Solskjaer's Cristiano Ronaldo gamble backfires as Man Utd draw with Everton

Manchester United missed the chance to go top of the Premier League as Everton came from a goal down to take a point at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskaer’s decision to bench Cristiano Ronaldo did not go to plan as even the five-time Ballon d’Or winner couldn’t bail him out after coming on in the second half.

The pressure was well and truly on Solskjaer following his decision to bench man of the moment Ronaldo for the visit of Everton.

But his decision to start out-of-form Martial initially proved to be the right one as the Frenchman scored his first goal of the season and his first Premier League strike since February.

While Ronaldo may have been missing from the starting XI it did not slow down United’s intensity with Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood looking lively from the off.

Martial done himself no favours with backing Solskjaer’s decision to start him as he missed a header from close range after just seven minutes – an effort Ronaldo would most likely have not wasted.

It was almost a case of deja vu shortly after, this time Edinson Cavani’s header from close range forcing Jordan Pickford into a good, low save.

Everton’s first real chance came on the half hour mark as Demari Gray capitalised on a stray ball from Fernandes but David de Gea got down low to deny the midfielder’s goal-bound effort from distance.

As the visitors started to find their feet, their efforts were soon in vain as Martial opened the scoring on 43 minutes.

An excellent team move featuring Greenwood and Fernandes saw the Portuguese deliver a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Martial who rifled the ball past Pickford from the left side of the box.

Solskjaer’s response was to put on Paul Pogba but Everton continued to look the most likely to score, Gray causing all sorts of problems down the left flank.

With five minutes left of normal time, Everton thought they’d taken a late lead as Tom Davies squared the ball to Yerry Mina to tap in.

Solskjaer was the first man to breathe a sigh of relief though as a VAR check ruled the Colombian offside.

But the pressure is certainly not easing up with United once again dropping points in their quest for the title.

United remain in second, level on points with third-placed Everton and leaders Liverpool, with table toppers taking on Manchester City on Sunday.

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