As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team played their last friendly before the start of the new Premier League season against Leeds United, Mason Greenwood and Harry Maguire scored the goals.
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David de Gea had a couple of nervous moments in United’s goal but it is a result that will only increase the doubts over Everton’s decision to appoint former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez as boss over the summer.
Solskjaer, who had just returned from a week-long training camp at St. Andrews in Scotland, has intensified his preparations by giving starts to Luke Shaw and Donny van der Beek, Anthony Martial as well as De Gea, Maguire, Fernandes.
After eight minutes, United received their opener from Jordan Pickford. The England goalkeeper had dropped Lucas Digne’s header back at Greenwood. Greenwood then just had to tap it into an empty net.
Pickford almost had it worse two minutes later, when he misjudged Fernandes’ tame shot from just outside the penalty box. Martial was unable to take advantage of this.
Pickford couldn’t stop United’s second goal. Maguire headed in Shaw’s direction after 15 minutes.
Fernandes scored a fantastic free kick from 20 yards, making it 3-0.
Some 1,500 fans traveled enough to be able to leave early.
Even though Solskjaer brought in Paul Pogba at the half-time break, Everton did slightly better in the second period and nearly pulled a goal back after Andros Townsend struck the underside bar from 10 yards.
Substitute Dalot returned from Milan on loan and got the fourth with a clever header by Fred’s cross that looped over Asmir Begovic.
Solskjaer stated that it was all about getting the minutes in. “They were rewarded for the hard work they did so far. This year, we had a longer preseason.
“Everyone has had at least three weeks off this summer. Some had four to five weeks off. Although we still have 90 minutes for a few, we are better prepared than last season.
