Manchester United are finally doing what Erik ten Hag wants

Every Premier League win for Manchester United signals progress. Liverpool represented a scalp, Southampton a clean sheet, Leicester three consecutive league wins in nearly a year, Arsenal the scalp of the leaders and Everton a recovery.

United had not won at Goodison Park in front of a capacity crowd since New Year's Day 2018 until Sunday night. Erik ten Hag was reminded afterwards Sir Alex Ferguson found it a "nightmare" at Everton and every time-served United manager since has endured a demoralising day there.

"You see this team is, attitude-wise, mentally-wise, they are developing," Ten Hag noted, "so I am happy with the process. We have to keep the process going."

Also read: Ten Hag gives verdict on Casemiro performance

Everton hosted United with the miserliest defence in the Premier League and no other side has conceded fewer goals still. Their fifth-minute advantage tightened the screw as United are not patient lock-pickers.

How apposite Christian Eriksen, a proven safe-cracker, was geeing up teammates while Alex Iwobi and teammates savoured his classy curler. There were 85 minutes remaining and the United followers were audibly upbeat in the 10 minutes their team trailed.

In retrospect, it was ill-judged of Frank Lampard to select Neal Maupay, dismissively handled by Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez, and whatever the reservations over United's 30-year-old midfielders, Idrissa Gueye looked his 33 years.

United moved the ball slickly and incisively. Recovering from the ignominy of conceding first to Omonia Nicosia three days earlier was a useful rehearsal for Everton and United were only behind for eight minutes in the second-half midweek.

The dreaded Sunday 7pm kick-off time benefited players, staff and