Defeating Everton, MU returns to the Premier League top 4

Benjamin Sesko's only goal at the 71st minute helped Manchester United overcome Everton 1-0, maintaining their strong performance during Michael Carrick's tenure.

Traveling to Hill Dickinson with just one win in their last five away matches, Manchester United was not highly favored. However, under interim coach Michael Carrick, the team started proactively and created a clear chance as early as the 4th minute. Amad Diallo fired a close-range shot forcing Jordan Pickford to make a save, before James Tarkowski cleared the ball off the line.

In the first half, MU dominated possession and patiently searched for openings. Diogo Dalot tested his luck with a powerful long-range shot that narrowly missed the post. Everton, on the other hand, played cautiously, prioritizing safety. Their most notable chance came from a free kick by James Garner, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens reacted quickly to keep a clean sheet.

After the break, the game opened up. In the 46th minute, Harrison Armstrong had a chance to score but failed to beat Lammens. Shortly after, Bryan Mbeumo missed an opportunity by shooting over the bar inside the box following a mistake by Tarkowski.

The turning point came at the 71st minute. From a swift counterattack, Matheus Cunha delivered an accurate long pass to Mbeumo, who sprinted down the right flank. The Cameroonian forward controlled the ball neatly and crossed it perfectly for Benjamin Sesko to finish with a one-touch strike past Pickford. This was another important goal for the Slovenian striker coming off the bench.

Previously, Sesko scored a stoppage-time goal to secure a 1-1 draw against West Ham and also sealed a 3-2 win over Fulham. In the 2026 Premier League season alone, he has netted 5 goals excluding penalties, more than any other player.

In the final minutes, Everton pushed forward seeking an equalizer. Michael Keane and Tyrique George had chances, but Lammens remained solid to preserve the narrow lead for the visitors. The 1-0 win stretched MU’s unbeaten run under Carrick to six games, including five victories.

More importantly, the three points earned in Merseyside elevated the “Red Devils” to fourth place in the standings Premier League with 48 points, creating a three-point gap over Chelsea and Liverpool. While rivals are distracted by European competitions, MU benefits from a lighter schedule and better fitness.

Riding this momentum, Manchester United will return to Old Trafford to host Crystal Palace on March 1st, aiming to further solidify their position in the Champions League qualification zone.