Manchester United are back up to third in the table after a comfortable 2-0 win over Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
The Red Devils welcomed the relegation-battlers to the Theatre of Dreams for a game that was certain to have a big impact at both ends of the table.
Marcus Rashford has been United's main man when it comes to goalscoring this season and the England ace should have added another to his tally early on, but fired his effort straight at Jordan Pickford inside the opening 10 minutes when through on goal.
Less than five minutes later, United wasted an even bigger chance. Aaron Wan-Bissaka had the freedom of the penalty area after responding quickest to a rebound, but the right-back put his effort wide from no more than eight yards out.
Ellis Simms could have made the hosts pay for their own profilgate finishing, but the former Sunderland loanee fired a tame effort wide of David de Gea's goal after finding plenty of space in the United box.
They did boast a one-goal advantage mind, as Scott McTominay's tidy finish handed United the lead on the 36th minute. The Scotland ace beat Pickford at his near post to ensure the early pressure from the hosts amounted to something.
Anthony Martial's goal 20 minutes from time was gifted to United after Seamus Coleman slipped at the crucial moment and left Everton with a mountain too big to climb.
Mirror Football identified six talking points from the clash as United enjoy another home win.
What this result means
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United's bid to secure Champions League qualification receives another boost after picking up all three points.
Victory means the Red Devils leapfrog Newcastle into third, though for just how long it stays that way remains to be seen with the Magpies in action Saturday afternoon away at Brentford.
As for Everton, the fight for Premier League survival remains so tight down the bottom of the table and Toffees boss Sean Dyche knows every point counts at this stage of the season.
It is for that reason Dyche will be frustrated his players couldn't find an equaliser, as the loss leaves Everton in 16th, level on points with all three of Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Leicester.
Two of the aforementioned three could go above the Toffees with a win in their respective next game. Everton are hovering above the relegation zone on goal difference.
Rashford's injury concern
Rashford's attempt to control a lofted through ball cost him the last 15 minutes of this game but may even rule him out of Sevilla on Thurday.
The United forward tried to bring the ball down and in the process seemed to sustain a groin injury. Within seconds, Rashford signalled to the bench and knew that his afternoon was done.
The 25-year-old hobbled off the pitch with the help of a physio and headed straight down the Old Trafford tunnel while donning a facial expression that suggested he was in real discomfort.
Pickford keeps things respectable
Who knows what kind of tally United could have racked up had it not been for the Everton goalkeeper, who made a number of stellar stops throughout the game.
In trademark Pickford style, the England number one would often get up and give his defence an earful for not doing more to prevent the shots in the first place.
To put into context just how busy Pickford was, the 29-year-old made five stops in the opening 22 minutes of the contest. United had 21 efforts on goal in the first-half, a record amount this season.
Just how United didn't go into the interval at least three goals to the good will leave Erik ten Hag bemused, with the likes of Antony and Rashford both seeing shots thwarted by the in-form Pickford.
He could do very little about McTominay's opener or Martial's goal to put the result beyond any doubt.
Maguire-watch
Some may have been surprised to see Maguire return to the starting line-up to make what was just his sixth league start of the season.
Ahead of kick-off, Ten Hag seemed to suggest that the reason behind the United captain's recall was the sheer amount of fixtures the Red Devils have to contend with.
It has been a difficult season serving as the deputy for both Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, but in truth the England international had very little to do for large portions of this game.
Maguire may have been left sweating after his attempts to stop Demerai Gray raised questions of a potential penalty, but VAR soon waved off any Everton protests.
Maguire lasted the full 90 minutes and aided United's pursuit of a clean sheet.
Wan-Bissaka's sitter
Now, the former Crystal Palace man is hardly a reliable outlet when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net, but even if he will be kicking himself after his latest miss.
Wan-Bissaka had the chance to put United in front early on when Antony's volley struck the upright and bobbled back into danger.
With Pickford still helpless on the floor after his initial dive and not an Everton defender in sight, all Wan-Bissaka had to do was tap home into a basically empty net to give United the lead.
Instead, he scuffed his strike and could do little more than watch his time effort bounce wide of the opposite post.
The sitter even prompted a reaction from United legend Gary Neville, who tweeted: "The Right Back goal scoring curse at Old Trafford continues."
The Theatre of Dreams team
United's form at Old Trafford continues to impress.
The Red Devils have not tasted league defeat on their own patch since the opening day of the league season when they were toppled by Brighton.
Across all competitions, it is now 24 games unbeaten at Old Trafford for United following today's victory.
The signs were ominous for Everton after McTominay's opener, given the Red Devils have not dropped a single point at home this season when they have scored first.
Ten Hag has managed to make Old Trafford an incredibly difficult place to go once again, a feat which is hugely important in the race for top four.
