What we learned: Everton 2-2 Manchester United

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Boy, did we need that one!

This week from hell looked like it was going to be capped off in typically heartbreaking Everton fashion — conceding a late winner after dragging themselves back into the game, and courtesy of an error from Jordan Pickford, no less.

But no, up stepped Ainsley Maitland-Niles, one of Everton’s two deadline day signings, to thump in a wonderful equaliser with pretty much the final kick of the game.

Here’s a few things we learned from Everton 2-2 Manchester United.

EVERTON’S RESILIENCE CAN’T BE DOUBTED

There was something of an air of overconfidence around the fanbase in the build-up to this one — some, if not a majority, seemed sure Everton would take the failures of this week, and the anger it has generated, and turn it into a nasty, front-foot display that would be too much for Man Utd to handle.

But simply put, teams like Man Utd have too much attacking quality for that to be the case.

It was a flat first half and both teams were poor, but Man Utd had the lead when Bryan Mbeumo struck shortly after the interval.

In a way, that was a good thing, as Everton did then really come to the party. The only chance they had created of note in the first half was when Thierno Barry skied over with a header from close range.

Tyrique George’s 83rd-minute stunner got the Toffees back on level terms and was a deserved reward for their second-half display.

Yet to then concede to new nemesis Benjamin Šeško in such infuriating fashion — with multiple players, not just Pickford — at fault, was a hammer blow.

However, to keep on plugging away, just as they did at Bournemouth last week, is a great credit to the resilience David Moyes has built in to this team.

GEORGE CAN MAKE THE RIGHT WING HIS OWN

When Jack Grealish was introduced for his second Everton debut not long after the hour, the main question was which of the starting wingers Moyes would take off.

George had been playing on the left, and had looked dangerous, while Brennan Johnson, after a quiet first half, was starting to cause United issues down the right.

The easy assumption to make would be that Moyes would lean on experience and keep Johnson on the pitch, but no, George has clearly earned his trust.

But for the first time in an Everton shirt, George was switched over to the right flank. And with Grealish, when fit, a sure-fire starter, the youngster may well have just staked his claim to keeping his place in the team, but on the right rather than the left.

George’s goal was a thing of beauty, while he also got in again as Everton chased a second equaliser, but was flagged for offside.

His pace makes him a real threat as he is able to go both ways when on either flank, but while on the left he tends to cut in to shoot, on the right he can take the full-back on down the outside, and use his speed to create a yard of pace to unleash his thunderous shot.

With a first Everton goal (in a competitive match) now under his belt, let’s hope George can keep going from strength to strength.

BARRY NEEDS TO KEEP IT SIMPLE

At times there was just too many fancy flicks and tricks from Barry. Keep things steady and simple and the chances will come.

He should have done better with his opportunity in the first half but, in the second, he created a chance for himself with some slick footwork, and only a fine block prevented him from hitting the target.

Barry has to realise he is now Everton’s only real choice up top and, as such, just simplify his game, rather than trying too hard to be flashy at times.

MOYES’ SUBS CONTINUE TO PUZZLE

This isn’t really anything new, and Moyes can point to Maitland-Niles’ introduction as ultimately being crucial.

However, Maitland-Niles may not have been on the pitch at all had James Garner not gone down with a worrying injury.

Moyes inexplicably chose to replace Merlin Röhl with Hayden Hackney, and move Garner out to right-back, even though the latter was clearly struggling.

Shock horror, within a minute, Garner was down on the turf needing treatment and he had to be taken off. Hopefully it’s a minor issue, but it begs the question what Moyes was thinking leaving Garner on.

Hackney was excellent when he came on, but just why not replace Garner with the former Middlesbrough man, and just bring Maitland-Niles on for Röhl?

Moyes needs to stop getting in his own way. Everton’s squad can’t afford for key players to be pushed beyond their limits.

Read more - Everton player ratings vs Manchester United: George shines but deadline-day signing steals the show

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