New year, New united as Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard break United's festive draw diet
The New Year's Day win lifted United back into second place in the table, above Chelsea and, for 24 hours at least, to within 12 points of runaway Premier League leaders Manchester Cit y. Martial capped a spell of United pressure early in the second half by shooting his side in front after Paul Pogba had found him in space 20 yards from goal. The striker took a controlling touch before producing a brilliant right-foot finish that flew into the top right corner of the Everton goal. It was a much-improved second half showing from United and one capped by a superb individual goal from Lingard that settled the outcome 10 minutes from time. After Luke Shaw won possession from an Everton throw-in, Pogba slipped through a pass which Lingard accepted, weaving his way through the midfield to the edge of the area before depositing an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner. Everton, seeking to bounce back from the first defeat of Sam Allardyce's reign, had made a promising st...