Everton 0-1 Man United Player Ratings: Maguire 8.5/10 MOTM as Sesko's Late Strike Seals Narrow 1-0 Victory

Manchester United edged past Everton with a narrow but significant 1-0 victory at Hill Dickinson Stadium, courtesy of a decisive second-half strike from substitute Benjamin Sesko. In a tightly contested Premier League encounter, clear-cut chances were limited, and both sides struggled to assert sustained attacking dominance. Both teams had their moments, but it was substitute Benjamin Sesko who became the hero for the visitors.

Everton will be kicking themselves. They threw everything they had at the United goal, particularly in the frantic closing stages. We noticed they racked up a staggering number of corners but just couldn't find that final, decisive touch. You could feel the frustration building in the home crowd with every blocked shot and missed header.

For Manchester United, this was a victory built on defensive grit. They weathered the storm, with their backline standing tall against relentless pressure. The winning goal in the 73rd minute was a classic sucker punch, executed with speed and precision, leaving Everton with no time to recover. A tough result for the Toffees, but a massive three points on the road for United. Here are Sportsdunia's Everton vs Man United player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Manchester United’s backline, led by Harry Maguire, withstood relentless pressure, making crucial clearances and blocks to preserve the clean sheet.
• Benjamin Sesko’s 73rd-minute strike turned a cagey contest on its head, highlighting the value of decisive substitutions.
• Despite late pressure, numerous corners, and a golden opportunity for Beto, the hosts lacked the finishing touch to capitalise.

Everton Player Ratings vs Manchester United

Here are the Everton player ratings against Manchester United.

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford - 6.5: Couldn't do much about the goal, it was a clinical finish. Made a decent save inside the box and his distribution was ambitious, though not always accurate. Picked up a late yellow for dissent, which showed his frustration. A fairly standard performance from the England number one.

Defenders

Michael Keane - 7.0: A solid and composed display. His five interceptions were crucial in breaking up United's play. He even forced a good save with a shot from distance late on. What stood out to us was his reading of the game, he was often in the right place.

James Tarkowski - 7.5: A captain's performance. The man was a rock at the back, winning 8 out of 9 duels and making a crucial clearance off the line. He threw his body on the line repeatedly. The yellow card was the only blot on an otherwise immense defensive showing.

Jarrad Branthwaite - 6.5: A mixed bag for the young defender. He was strong in the air, winning five aerial duels, but was dribbled past a couple of times. He was decent on the ball but seemed a little stretched by United's counter. Still a learning experience for him.

James Garner - 6.0: A frustrating afternoon for Garner. He was on set-piece duty and whipped in a massive 14 crosses, but the quality was often lacking. He worked hard but lost possession 20 times, which stalled Everton's momentum. A busy but inefficient display.

Midfielders

Iliman Ndiaye - 8.0: Everton's best player by a mile. He was a constant threat, completing an incredible eight successful dribbles and always looking to create something. His ability to carry the ball under pressure was a joy to watch. From our perspective, he deserved to be on the winning side.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - 6.0: He was everywhere, but it felt like a headless chicken performance at times. Had the most touches on his team but lost possession an astounding 25 times. The effort was there, but the end product was sorely missing.

Idrissa Gueye - 6.5: A typically combative and energetic performance from Gueye. He broke up play with three tackles and was a nuisance in midfield. Had a few speculative shots that were blocked. Did his job effectively without much fanfare.

Tim Iroegbunam - 6.5: A quietly effective game before he was substituted. He was tidy in possession and won most of his tackles. Provided a solid base in midfield but didn't offer much going forward. A steady, if unspectacular, outing.

Harrison Armstrong - 5.5: A very quiet game. He had one shot on target early in the second half but otherwise struggled to get involved. He was caught offside and eventually substituted. We expected more from him in an attacking sense.

Forwards

Thierno Barry - 5.5: It was a tough physical battle for Barry, and one he didn't really win. He was a target man but lost possession 17 times and struggled to hold the ball up. Won a lot of aerials but couldn't make them count. A difficult day at the office.

Substitutes

Tyrique George - 6.0: Came on and immediately looked to get involved, forcing a save with a shot from distance. Brought some needed energy but couldn't find a breakthrough.

Beto - 5.0: Came on to be a physical presence and missed a gilt-edged chance. He headed over the bar from point-blank range in the 84th minute. That was the moment to equalize, and he blew it.

Manager

D. Moyes - 6.5: His game plan was almost perfect. Everton were solid, resilient, and created enough chances to win the game. However, his team's shocking finishing let him down. The substitutions made sense but ultimately couldn't change the result.

Man United Player Ratings vs Everton

Check out the Man United player ratings for the Everton vs Man United Premier League match.

Goalkeeper

Senne Lammens - 8.0: A fantastic performance to secure the clean sheet. He made four saves, including a brilliant one to deny Keane's long-range effort. Commanded his box with authority, making four punches and claiming the ball well. A match-winning display.

Defenders

Diogo Dalot - 7.5: A really solid all-round performance. Defensively sound with three interceptions and excellent on the ball with 90% passing accuracy. He was a constant outlet on the right and contributed at both ends of the pitch.

Harry Maguire - 8.5: Our man of the match. An absolute colossus at the back. He made 10 clearances and won seven aerial duels, dominating the Everton forwards completely. He was aggressive and decisive and led the backline superbly.

Leny Yoro - 7.5: Looked incredibly composed alongside Maguire. His passing was crisp and accurate, and he read the game well to make four clearances and two interceptions. For a young defender, his performance under pressure was remarkably mature.

Luke Shaw - 6.5: A solid, no-frills performance. He was defensively responsible and didn't give Everton much joy down his flank. He wasn't as involved offensively as he sometimes is, but he did his primary job very well. Dependable as ever.

Midfielders

Bruno Fernandes - 6.0: A surprisingly quiet and ineffective game from the captain. He lost possession 18 times and struggled to unlock the Everton defence. His frustration was evident with a late yellow card. Not his best day by a long shot.

Matheus Cunha - 6.0: He worked hard but it just didn't happen for him. He was dispossessed, turned the ball over, and lost more duels than he won. A lot of running without much impact in the final third.

Casemiro - 7.5: The warrior in midfield. He was everywhere, making four tackles and winning a massive 10 duels. His passing was ambitious, and he created two chances. He lost the ball a bit too often, but his defensive contribution was immense.

Kobbie Mainoo - 7.5: Another silky smooth performance. His 96% pass accuracy shows how calm and composed he is on the ball. He recycled possession brilliantly and was positionally sound. He makes the game look so easy.

Forwards

Amad Diallo - 6.0: A mixed performance before he was substituted. He showed flashes of his talent, creating a couple of chances. However, he also lost possession 11 times in just 58 minutes. A bit too inconsistent.

Bryan Mbeumo - 6.5: It was a frustrating day for him, but he delivered the most important moment of the match. He provided the clinical assist for the goal after missing a few chances himself. A decisive, if not polished, performance.

Substitutes

Benjamin Sesko - 8.0: The perfect impact substitute. He came on and provided the moment of quality United were missing. His finish for the goal was ruthless and clinical. He won the game for his team.

Noussair Mazraoui - 5.5: Brought on to help see out the win and immediately got booked for a silly foul. Didn't add much stability in his brief cameo.

Manager

M. Carrick - 7.5: His team wasn't playing particularly well, but they were organized and resilient. He recognized the need for a change and his decision to bring on Sesko was a masterstroke. A classic tactical victory on the road.

Man of the Match

Harry Maguire was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Beto was the worst performer.