smash the Everton wall however the ball reaches the striker again inside the box.

Untracked and unmarked following his set-piece, Lukaku strikes an emphatic half-volley low past Pickford to make it 3-0 and wrap up an impressive final 10 minutes from Mourinho’s men.

PENALTY TO MAN UNITED! Martial dribbles into the box but the ball strikes the arm of Morgan Schneiderlin.

GOAL! MAN UNITED 4-0 EVERTON (MARTIAL 91)

Substitute Martial has only been on the pitch a matter of minutes, but he who earned the penalty is the man who stood up and delivered it.

A low effort into Jordan Pickford’s bottom left corner makes it an emphatic 4-0.

FULL-TIME: MAN UNITED 4-0 EVERTON

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