H-T Everton 1-1 Manchester United: No Rooney but plenty of action at Goodison

Manchester United recovered from the surprise absence of Wayne Rooney to draw level just before half-time at Everton.

Rooney, who has been the subject of allegations about his private life all week, did not travel to face his former club.

The decision appeared to have backfired when Steven Pienaar put the Toffees ahead but Darren Fletcher equalised just before the interval.

Wayne Rooney was left out of Manchester United's squad. The 24-year-old has been in the glare of headlines all week over lurid allegations about his private life and he did not even travel to Merseyside.

As a result the England striker was replaced in the team by Gary Neville as the only change from the 3-0 victory over West Ham prior to the international break - meaning there was no comeback for centre-back Rio Ferdinand who did not even make the bench.

Everton manager David Moyes made two changes from the side which lost at Aston Villa, with Leon Osman replacing Jack Rodwell, who has been ruled out for at least two months with a knee injury, and John Heitinga coming in for Jermaine Beckford.

That meant the hosts began the match with no recognised striker, with Louis Saha sidelined by knee problems again.

When the football finally got under way it was Everton who began the brightest, with Steven Pienaar drawing a foul from Neville and Mikel Arteta sending the sixth-minute free-kick just over the crossbar - although goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar appeared to get a fingertip to it.

Arteta had another shot deflected behind by Jonny Evans, Pienaar saw his shot from the Spaniard's corner blocked and Osman blazed the rebound well over.

Van der Sar then punched away Tony Hibbert's right-wing cross under pressure by Osman, who could not help fouling the goalkeeper.

Ferguson was not happy with his side's start and was soon prowling his technical area barking orders at the players.

John O'Shea responded with a blistering drive from the left angle of the penalty area which grazed the outside of Tim Howard's left-hand post.

While Nani was off the field having a cut lip attended to Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini both fired over and Leighton Baines bobbled Hibbert's cross wide as Everton continued to press without really threatening.

There was always the danger their failure to capitalise on possession would leave the way open for United to nick a goal and they almost did in the 34th minute.

Hibbert's foul on Ryan Giggs, despite winning the ball, saw Nani roll the free-kick to Paul Scholes and his powerful drive took a big deflection off Cahill but Howard, diving in the opposite direction, stuck out a foot and somehow diverted the ball over the crossbar.

Four minutes later the American goalkeeper stuck up a hand to palm away Giggs' close-range shot after United counter-attacked.

But the visitors were caught cold themselves when Patrice Evra missed an ambitious overhead-kick clearance to put Arteta charging through on goal and although he shot straight at Van der Sar Osman turned the rebound on to Pienaar at the far post who rolled home.

Two minutes before half-time, however, Nani's cross was diverted home by Darren Fletcher and Dimitar Berbatov almost put them ahead in added time.