Everton player ratings after a dramatic 2-2 draw against Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Everton celebrates scoring (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Everton celebrates scoring (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
View Image
Everton came from behind twice to secure a dramatic last-gasp 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Playing their first game since the transfer window closed, there was a sense of anger and unity from the Blues supporters as they created a hostile atmosphere from the start but they were silenced just moments into the second half as Bryan Mbeumo fired the visitors ahead.
Tyrique George – who had switched wings from left to right after Jack Grealish’s introduction – fired Everton level with a thunderous strike on 83 minutes but Benjamin Sesko looked like coming off the bench to grab the winner here for the second time this year when his header beat Jordan Pickford despite the England number one getting a hand on his effort.
However, Blues substitute Ainsley Maitland-Niles, making his debut as a substitute right-back following his transfer deadline day switch from Olympique Lyonnais struck the hosts level again deep into stoppage time with an incredible curling effort.
Jordan Pickford 5
Must be gutted he couldn’t keep Benjamin Sesko’s header out despite getting a hand to the effort and will be annoyed by the lack of protection he received from Everton’s outfield players in front of him as Bryan Mbeumo was able to cut through them and pick his spot.
Merlin Rohl 6
Put in an inviting cross for Barry’s headed chance that the striker should have done better with, he continues to offer athleticism going forward but needed to remain focused out of possession against Marcus Rashford and was booked for chopping him down, the German now has a new specialist right-back waiting in the wings following the deadline day signing of Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Vitalii Mykolenko 6
Got Branthwaite out of trouble when the centre-back played a short pass to him but there will be question marks over how he allowed Bryan Mbeumo so much space just moments into the second half to fire United ahead.
James Tarkowski 7
Made a terrific last-ditch challenge to prevent Matheus Cunha from doubling United’s lead, he’d earlier put his body on the line to block a shot from Diogo Dalot.
Jarrad Branthwaite 6
Had a second half chance with a glancing header, his early miscue to Mykolenko was uncharacteristic but other than that he read the game well and made a well-timed challenge to deny Rashford in the final seconds of the first half but then left Tarkowski having to deal with two United players for the visitors’ second goal.
James Garner 6
Working his way back to full fitness after his summer hernia operation, he was nevertheless still able to pick a pass and was solid enough before being forced off – hopefully just with cramp – moments after switching to right-back.
Harrison Armstrong 7
His name received the biggest roar before kick-off and he’s been up for this one from the start with some clever touches but let his passions boil over when picking up the first booking of the game for dragging down Bruno Fernandes with his arm.
Brennan Johnson 6
Had an opportunity to find an equaliser when Dewsbury-Hall flashed a delivery across goal for what could have been one of his trademark back-post finishes but he couldn’t make contact, making his first start for Everton following Iliman Ndiaye’s sale to Manchester City, he tried to take the game to United but didn’t get much change out of them and was shown a yellow card for chopping down Matheus Cunha.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 6
Netted the winner for Everton at Old Trafford last season but despite pulling the strings in midfield, there were no presents for the birthday boy here as a couple of inviting chances fell his way only for his efforts to be tame.
Tyrique George 9
Knows he’s under pressure to perform with Jack Grealish having been brought back on loan and breathing down his neck, there were a few nice touches without an end product on the left but having switched to the right wing once the retuning on-loan star entered proceedings, he thundered in a spectacular equaliser with a right-foot piledriver for his first Everton goal.
Thierno Barry 5
Went down in the United area early on when getting between Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo but while home fans cried for a penalty, it looked soft and despite flooring Harry Maguire in the opening moments of the game, his only opportunity of note, other than a shot that was blocked was a header off target from Rohl’s cross.
Substitutes
Jack Grealish (on 66 for Johnson) 7
Gave Everton an intelligent outlet after he entered the fray.
Hayden Hackney (on 75 for Rohl) 8
Did well in the build-up to George’s equaliser, driving forwards and then winning the ball back after he lost it and then worked the opening that resulted in Everton’s second goal.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (on 77 for Garner) 9
First outing for Everton’s long-awaited new right-back only for Luke Shaw to put in the cross for Sesko’s winner when one-on-one against him but then he capped a dream debut with a stunning strike in the dying seconds.