Five things we learned from watching Everton vs Manchester Utd

1.   Everton remain a tough proposition at Goodison Park.

Last night’s opening day fixture was always going to be a stern test for both sides but it was Everton, notoriously slow Premier League starters that came out of the blocks with all guns blazing. Last season the Toffees opened up their campaign with a 1-0 home reverse to QPR but David Moyes’ decision to bring them back for pre-season earlier than any other top flight side seems to have done the trick. Last night the Merseysiders were first to every loose ball and at their harrowing best in midfield.

In Marouane Fellaini they had the games outstanding player. He battered and bullied Manchester United's makeshift defence before towering above Michael Carrick to head the winning goal in the 57^th minute.

Last year Everton lost six games at home but crucially only one of those defeats came after they had scored first and that was in a wind affected game against Bolton Wanderers. In the other five home defeats to QPR, Liverpool, United, Stoke and Arsenal, Moyes’ side failed to get on the score-sheet, proving just how hard they are to beat once they have edged ahead.

2.   Crosses can win games

Despite Gary Neville’s pre-match assertions that goals from crosses are becoming a thing of the past, Everton in particular, looked a threat to the United back-four every time a ball was delivered from a wide area. With the menacing Nikica Jelavic and giant Belgian Fellaini in attendance the Blues were able to create several goal scoring opportunities, the best of which, apart from the goal, saw Leon Osman smash a shot against the visitors bar from close range.

While it’s true that not every Premier League side will be able to call upon the towering presence of a Fellaini, United in contrast looked impotent with a distinct lack of width to their play. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team all too often tried to force the ball through the highly congested central areas of the pitch. When that didn’t work and the ball finally arrived out wide Everton’s defence was set and the Blues were able to maintain their compact shape and frustrate their opponents.

3.   United need to develop a regular back-four

When you’ve got the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones to choose from it really is criminal to be starting the new season with only one recognised central defender. The biggest irony was that it was fit again skipper Vidic who started the game for the Red Devils, his first competitive match for 9 months. United’s injury problems at the back need to be resolved quickly though, while team selection as ever remains a contentious issue amongst the clubs supporters. Michael Carrick stepped in to the centre-half breach last night but struggled to contain the rampant Fellaini - who all too often imposed his physicality on the stop-gap solution United’s central defensive crisis. Elsewhere winger Antonio Valencia was employed at right-back instead of the more natural selection of Rafael Da Silva.

Sir Alex’s thinking no doubt swayed by Rafael’s Old Trafford horror show against the home team back in April. Unfortunately for Ferguson, Valencia too suffered a rough time of things against the Toffees often giving away possession cheaply and struggling to get forward to support United’s listless attack. Last season United’s defensive frailties were spectacularly highlighted by a crippling injury list that saw seventeen back-four combinations used in the first twenty-four fixtures. By the time any consistency came the Red Devils had already been dumped out of the Champions League, embarrassed by Crystal Palace in a League Cup Quarter-final and hammered by Manchester City at home.

The type of defensive frugality that the presence of Rio Ferdinand and Vidic once guaranteed was last seen during the 2007 - 08 season (United conceded just 22 League goals – when each played well over 30 league games). Sir Alex will hope that two of his five central defenders will be fit enough to strike up that sort of partnership once again to allow his side to mount a serious challenge at home and abroad during 2012-13.

4.   4-3-3 doesn’t always beat 4-4-2

While the national press and most commentators have derided England’s use of 4-4-2 claiming the system to be archaic, rigid, one dimensional and no match for 4-3-3 that isn’t always the case as last night’s fixture proved. In essence formations are only ever as good as the personnel employed within them. In England’s case a lack of quality players and football intelligence have more often than not proved to be the decisive factor at major championships. Last night Everton’s 4-4-1-1 deviation from the traditional 4-4-2 was perfectly executed to strangle the life out of United and give them the width necessary to put their more celebrated opponents under pressure.

Sir Alex will know all about that. He once used the system with great success when his own midfield was built around the trickery and pace of Ryan Giggs, the vision and darting runs of Paul Scholes, Roy Keane’s commanding presence and David Beckham’s unerring crossing and passing ability. Those players didn’t attack in straight lines or lump balls forward, they pressurised opponents into mistakes, skilfully played round them and used the likes of Teddy Sheringham and Dwight Yorke as links. While Everton’s personnel might not be at that level they still have a number of players that can pose the best of sides problems.

Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman are both capable playmakers operating from wide areas that look to join in when attacking and pop up in central positions. Crucially they both also know their role when defending, helping to make Everton as narrow as possible. Phil Neville steadies the ship with Darron Gibson in the centre of the park while in Fellaini they have a player they can play through on the deck and in the air.

To beat a side like this you have to be able to move the ball quickly and accurately. Attack weak points like the full-back positions (where Tony Hibbert and Leighton Baines are known to have issues dealing with genuine pace and trickery) and be prepared to shoot on sight.

5.   Desire, hard work and spirit can triumph over skill alone

The sight of Phil Jagielka chasing back and tackling fellow Mancunian Danny Wellbeck as he was honing in on goal epitomised Everton’s performance last night. Jagielka was on the half turn when the ball was played beyond him and into Wellbeck’s path. He was a clear second favourite. Yet somehow the defender put on the after-burners to make an important interception.

He crucially also made a goal-line clearance to deny Tom Cleverley in an outstanding display. But it would be wrong to single out Jagielka for special praise. All of his team-mates replicated his gargantuan effort, once again proving that while players may come and go at Everton the dressing room spirit created by David Moyes will always bring its rewards.   

Almost everyone I know in the football will agree with the sentiment that ‘when you go out on the pitch you have to earn the right to play’. That was none so more evident than at Goodison Park last night.