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Manchester United ended their summer schedule with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Mason Greenwood, Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot scored the goals as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side played their final friendly ahead of the new Premier League season to kick off against Leeds United on August 14.
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David de Gea had a few moments of nervousness in United’s goal, but it’s a result that will only increase doubts over Everton’s decision to appoint ex-Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez as boss during summer.
After returning from a weeklong training camp in St. Andrews, Scotland, Solskjaer stepped up his preparations by giving the starts to Luke Shaw, Donny van de Beek, Anthony Martial, De Gea, Maguire and Fernandes.
United received their first game from Jordan Pickford after just eight minutes when the England goalkeeper dropped the head of Lucas Digne at the feet of Greenwood, who only had to kick the ball into an empty net.
Things almost got worse for Pickford two minutes later when he missed Fernandes’ tame shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Martial couldn’t take advantage of it.
There was nothing Pickford could do against United’s second goal, with Maguire heading into Shaw’s corner after 15 minutes.
It was 3-0 before half an hour was on the clock when Fernandes curled up on a magnificent 20-yard free kick.
A few of the 1,500 traveling fans only needed to make an early release.
Although Solskjaer brought in Paul Pogba at half-time, Everton fared slightly better over the next 45 seconds and almost scored a goal when Andros Townsend touched under the crossbar from 10 yards.
Substitute Dalot, who is returning from a season on loan at Milan, secured the fourth timeout with a smart header from Fred’s cross that rounded off Asmir Begovic.
“It was about getting the minutes,” Solskjaer said. “The job they’ve done so far has been good and they’ve paid off. We’ve had a longer preseason than last year.
“This summer everyone has had at least three weeks off. Some have had four or five. We still have 90 minutes for a few but we are better prepared than last season.”
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