Everton faced a massive test when they hosted Manchester United at the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium. David Moyes’ Toffees had enjoyed an unbeaten start to the campaign leading up to the game, having picked up four points from their opening fixtures, including a gritty draw away at Bournemouth. However, this high-profile fixture arrived at the end of a chaotic week for the club. The mood around Merseyside had been heavily tested following a turbulent end to the summer transfer window.
Moyes had
openly lamented the reality of managing a small squad after losing dynamic forward Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City, while a failed medical for target Folarin Balogun had left the team short on attacking options. The home crowd ultimately needed to act as a crucial lifting force to galvanize the players amidst that off-pitch frustration. The Evertonian us against the world attitude was needed.
Team News
While unsurprisingly, Thierno Barry figured as the target man up top, the big decision was whether Jack Grealish or Ainsley Maitland Niles would get the start and the answer was no. Fortunately, midfielder Hayden Hackney shook off an ankle knock in time but was on the bench to start. Harrison Armstrong was in the engine room alongside James Garner.
Match Report
The supporters had heard the request from David Moyes to get behind the team. It was loud as the teams walked onto the Hill Dickinson Stadium pitch. A rousing Forever Everton set the stage as the boys in royal blue kicked off. The first long ball up to Barry saw Maguire slump to the ground in need of treatment and the groggy defender needed to have his bloody nose cleaned up.
The early moments were highly energetic with feisty tempo as neither side managed to control the early possession. Manchester United created the first major opening of the game when a headed clearance from Mbeumo found Fernandes, who unleashed a powerful strike that rattled off the crossbar. Everton responded by driving the ball forward, but Barry received no penalty interest from the referee after going down in the area. The atmosphere intensified as Dalot avoided a yellow card, drawing a loud reaction from the crowd, which intensified moments later when Armstrong was booked for a foul on Fernandes. Despite the caution, Armstrong continued to cover the entire pitch, fighting for every ball and keeping the home supporters fully engaged.
As the half progressed, United continued to find joy through the wings, particularly with Shaw overlapping on the left side to exploit open space. Rashford used his pace to bypass Rohl on the flank, setting up a golden opportunity for Cunha, who ultimately failed to keep his shot down. Pickford remained alert in the Everton goal, easily handling a long-range effort from Tielemans and later saving another shot from Rashford after the winger beat Mykolenko. Defensively, Everton relied heavily on last-ditch interventions, with Branthwaite and Tarkowski making crucial blocks to deny consecutive goalbound strikes from Fernandes and Dalot.
In the final stages of the half, Everton began to push back and threaten the United defense with more direct play. After Johnson was yellow-carded for halting a dangerous Cunha breakaway, Rohl and Mykolenko looked to stabilize the flanks where United were getting joy. Everton generated their best chance when Rohl delivered a superb cross to Barry, who sent a powerful header just over the crossbar. Just before the interval, a long throw-in from Mykolenko was poorly defended by United, allowing Branthwaite to fire a low, hard shot that was safely gathered by Lammens for the game’s first shot on target. Branthwaite then closed out the half with a spectacular last-ditch tackle and a header block to stop a quick United counter-attack, passionately rallying the crowd as the whistle blew.
United started the second half on the front foot and took an early lead just ninety seconds after the restart. Luke Shaw pulled the ball back to Rohl, who moved the ball forward to Bryan Mbuemo. Given too much space, Mbuemo hit a low shot that zipped past Pickford into the far corner, wiping out all of Everton’s good work from the first half. Everton attempted to respond quickly but lacked an incisive final pass, while referee John Brooks received little support from the home crowd for his lack of calls. George looked lively on the left and forced a corner that was recycled, but Barry and Rohl got in each other’s way to deny a scoring chance. Everton continued to string passes together until a block from Martinez denied Johnson, before United launched a counter-attack that required critical defending from George.
The match grew increasingly physical as both teams fought for control of the midfield. Johnson drove forward and was eventually surrounded by five United defenders, while at the other end, Rashford danced into the box and flicked the ball to Cunha, whose certain goal was prevented by an incredible tackle from Tarkowski. Referee John Brooks then handed out quick yellow cards to Shaw for a rash tackle on Rohl, and then to Rohl for taking down Rashford. Tarkowski made another fine block from a Tielemans drive, and the resulting corner ended with Shaw blasting a shot well wide. Everton then introduced Jack Grealish for Johnson, and the substitute immediately sent Mykolenko down the side to force a corner before setting up Dewsbury-Hall for a weak shot. United responded with changes of their own, bringing on Sesko and Dorgu for Rashford and Cunha.
Everton pushed hard for an equalizer as the second half progressed, though they remained vulnerable to the counter-attack. Tarkowski met a free kick with a soft header to the goalkeeper, and Dewsbury-Hall saw a shot accidentally hit his teammate Barry. After a loose pass from Garner required another defensive block from Tarkowski, Hackney came on to replace Rohl. Garner briefly moved to right back before going down with cramp, forcing him to be replaced by Maitland-Niles for his Everton debut. Fernandes went down injured but Everton played on, leading to a yellow card for Maguire for dissent. As Fernandes waited to re-enter the pitch, Grealish drew a foul from Dalot, who was also booked. Hackney put the free kick into the box, where Branthwaite’s header was punched clear by Lammens. Hackney then drove forward and laid off a lovely pass to Tyrique George, who blasted a spectacular shot into the top corner to send the crowd berserk.
The drama intensified in the final minutes as United looked to regain their advantage. Sesko initially headed wide of the far post, but he made no mistake on his next opportunity when Shaw beat Maitland-Niles and delivered a cross that Sesko headed toward goal. Pickford failed to get a strong hand on the ball, and it dribbled over the line to restore United’s lead.
Five minutes of added time were announced, and Mazraoui came on for Shaw just before George had a shot ruled out for offside. United attempted to retain possession while Grealish caused trouble on the left, though the crowd groaned when Hackney fired a shot over the bar. In the final minute of the match, Hackney delivered a corner into the middle where Maitland-Niles stepped up and curled the ball into the corner to equalize sending the crowd into ecstacy. The referee blew the final whistle immediately after the restart, ending a thrilling contest.
Everton’s Man of the Match
Tyrique George – The quality that he brings to the team was obvious again today. With Grealish being brought back on loan, the pressure to produce was obvious for the young winger and his early play didn’t get any joy. Incredibly, that changed when George was moved onto the right side and he buried a beautiful goal to get Everton back in the match. Perhaps the move to the right will be where he spends more time this year when Grealish is up to speed.
Instant Reaction
The opening goal from United happened before Everton woke up after half time. After a solid first half it was so disappointing, but the response was a good one. Everton pushed for more and when that did not produce a goal, Moyes made changes and the resulting goal from George was well deserved. Sadly, the lead was short lived when Sesko headed the ball, the game looked lost but the ultimate drama from Maitland-Niles saved the day and kept our unbeaten start to the season.
A huge learning curve for Merlin Rohl today in a tussle with Rashford all day. The overlapping runs of Shaw were leaving the young German flummoxed. Even on a yellow card, Rohl continued to be aggressive, and he was a willing runner down the right side. His cross into Barry should have been the opening goal. It will be interesting to see what Moyes does as Maitland-Niles was able to get on today for his debut.
Ultimately, the players in the team are the players we have and that is not changing. I criticized Moyes last year for his lack of substitutions. This year, he is not hesitating and even when we were controlling the game after the first United goal, he switched it up and the influence of Hackney and Grealish was instant. Nicely done, Mr. Moyes.
Player Ratings:
Pickford – Should have done better on the Sesko goal on what was a quiet day overall.
Mykolenko – Another solid outing for 88 of the 90 minutes but let Mbuemo go on the goal.
Tarkowski – With 12 defensive contributions, 3 tackles, 1 block, 4 clearances, 4 interceptions, and 3 recoveries, his last-ditch tackle on Cunha was critical.
Branthwaite – A nice clearance on a dangerous cross from Rashford.
Rohl – Ever willing to drive forward but was easily beaten by Rashford.
Garner – Continues to build his fitness and eventually succumbed to the pace after he was moved to right back.
Armstrong – A feisty start got the crowd on their feet as the young Scouser fought for everything.
Dewsbury-Hall – Tried to get the team forward throughout.
George – An excellent match where the switch of wings in the second half didn’t bother him and his goal was superb.
Johnson – Went offside twice early on which snuffed out chances and lost his head when he took out Cunha with a poor tackle to earn himself a yellow card.
Barry – Isolated for much of the match so it was disappointing when his big chance from Rohl’s cross went narrowly over the bar.
