Manchester United staged a late comeback before being saved by VAR as they avoided plunging deeper into crisis with a dramatic draw at Everton.
Everton’s resurgence under returning manager David Moyes – once of United – was poised to continue as the hosts exerted total domination in the first 45 minutes to establish a deserved two-goal lead at Goodison Park.
They exposed every United flaw in that opening half, Beto turning in his fifth goal under Moyes in the 19th minute after a goalmouth scramble before Abdoulaye Doucoure headed them two ahead.
The second Everton goal was a desperate moment for United defender Harry Maguire, who failed to react with any urgency after Andre Onana saved Jack Harrison’s shot, allowing Doucoure to rise above him to head home.
United deserve credit for the second-half improvement – but there is no disguising the mediocrity of what head coach Amorim currently has at his disposal.
Fernandes and Ugarte were at the forefront of that United rally, but for the first 72 minutes this was a shocking team performance, lacking in desire and creativity.
Fernandes kept probing, but Maguire had an afternoon to forget.
There was his undistinguished part in Everton’s second goal, and then the England defender was holding his breath when his clumsy challenge on Young ran the risk of giving the hosts a penalty, and potentially an injury-time winner.
The agitated, animated body language of Amorim, certainly until the tide turned, was a reflection of his continued unhappiness with what he was witnessing from United.
At least now he has seen a show of defiance, a small mercy Amorim will grab at with gratitude.
Everton remained in control until Bruno Fernandes steered home a free-kick with 18 minutes left, and Manuel Ugarte then drove in powerfully eight minutes later to draw United level.
United then survived a late scare when referee Andrew Madley awarded a penalty as Ashley Young went down under Maguire’s challenge, with Matthijs de Ligt also tugging the Everton veteran, but the decision was reversed after a video assistant referee check.
The second-half comeback had been an unlikely turn of events given Everton’s initial superiority, with United sparing manager Ruben Amorim the indignity of what would have been the team’s ninth league defeat in 13 matches.
