Manchester United travelled to Everton to face their former manager in David Moyes, who has revitalised the Merseyside club in his second spell at Goodison. With the final meeting of the sides to take place at the illustrious stadium, it certainly provided a fair bit of drama from both sides, with neither feeling like they came away with the result they were hoping for.

The game was back and forth to say the least, as Everton took control for 2/3 of the clash, before United sprung into life and sparked a comeback through their talismanic captain Bruno Fernandes, and then largely helped by the VAR decisions late on as former United defender Ashley Young was denied a late penalty that would have given Everton all 3 points.

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Teams

Amorim once again had limited options to choose from for this clash, as United went all-out with the players at their disposal. Starting Zirkzee and Hojlund in the same XI didn’t work out for too long however as changes were made in the closing stages and Garnacho and youngster Obi-Martin were brought on to try and get United all 3 points.

For Everton, they had more experience to call upon throughout their side, and with a boost in confidence given recent results, they offered a fair bit more in an attacking sense. United faced former teammates in the form of Young and Garner who both put in a decent shift against their former sides, while the centre back pairing of former United transfer targets Tarkowski and Branthwaite had a decent afternoon despite United getting back into the game late on.

Everton: Pickford, Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Gueye, Garner (Alcaraz 81′), Harrison, Doucoure (Iroegbunam 81′), Lindstrom (Young 52′), Beto

Subs: Begovic, Virginia, Keane, Dixon, Heath, Sherif

Manchester United: Onana, De Ligt, Maguire, Mazraoui (Yoro 70′), Dorgu, Ugarte, Casemiro (Garnacho 62′), Dalot, Fernandes, Zirkzee, Hojlund (Obi-Martin 70′)

Subs: Harrison, Graczyk, Heaven, Lindelof, Eriksen, Kone

Everton 2-2 Manchester United

Manchester United staged a dramatic second-half comeback to salvage a 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park, but the match was overshadowed by a controversial VAR decision that denied the hosts a stoppage-time penalty. Everton had taken a commanding 2-0 lead in the first half through goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucouré, capitalizing on United’s defensive frailties. However, the visitors responded after the break, with Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte finding the net to level the score. In the dying moments, referee Andy Madley awarded Everton a penalty after Ashley Young was brought down in the box, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review, leaving the home side frustrated.

Everton’s early dominance was evident as Beto opened the scoring in the 19th minute, firing a volley past André Onana after United failed to clear their lines. Doucouré doubled the lead in the 33rd minute, heading home after Onana parried Jack Harrison’s shot into his path. United’s first-half performance was lacklustre, with manager Ruben Amorim admitting, “We did not exist in the first half” . The visitors failed to register a shot on target before the interval, highlighting their struggles in the attacking third.

The second half saw a revitalized United side, with Fernandes reducing the deficit in the 72nd minute through a well-placed free-kick that left Jordan Pickford rooted. Eight minutes later, Ugarte marked his first goal for the club with a powerful left-footed volley from the edge of the box, bringing the score level. United’s resurgence was nearly undone in stoppage time when Madley pointed to the spot after Young went down under pressure from Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt. However, after consulting the pitch side monitor, the referee reversed his decision, deeming the contact insufficient for a penalty.

The draw leaves Everton in 12th place, one point ahead of 15th-placed United. While United will take solace in their spirited comeback, the match highlighted ongoing issues in their defensive organization and first-half lethargy. Everton, under the guidance of David Moyes, will feel aggrieved by the late VAR intervention that denied them a potential victory. As the season progresses, both teams will need to address their inconsistencies to climb the Premier League table.

Talking Points

Manchester United mounted a stirring second-half comeback to rescue a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park, after a dismal opening 45 minutes left them trailing by two goals. Beto and Doucouré had fired Everton into a deserved lead, punishing United’s defensive lapses and sluggish midfield response. But whatever was said in the away dressing room at half-time sparked a transformation, with Ruben Amorim’s side showing much greater intensity and composure. Bruno Fernandes, the heartbeat of United’s revival, pulled one back with a pinpoint free-kick before Manuel Ugarte thundered home the equaliser with ten minutes to go.

Yet United’s escape was not without controversy. Deep into stoppage time, referee Andy Madley initially pointed to the spot after Ashley Young was bundled over in the box following pressure from Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt. However, a lengthy VAR review led Madley to overturn his own decision, judging the contact as minimal. The decision left Goodison Park simmering, with Everton boss David Moyes visibly frustrated. While United’s comeback was commendable, there’s no doubt they benefited from a slice of fortune that kept them from leaving Merseyside empty-handed.

At the heart of it all was Bruno Fernandes, who once again showcased his ability to drag United out of the mire when it matters most. The Portuguese midfielder was virtually anonymous in the first half but emerged after the break with a renewed sense of urgency and leadership. His goal, crafted with typical precision, ignited belief within his side, and his vision and energy continued to dictate the pace of United’s attacking play. In a season marked by inconsistency, Fernandes’ influence remains United’s most reliable weapon.