United head over heels.after Nacho's wonder strike sets the tone

PERHAPS Erik ten Hag will stay in the stands.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

This was the most impressive United away-day victory on his watch and a timely warm-up act ahead of a white-hot atmosphere in Istanbul on Wednesday.

United have now triumphed in their past four on the road in the Premier League and find themselves six points off first. They are approaching a month without a crisis in a season that has been littered with them.

Such are the vagaries of football, United performed better in Copenhagen, the scene of their most recent damaging defeat, than at Goodison Park. They led at the break without actually creating a chance.

Ten Hag, serving a touchline ban for collecting three yellow cards, will have sifted nervously during the first 45 minutes.

Unlike the four sides who put United to the sword on their own patch, Everton reprieved United. They had nearly enough chances to equal the 13 goals United sieved at Copenhagen, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Tottenham.

Yet United ran out 3-0 winners, their first league victory by more than a one-goal margin all season. The second half descended into such a procession that Anthony Martial, the scourge of Everton since he was first pitted against them in October 2015, dinked in his ninth goal against the club in 17 appearances. 

United were deprived of Rasmus Hojlund and Antony, £ 157.3 million worth of talent. No forward had scored in the league since Marcus Rashford on September 3. At Everton, three did, including Rashford.

With the eyes of the football world fixed on Everton's ground, Alejandro Garnacho ensured they would remember the occasion with one of the great bicycle kick volleys recorded on film in England.