THE NOTEBOOK: Manchester Mayor blasts ‘highly flawed’ 10-point deduction, Everton suffer from shoddy finishing – and banned Erik ten Hag opts for ear-pieces over ear-defenders at noisy Goodison

Manchester United enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday evening. 

The hosts’ woes continued after having ten points deducted due to breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

Everton’s struggles went from bad to worse when Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring just three minutes in with a stunning overhead kick that set the Red Devils’ evening alight. 

Having struggled to find their form in the Premier League, Erik Ten Hag’s side seem to have found their feet with a glorious victory over a struggling Toffees side. 

The victory sees Man United fly into the top six, just two points behind Ange Postecoglou‘s Tottenham.

MailSport’s Lewis Steele takes a look at some of things you may have missed.

Sean Dyche’s woes continue as his side now sit in 19th place in the Premier League table

Premier League financial breaches and points deduction

Andy Burnham has accused the Premier League of an ‘abuse of process’ and the decision to deduct 10 points from Everton for financial breaches should be ‘null and void’ due to altering the framework used to make the judgment midway through the case.

Everton were charged and referred to an independent commission in March for breaching profit and sustainability rules, but the guidelines for how to punish such a case were only put together on August 10 this year.

‘Has there been a fair process?,’ the Labour politician and mayor of Manchester asked reporters at Goodison Park on Sunday. ‘There has been a highly flawed process and I would go as far to say there has been an abuse of the process. And that abuse of process concerns the guideline and framework that was put together in August and submitted to the independent commission.

‘It could be argued that the Premier League handing a new penalty regime to the Commission in this way is akin to the Government handing new sentencing guidelines to a judge in the middle of a particular trial.’

In a letter sent to the Premier League, seen by Mail Sport, Burnham wrote to chair Alison Brittain: ‘I would say the process should be declared null and void because of the regulatory malpractice of introducing new rules in the middle.’

Fans protest following Everton’s 10-point deduction for violating the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, brandishing the ‘Big Six’ clubs as facing bias in the top-flight

Erik Ten Hag’s ban and Man United’s strategy

Erik Ten Hag was spotted in the stands with an earpiece in – and it was not to drown out the deafening noise of Everton’s raucous supporters in protest. The Dutchman, also wearing a flat cap, was banned for picking up a third yellow card of the season in United’s win over Luton a fortnight ago.

Mitchell van der Gaag, who is a bit of a Ten Hag lookalike, instead was in the dugout. The 52-year-old has been by Ten Hag’s side since their days at Ajax’s B team and has also managed in Portugal and Cyprus.

They handed a first Premier League start to 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who was born in Stockport and played for prestigious youth club Cheadle and Gatley. The holding midfielder passed his audition with flying colours and was a calming presence for United.

Erik Ten Hag picked up a third yellow during the Luton clash and watched on from the stands

Rashford celebrated with fans after scoring a penalty during the match at Goodison Park

Manchester United’s positive streak

Whisper it quietly, but we appear to have a rare week where Manchester United have not been in crisis mode. ‘Ten Hag’s red and white army’, chanted the away end, after winning five of their last six league games – the outlier being to the European champions.

There were also chants of ‘Viva Garnacho’, to the tune of the old song sang about Cristiano Ronaldo, and United’s winger emulated CR7 today in more than one way. After his fantastic goal of the season contender, the Argentine performed Ronaldo’s trademark ‘siu’ celebration.

So United fans enjoyed their trip to Merseyside and were in good voice all afternoon. It’s a trip to Istanbul and the bear pit of Galatasaray next, though. Lose there and the positivity will all turn sour again.

Anthony Martial managed to find the back of the net after Rashford doubled his sides lead

Garnacho wowed Goodison Park with a stunning overhead kick that silenced the hosts 

Fans went wild over Garnacho’s early goal, comparing it to Wayne Rooney’s 2011 strike

Everton’s struggles at Goodison Park 

Most of the statistics were in Everton’s favour, with them winning the possession battle and having 24 shots to United’s nine – but those numbers do not matter when they can’t put the ball in the goal and have just four points in the table after their deduction.

Goodison Park is thought of as a fortress but they have just four points at home, with a win over Bournemouth and draw with Brighton. Only Sean Dyche’s Burnley have less home points (0), with this the fewest the Toffees have ever accrued in their first seven home games of a season.

Everton looked dejected at full-time after losing 3-0 at home to visitors Man United

Jordan Pickford did not enjoy his sides performance after conceding three goals 

Dominic Calvert-Lewin failed to get on the scoresheet for the Toffees against dominant United