Everton failed to create enough meaningful chances and a 1-0 loss to Manchester United extended their winless streak at Hill Dickinson Stadium. They haven’t won at the waterfront venue in their last six games.
A lightning-quick counter-attack led by Bryan Mbeumo and finished off by Benjamin Sesko caught David Moyes’ backline committed high up the pitch. Chances for the hosts were few and far between and Everton’s overall game lacked pace and precision.
They have dropped to ninth in the league standings following this result.
Here are the player ratings from Everton’s 1-0 loss to Manchester United at home:
Jordan Pickford: 7
The scoreline would’ve looked worse without Pickford making a stellar save off Amad early in the game. He also pushed away Dalot’s dangerous-looking cross but there’s little the Everton goalkeeper could’ve done to prevent Sesko from converting his 1v1. He also denied Sesko twice from a similar position in the closing stages of the contest.
James Garner: 7
Garner was picked to delegate at right-back to replace the suspended Jake O’Brien for this clash. He made a crunching tackle on Cunha early in the game to retrieve possession and threatened from set pieces. Garner was more involved in the second half.
James Tarkowski: 7
Tarkowski was forced into action early on and had to make that crucial goalline clearance after Pickford’s initial save off Amad. He also made a great interception off Bruno and was a constant menace during corner-kicks. Tarkowski, though, was completely beaten for pace by Sesko on the counter-attack that led to the United goal.
Michael Keane: 5.5
To be fair to Keane, he was never going to come out on top in the 1v1 footrace with Bryan Mbeumo however, he could’ve probably angled his body better to prevent Mbeumo from playing the pass to Sesko. Keane also brought out a fantastic save off Lammens with a left-footed shot from distance.
Jarrad Branthwaite: 6
Forced to play out of position at left-back over Mykolenko, Branthwaite’s start to the game was shaky. However, he started growing into the role in the second half and tried to offer an outlet on the left with forward runs.
Idrissa Gana Gueye: 5
Gana misplaced a straightforward pass to Ndiaye in the first half which could’ve led to a dangerous United counter-attack through Cunha. He was also slow and was pegged back all game, not able to influence proceedings up the pitch. Gana’s hopeful shots from distance were either blocked or sliced wide off the target.
Tim Iroegbunam (replaced by Beto at 79’): 5
Iroegbunam could’ve dealt better with Mbeumo’s cross into the box that led to the chances for Cunha and Amad. He also gave possession away cheaply on a couple of occasions but showed a lot of energy with his runs and tackles.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 6
Dewsbury-Hall failed to recreate his performance that led to the win at Old Trafford. Everton’s number 22 kept probing and continued to show for the ball, but the execution didn’t always come off. The majority of Everton’s attacks went through him in the second half but Dewsbury-Hall just couldn’t generate the final product or pass and was even wasteful on a few occasions.
Iliman Ndiaye: 6
Didn’t have a major impact in the first half. Got more involved in the second, but his passes and deliveries into the box lacked their usual precision.
Thierno Barry: 5
Pressed really well against United and almost had a chance after catching Lammens off guard from the first kick of the game. He was full of running but didn’t have any clear cut chances to capitalise on.
Harrison Armstrong (replaced by Tyrique George at 72’): 5.5
Armstrong found himself with a great chance in the box early in the second half after being found by Dewsbury-Hall. However, his shot was aimed straight at the keeper. Armstrong was also forced to play wing-back for much of the game to help out Branthwaite with Dalot and Amad’s threat down that flank.
Playing the midfielder out on the wing also reduces the kind of direct threat that Everton are able to generate and the offense looked much better when Tyrique George came on.
Substitutes:
Tyrique George: 5.5
Came on and brought more intensity to Everton’s offence with his speed and direct runs towards the United’s defence. Tested Lammens from distance but failed to make the best of a chance that fell to him at the backpost in the closing stages.
Beto: 5
Barely had a touch on the ball.
Reader Comments (6)
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2 Posted 24/02/2026 at 07:16:33
3 Posted 24/02/2026 at 07:18:32
They competed quite well but the lack of decision making and the poor end product on the final ball is a book we've read time and time again.
Last night the expectancy was on Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall as being chief creators but it just didn't look like happening for either player.
Ndiaye can't seem to play two halves of football anymore I don't know why.
Iroegbunam and Gana is not a midfield that will ever create or produce goals and that's pretty much what we got, I don't see either as long term Everton midfielders to be honest with you.
People will say the striker was isolated but again, Barry just doesn't do enough for me, doesn't anticipate enough and give defenders enough of a hard time but that's not something we are only just learning.
4 Posted 24/02/2026 at 07:25:17
However. 12 identical corners reminded me of the saying that madness is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.
Once Beto came on he and Barry should have decided which one would attack the near post. One frustrating ball in was cut out with both attacking the back post.
On the marks. I think you are a bit tight on Keane, who aside from the goal was solid and also, as usual, looked like our best centre forward and KDH, who had a far better game than your 6 suggests.
It was frustrating, but at least we always felt in the game, unlike many performances against strong opposition. and finally, the charge down from Barry in the opening seconds could have gone anywhere and changed the whole scenario.
5 Posted 24/02/2026 at 07:25:19
However. 12 identical corners reminded me of the saying that madness is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.
Once Beto came on he and Barry should have decided which one would attack the near post. One frustrating ball in was cut out with both attacking the back post.
On the marks. I think you are a bit tight on Keane, who aside from the goal was solid and also, as usual, looked like our best centre forward and KDH, who had a far better game than your 6 suggests.
It was frustrating, but at least we always felt in the game, unlike many performances against strong opposition. and finally, the charge down from Barry in the opening seconds could have gone anywhere and changed the whole scenario.
6 Posted 24/02/2026 at 08:02:44
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1 Posted 24/02/2026 at 07:12:47
The corners began to frustrate me, but this is what you get with a David Moyes team. Loads of effort but not much variation, although I definitely thought we deserved at least a point for those efforts last night.