Everton were left ruing what could have been once more as two first-half penalties proved the difference from getting a reward their performance largely warranted at Old Trafford.

The Blues were the better side for much of the contest, only to be punished by two counter-attacks from Manchester United that led to spot-kicks being converted by Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.

Dwight McNeil went close twice in the opening half, while substitute Lewis Dobbin should have reduced the deficit with 15 minutes to go, only to drag his finish wide, with Everton often missing out on the key moments in the final third when well placed.

Sean Dyche named an unchanged XI for the clash at Old Trafford, meaning Beto retained his place leading the Blues’ attack, with Ben Godfrey keeping his spot at right-back.

The game came too soon for Idrissa Gana Gueye to recover from the groin injury the midfielder sustained at Brighton & Hove Albion last month, although Andre Gomes shook off a calf niggle to take his place on the substitutes’ bench.

The Blues were on the front foot from the off and went close to taking a second-minute lead when McNeil whipped a teasing cross into the box. Amadou Onana opted to chest the ball down in acres of space eight yards out, enabling Andre Onana to come off his line and block, denying Godfrey from finishing from the rebound in the process.

It was all Everton in the opening stages, Beto and McNeil finding space down the middle, the Portuguese striker playing Abdoulaye Doucoure down the right channel whose centre was well held by Onana.

United’s obvious threat on the counter was highlighted on seven minutes, though, as the hosts attacked from an Everton corner, Marcus Rashford twisting his way into the box only to be denied by an excellent block by Jack Harrison as he shaped to shoot.

Rashford was instrumental in the hosts’ opener on 12 minutes, passing to Alejandro Garnacho on the left edge of the area and, as the teenager forward cut back, he was tripped by James Tarkowski, enabling Fernandes to net from the penalty spot despite Jordan Pickford going the right way.

The Blues’ spirit under Dyche has been evident all season and McNeil went so close to levelling straight from the restart, Scott McTominay heading away Vitalii Mykolenko’s cross and McNeil smacking a volley inches past the left-hand post with Onana stranded.

Everton continued to be the better team despite finding themselves behind, the lively McNeil creating once more as his lofted pass to the six-yard line narrowly missed Harrison from applying the finish.

And still the pressure continued, a delightful passage of passing allowing Garner to crack a 20-yard shot that Onana palmed away, with Everton’s Onana picking up the rebound but blasting his effort over the bar.

United’s attacks were few and far between in the opening half hour but when they did come forward they threatened, Onana bringing down Garnacho on the edge of the area to receive the game’s first caution, and Pickford clawing away Fernandes’ goalbound free-kick.

The Blues were creating more chances, however, McNeil going close again with a driving shot across goal from just outside the area that crept past the right-hand post.

Having impressed, Dyche’s men somehow found themselves 2-0 down 10 minutes before half-time in similar fashion to the opener. Another quick-fire counter saw Garnacho break through the middle and, as he raced into the area, the 19-year-old was taken down by Godfrey for another penalty. Rashford was on duty this time and netted past his England colleague Pickford.

Everton’s fortunes were summed up in the dying seconds of first-half injury-time when Garner gathered possession inside United’s area, squared to McNeil and, well placed, the winger drilled his low shot into the legs of Evans.

Despite the two-goal deficit, there was a feeling around Old Trafford that one Everton goal would throw this contest wide open and the visitors nearly found it heading to the hour mark as Harrison squared to McNeil who opted to pass to Beto with the striker seeing his low drive blocked by Varane.

Dyche looked to shake things up on the hour with three changes, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Gomes and Lewis Dobbin coming on for Beto, Doucoure and Harrison.

Calvert-Lewin and Dobbin carved out a half-chance soon after, Onana threading a through ball to the No.9 who spun his marker before Dobbin collected the loose ball and blasted over from the edge of the box.

The attacking duo should have got Everton back in the match with 15 minutes remaining, Mykolenko’s deep cross headed back across goal by Godfrey and Dobbin firing a low finish wide from the left, with Calvert-Lewin inches away from tucking home from close range.

The Blues kept knocking on the door in a desperate search for a route back, only for the final moment in front of goal to be cleared or blocked by a red shirt as United held on for a flattering victory that left Evertonians frustrated yet again.

Dyche’s men now go into a three-week break from action before a trip to Bournemouth on Saturday 30 March.