Manchester United have conceded twice in all three Premier League games so far this season.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 06: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United looks dejected after the Premier League 2026/27 match be
Manchester United conceded a 96th minute equaliser away at Everton (Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United have delayed the overhaul of their defence until the final phase of INEOS' three-year strategy to revive the club. But judging by the opening three weeks of the 2026/27 season, delaying the signing of defenders for another 12 months was a massive mistake. And significant struggle may lie ahead before reinforcements arrive at Old Trafford. United have shipped two goals in each of their three Premier League fixtures so far, against three sides who will almost certainly finish in the division's bottom few clubs come May.
It wouldn't be shocking if all three find themselves embroiled in a relegation scrap when spring arrives. A lacklustre display at Hull saw Michael Carrick's team succumb to defeat on the opening day, though they netted five to overcome Ipswich at Old Trafford. Scoring that many goals week after week will prove impossible, and their two strikes at the Hill Dickinson Stadium were insufficient to overcome even an exceptionally limited Everton team.
Sunday's opponents were a club that had spent the week teetering on the brink of turmoil. Their desperation for a striker on deadline day saw them attempt to secure Joshua Zirkzee, and when Toffees supporters awoke on Wednesday to discover the Folarin Balogun deal had collapsed, discontent was brewing.
There were also no banners or flag displays when the teams emerged at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday afternoon. For large periods, it was evident why David Moyes had utilised his programme notes to attempt to galvanise supporters and caution about a challenging season ahead.
However, this United squad have a soft centre, and while this could prove a priceless point for Everton, it represents two squandered for the Red Devils, who have made a mediocre start to the new campaign.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles' spectacular 96th-minute equaliser may have been unstoppable, but once more United had failed to deal with danger. They welcomed pressure and ultimately paid the penalty.
They had initially appeared set to escape with Tyrique George's 83rd-minute leveller, wiping out Bryan Mbeumo's clever opener, when he drifted in from the right flank and produced a superb, bending strike.
Benjamin Sesko is starting to develop an affinity with the section of the Hill Dickinson Stadium where the away supporters congregate. He netted the decisive goal here last term and seemed to have delivered another when he nodded home Luke Shaw's delivery two minutes from the final whistle.
It's been a challenging period for the £73million forward, who hasn't featured in a starting line-up since May 3 and was absent throughout pre-season while recovering from a shin problem. His appearances this campaign have been limited to substitute roles, and he has seemed to be missing a touch of match fitness, having added muscle mass during the summer break.
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Everton v Manchester United - Premier League 2026/27
Michael Carrick was dejected after Manchester United failed to hold on for victory (Image: Getty)
Those rehabilitation sessions and the anxious wait during pre-season would have felt entirely justified as he heard 3,000 United supporters burst into song for him beside the River Mersey. Adapting their Andy Cole anthem, the United faithful were celebrating the goalscoring exploits of their Slovenian forward.
They fell silent when Maitland-Niles produced a finish he will almost certainly never replicate in the rest of his career. Once more, United found themselves depending on their attacking prowess to compensate for defensive frailties.
Carrick's assertion last week that Marcus Rashford "feels like a new signing" may have seemed like making the best of circumstances, yet the evidence on display supported his claim.
In today's transfer market, acquiring a player of his calibre would have set United back somewhere in the region of £100million, and he proved to be the most threatening forward on the field. If there was an error, it was Carrick's decision to substitute him prematurely.
This marked Rashford's 300th Premier League outing and represented the 202nd occasion across all competitions that he'd combined with Shaw for United. Countless matches have featured their interplay down that left channel, and while this partnership had been somewhat dormant recently, it hasn't taken long to reignite.
When Bruno Fernandes struck the crossbar with a volley early in proceedings, the build-up stemmed from Rashford and Shaw's combination play.
Everton v Manchester United - Premier League 2026/27
Taking Marcus Rashford off was a mistake by Michael Carrick (Image: Getty)
The winger maintained his position hugging the touchline throughout much of the contest, holding his width while Shaw made an underlapping run and carved out space for an effective delivery. Shaw quickly recognised, though, that his involvement wasn't always required.
Hapless Merlin Rohl was left trailing as Rashford mesmerised along the byline, whipping in a dangerous low delivery that Matheus Cunha ought to have converted, before repeating his wizardry until James Tarkowski's last-ditch intervention averted the threat.
All of United's attacking play had originated down the left flank, leaving Everton vulnerable at the start of the second half to a moment of incisive brilliance from Mbeumo.
Receiving a Kobbie Mainoo pass on the touchline, he drove inside before curling a low finish past Jordan Pickford from 20 yards.
United ought to have had an opportunity to extend their advantage when a sensational Rashford run concluded with a clever backheel into the path of Cunha, who appeared certain to score, only for Tarkowski to bring him down from behind.
The centre-back made contact with the ball, but only while fouling United's striker as he was about to finish.
Rashford's substitution would have energised Everton and they somehow rallied to salvage a point. For United, this was another reminder that if they are to fulfil their ambitions this season, they must tighten up defensively.