United score two spot-kicks in laboured win

First-half penalties from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford were enough to earn Manchester United a 2-0 win over Everton at Old Trafford in Saturday's early Premier League kick-off. 

In a game largely low on quality, the Red Devils twice made the visitors from Merseyside pay for ill-judged tackles in the box, both on the hosts' star performer Alejandro Garnacho. 

A slow start from the hosts saw them struggle in possession, Casemiro in particular giving the ball away cheaply on several occasions. 

Despite a sloppy start, Erik ten Hag's side took the lead inside 10 minutes from the penalty spot. A quick break from Marcus Rashford saw the England international feed Garnacho on the overlap and the Argentine's standing foot was swiped away by James Tarkowski to earn the Red Devils a spot-kick - which Fernandes buried confidently. 

Dwight McNeil and James Garner both went close for Everton in the ensuing 20 minutes, as the Blues dominated, but the visitors' hopes of finding a way back into the contest were dealt a hammer blow on 34 minutes when Garnacho was again felled, this time by Ben Godfrey, to earn the hosts another penalty.

The penalty taker changed, but the result was the same: Rashford sending Jordan Pickford the wrong way from the spot to make the score 2-0. 

Half-time: Man Utd 2-0 Everton

Despite their lead, United passing game remained poor and Everton could have punished another sloppy moment from the hosts on 58 minutes, but Abdoulaye Doucoure's effort was kept out by Andre Onana's legs. 

The Red Devils had their chances too, however, and the home side went very close midway through the second period when Fernandes drew a full-length save from Pickford, before Victor Lindelof's scrambled effort on goal was gratefully claimed by Everton's goalkeeper from the resulting corner. 

Sub Lewis Dobbin had a chance to make the latter stages interesting on 77 minutes, but he could only screw the ball wide of the target with Dominic Calvert-Lewin unable to make contact at the back post. 

With Everton toothless in attack and United lacklustre, the game drifted to an almost inevitable 2-0 win for the Red Devils - and, despite the result, questions will continue to be asked of ten Hag's side given the nature of their performance. 

Manchester United remain sixth in the table, three points behind Spurs (who play Villa tomorrow), following the victory. Everton sit 16th, five points above the drop zone. 

xG: Man Utd (2.85) 2-0 (1.78) Everton