Manchester United 4-0 Everton: 5 Talking Points as Solskjaer's men blow away Toffees in final pre-season friendly

#3 Everton suffer because of wasteful finishing

Everton were awful, especially in finishing off their chances against Manchester United on Saturday.

After going down 3-0 against Manchester United in the first half, Everton made a much better start to the second. That was expected as Matic got substituted and Fred was unable to settle quickly, which left a huge void between the United midfield and defence.

But poor finishing and inability to conjure clear-cut chances meant Everton failed to make a game of it. While James Rodriguez was not able to weave his magic in the final third, Demarai Gray hardly touched the ball during his 77 minutes of action, largely due to the lack of supply.

Alex Iwobi particularly underwhelmed. The Nigerian international lost the ball innumerable times during crucial moments of attacking play, and also failed to convert a few chances.

It's evident the blue half of Merseyside is still struggling to adapt to the tactics of Rafael Benitez. That's because under their previous coach Carlo Ancelotti, the team had a different style of play.

Early signs point towards the 2021-22 season being a long one for Everton if Benitez is unable to get this team kicking in the right direction.

---

#4 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's substitutions reveal new roles for squad players

Scott McTominay (right) and Fred came on as substitutes for United and played different roles than usual.

With a three-goal cushion going into half-time, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was free to experiment in the second half. But most of his substitutes were very tactically put through. That offered an insight into the future of many squad players in the new season.

The first and most crucial change was Scott McTominay coming in for Harry Maguire. The Scottish international, who played in a back-three for his nation at the Euros this summer, was handed centre-back duties by the gaffer on Saturday. Many pundits think that McTominay's future at United could be off if he dropped back into the defensive line, and that was very evident in the second half against Everton.

Diogo Dalot also came in for Aaron Wan-Bissaka at half-time, but the Portuguese was far better than his English teammate. Making overlapping runs and supporting United's attack on the right wing, Dalot made a case for a first-team spot, thanks to his attacking prowess and defensive discipline.

The Portuguese right-back was even rewarded for his fabulous effort, as he scored United's fourth and last goal of the day. Overall, Solskjaer's substitutions showed that United have good depth going into the new season.

---

#5 Everton's lack of squad depth is concerning

Jordan Pickford had a rough day at work.

Despite having a great time with the Three Lions at the Euros, Jordan Pickford was back to his worst in the Everton goal. For that, a lot could be blamed on the Toffees' back-line, especially for the first three goals, but Pickford was certainly culpable for two of the four goals Everton conceded on the night.

Everton missed their key frontmen Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison on Saturday. That proved key, as the visitors couldn't finish off their chances. But what was even more concerning was Everton's poor quality of personnel and disappointing tactics.

Eight of the eleven Everton players on the pitch form part of the first team at Goodison Park. Playing against a Manchester United side that was far from their strongest eleven, Everton were unable to stand tall.

The summer of 2020 brought many stars to Merseyside, but it seems Ancelotti's men may not be the right fit for Benitez. However, considering Benitez's calibre and experience, Everton should settle by the second half of the 2021-22 season.

Meanwhile, Manchester United host perennial rivals Leeds United at Old Trafford in their season opener, while Everton take on Southampton at Goodison Park in the 2021-22 EPL, which begins next weekend.