Ten Hag: A brilliant performance

The Reds had 21 shots in the first half, our most on record (since 2003/04) in the first 45 minutes of a single Premier League game, and the most by any side in the opening 45 minutes of a match this season.

But a combination of wayward finishing and an inspired Jordan Pickford in the Toffees goal meant United only took a 1-0 lead into the break, courtesy of Scott McTominay’s strike, before substitute Anthony Martial secured the points with 20 minutes left.

Afterwards, Erik conducted post-match interviews and you can read the best of his responses below...

AN ENTERTAINING WIN

"That you can deliver this in a third game in six days is a real credit to the team because it was a great performance – great, entertaining football and a win, so I'm really happy with it. But we have to be more clinical, more ruthless in the box of the opponent. I think this game should already have been finished by half-time. We didn’t but it was a brilliant performance. That’s very good: if you play three games in six days and can deliver this, that’s a big compliment to the team. We were very good in and out of possession – there were many players on the pitch who played at a high level."

ERIKSEN BOLSTERS MIDFIELD OPTIONS

"He came on and looked like he’d never been away because he is a footballer – he was born with a football at both feet. He is so comfortable and composed on the ball, giving good solutions, giving belief in the team because he has great passing capabilities. We are very happy he is getting back. Casemiro will be back, Martial is back. We discussed it with a lot of media, missing Casemiro and Eriksen was a big loss but then you have to find solutions. This midfield department acted really well, against Brentford also, and we are happy with that. We need that competition. We have many games and we need them all. It’s what we need and what we are looking for. When we started the season, to bring more quality in midfield, better rotations, better quality players, players who are composed on the ball. You can find solutions, passing forward but also how they beat the pressure of the opponent. We have some midfielders who can do that now. McTominay is a great player, a big personality, and I’m so happy I have him in my squad, with his energy and never giving up."

LOOKING AFTER MARTIAL

"Martial is back but we have to be careful, not too quick, because we have so games to play and also the short notice, so he needs the recovery every time. Then he can go forward and be fit and fresh in the game, which is what you need to score the goals but also do the work out of and in possession. Once again, players are coming off the bench for us, having an impact and scoring goals, but also contributing in other departments of the team. But we’ve had many subs coming on so far this season who’ve done this."

BRUNO SHINES IN DEEPER ROLE

"I think he was brilliant but he was already playing brilliantly over many games in a deeper role. Not everyone is recognising – even last week, against Newcastle, he played very well. This week, against Brentford, he played really well and today, a brilliant game. He was definitely one of, or maybe, the best player on the pitch but we had more who were at quite a high level."

RASHFORD FORCED OFF

"We have to wait. Once again it’s due to the schedule: it can’t be that you play three games in six days. We have to protect our players – everyone wants the best players on the pitch, everyone wants to see great entertaining football like you see today, but then you need your best players."

PLAYING AT A HIGH LEVEL

"It’s a win and we have to move on but I’m happy that we are in April and playing at this level against an Everton side who are hard to beat, as we have seen in the last weeks. It’s a really strong team in survival mode; they’re doing a great job there so if we play at this level, it’s good to know and gives us belief and confidence for the future. We're in the final stage of the season and we're still improving – that is the way I want to approach it. We have a lot to win, but also a lot to win in the way of playing, so we have to keep improving and in the end we want to get more silverware."