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Manchester United 3-3 Everton: Three things we learned

By Callum Brannan

Everton's English striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on February 6, 2021. (Photo by Michael Regan / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Everton's English striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on February 6, 2021. (Photo by Michael Regan / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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It was a rollercoaster of emotions for Everton fans as the Toffees were able to secure a hard-fought 3-3 draw with title contenders Manchester United.

The game started quite well as Everton put the pressure on Ole’s side and gave them a competitive game. That was until United were able to take the lead through Edinson Cavani. United weren’t finished with the punishment as Bruno Fernandes scored an Eric Cantona-esque goal to give the Red Devils a 2-0 lead going into half-time.

Everton were able to show enough passion to claw the game back to 2-2 within seven minutes of the second half, with Doucoure and James Rodriguez both getting on the score sheet. From then it was back and forth until the 70th minute where Scott McTominay put United in the lead with a goal he arguably wouldn’t have scored if the Everton defence were switched on from the set-piece.

The fans thought the game was over until Axel Tuanzebe gave away a 90+5 minute set-piece, which Lucas Digne played in, nodded on by Michael Keane, and after a relatively quiet game on the goal-scoring side of the ball, Dominic Calvert-Lewin shocked fans of both sides with a goal to give Everton the point.

Here are three things to take from the game:

Everton can Compete with the Best.

Everton’s Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest England February 6, 2021. (Photo by Alex Pantling / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time—no video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ALEX PANTING/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Everton’s Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest England February 6, 2021. (Photo by Alex Pantling / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time—no video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ALEX PANTING/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

If this was September or October, people could say that I’m jumping to conclusions by saying this, but this season Everton have picked up points against:

Manchester United, Arsenal, Leicester (Twice), Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs

That’s the stereotypical big six. With Everton playing the Citizens on February 17th, the Toffees could add another team to their hitlist, making them surprise contenders for the Champions League.

Everton are making the argument that they can contend for these European spots, and this looks like it could be possible if Everton can continue picking up results against the big teams.

The only problem is that Everton can struggle to pick up wins against sides they should be beating if they want to contend for European football, and beating these ‘smaller’ teams is vital for Everton if they want to achieve a goal that’s alluded them since 2017.

Ancelotti has proven he’s still a top-five manager in the world with his performances this year and the fact that Everton can pick up points against these teams show that they can compete towards the top of the table. To add some hope to Everton fans, this is also a transitional season for Ancelotti where the goal was to find a working system and core to the team which could be strengthened in the Summer.

If the Italian mastermind can get the Toffees Champions League football in a transitional season, imagine what he can do when he has his full-strength squad to the standard he sees fitting for Everton Football Club.