Harry Maguire doesn’t think Man United should have had penalty v Everton
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has admitted his side shouldn’t have been awarded a penalty after Maguire was seemingly fouled by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.
The Toffees lost 3-1 to United on Saturday thanks to a brace from Bruno Fernandes and a late Edinson Cavani goal.
Midway through the second half, it looked as if Pickford had kicked Maguire in the midriff after losing control of the ball and the Red Devils wanted a penalty but, after the game the former Leicester man told Manchester United that he didn’t believe it was a spot-kick.
He said, “I just explained this in [the dressing room], I personally don’t think it was [a penalty]. I think maybe I fouled Jordan first. I did put a hand into his chest when he went to catch the ball and I did feel contact on my knee.
“I felt like I probably pushed Jordan before and I know everyone’s probably trying to jump on him dropping the ball but I did feel like I pushed him. I’d say [a penalty] would have been a little bit soft.”
The challenge was referred to Michael Oliver who was on VAR duty at Goodison Park but he chose not to award a penalty.
Everton opened the scoring through Bernard as the Brazilian scored his first Premier League goal of the season. But that was as good as it got for the Toffees as Carlo Ancelotti’s side found themselves 2-1 down at half time after Bruno Fernandes bagged himself a brace.
The last thing Pickford needed was to be making headlines after he was dropped for last weekend’s defeat to Newcastle. There was a familiar feeling as replays showed the Everton keeper missing the ball and kicking the Manchester United captain.
The memory of Pickford’s potentially season-ending challenge on Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk is still fresh and it looked as if he had made a similar reckless challenge while trying to stop Maguire extending United’s lead.
Pickford will be looking to have a quiet international break as he was unsurprisingly called up to the England squad by Gareth Southgate, despite his questionable form.
In other Everton news, earlier reports linking the Toffees with a move for a La Liga winger are ‘made up’ according to a report.