Ainsley Maitland-Niles made an immediate impact on his return to English football, scoring a spectacular stoppage-time equaliser to help Everton secure a 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the Premier League.
The former Arsenal player, who completed a deadline-day move from Lyon to Everton, produced a stunning finish deep into added time. His curling effort in the sixth minute of stoppage time left United goalkeeper Senne Lammens with no chance and denied the visitors what looked like a first away victory of the season.
Michael Carrick’s Manchester United side had twice taken the lead at Hill Dickinson Stadium, but Everton fought back on both occasions.
Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring before Everton youngster Tyrique George restored parity. Benjamin Sesko then appeared to have settled the contest for United, only for Maitland-Niles to produce the decisive late moment.
The goal was Maitland-Niles’ first Premier League strike since December 2019 and ensured Everton maintained their unbeaten beginning to the campaign following a difficult week on Merseyside.
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United Start Quickly but Everton Stay in the Game
Manchester United arrived with confidence after their impressive 5-0 victory over Ipswich Town the previous weekend.
They immediately put Everton under pressure and came close to taking the lead inside the opening eight minutes.
Bruno Fernandes struck the crossbar after Mbeumo had knocked the ball down inside the Everton penalty area.
The effort was another reminder of United’s tendency to hit the woodwork. They had now struck the frame of the goal 24 times since the beginning of last season, more than any other Premier League team.
United continued to control much of the early attacking play, using both wings to repeatedly test Everton’s defensive structure.
Everton were also adapting to a significant change in their squad following the departure of Iliman N’Diaye to Manchester City in a deal that could eventually reach £65m.
The loss of N’Diaye left David Moyes’ side short of a consistent creative presence going forward.
However, Everton began to create opportunities of their own shortly before the interval.
Thierno Barry, who had been the club’s leading scorer during the opening weeks of the season, headed over the crossbar after receiving an excellent delivery from Merlin Röhl, who was operating in a makeshift full-back role.
Jarrad Branthwaite then tested Lammens, forcing the United goalkeeper into a save.
Mbeumo Puts United Back in Front
Manchester United needed less than a minute of the second half to regain their advantage.
Mbeumo collected the ball from Kobbie Mainoo before producing a superb curling finish beyond Jordan Pickford.
The goal was his second of the season and appeared to put United firmly in control of the match.
Everton attempted to respond, with Brennan Johnson coming close to finding an equaliser.
Marcus Rashford also remained a threat for United as the visitors looked to extend their lead.
Moyes then turned to his substitutes, introducing summer arrivals Jack Grealish and Hayden Hackney in an attempt to change the direction of the game.
The changes eventually paid off.
Hackney played a key role in Everton’s second equaliser, setting up Tyrique George, who fired a powerful finish into the near corner in the 83rd minute.
With the home side having fought back once again, the contest appeared to be heading towards a 2-2 draw.
Sesko Appears to Win It for United
Manchester United seemed to have delivered the final blow only five minutes after Everton’s equaliser.
Substitute Benjamin Sesko rose to meet Luke Shaw’s cross and headed the ball beyond Pickford.
It was Sesko’s second goal in as many visits to Everton, and United looked set to leave Merseyside with all three points.
But Everton refused to accept defeat.
With the clock deep into stoppage time, Maitland-Niles stepped forward and delivered the moment that changed everything.
The Everton substitute received the opportunity to shoot and curled a superb effort into the net in the sixth minute of added time.
Lammens could only watch as the ball found the corner, sparking wild celebrations among the home supporters.
Everton had rescued a point in dramatic fashion.
Everton Analysis: Depleted Squad Shows Plenty of Character
Everton’s late comeback was particularly impressive given the circumstances surrounding the club.
Much of the discussion before the game had focused on the players Everton failed to recruit during the transfer window.
Since their previous league fixture, a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth eight days earlier, Everton had lost two attacking players, with N’Diaye and Beto leaving the club.
Nathan Patterson also departed, joining Torino.
The departures were not matched by enough incoming reinforcements. A proposed deal for Folarin Balogun collapsed in the final stages of the transfer window, leaving Moyes with just 18 senior outfield players until January.
That lack of depth could become a major issue as the season progresses.
Grealish, who was once the most expensive British player in football, was introduced during the second half and initially appeared to be Everton’s most obvious source of creativity.
Instead, it was another deadline-day arrival who became the hero.
Maitland-Niles’ spectacular equaliser made the comeback even more memorable, particularly given that the 15-goal player has spent much of his career moving between midfield and defensive positions.
The goal highlighted both his versatility and Everton’s current lack of attacking options.
Despite their limited squad, Everton are now one of only seven Premier League sides still unbeaten after three matches.
However, Moyes will be aware that the lack of reinforcements could eventually undermine the progress made since his return as manager in January 2025.
Manchester United Analysis: Defensive Problems Remain
For Manchester United supporters, the manner of the draw will have been extremely frustrating.
The visitors appeared to have done enough to win the match twice, only to surrender their advantage on both occasions.
Maitland-Niles’ late equaliser was particularly painful because it came from a player who had spent much of his career playing in midfield or defence.
United’s defensive vulnerability is becoming an early concern.
The season is still only three weeks old, but United have already struggled to protect leads and prevent opponents from finding the net.
They lost away to newly promoted Hull City on the opening weekend before conceding twice against Ipswich Town at Old Trafford last week.
They then allowed Everton to score twice at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
It is the first time in five years that Manchester United have conceded at least two goals in each of their opening three league matches.
That statistic will concern Carrick, particularly because United possess considerable attacking quality.
With players such as Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha available in the forward areas, United have the attacking talent to cause problems for opponents.
But if they are to improve on last season’s third-place finish, their defensive performances must become much more reliable.
Maitland-Niles Takes Player of the Match Honours
Maitland-Niles was deservedly the standout player after producing the defining moment of the game.
His late equaliser earned him an average rating of 7.88, the highest score among the players listed.
Everton Player Ratings
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Ainsley Maitland-Niles | 7.88 |
| Tyrique George | 7.32 |
| Jack Grealish | 7.24 |
| Hayden Hackney | 7.05 |
| Jarrad Branthwaite | 6.79 |
| Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall | 6.77 |
| Harrison Armstrong | 6.53 |
| James Tarkowski | 6.51 |
| James Garner | 6.45 |
| Jordan Pickford | 6.27 |
| Merlin Röhl | 6.25 |
| Thierno Barry | 6.25 |
| Vitalii Mykolenko | 6.20 |
| Brennan Johnson | 6.03 |
Manchester United Player Ratings
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Bryan Mbeumo | 5.87 |
| Marcus Rashford | 5.82 |
| Benjamin Sesko | 5.65 |
| Kobbie Mainoo | 5.55 |
| Luke Shaw | 5.31 |
| Bruno Fernandes | 5.23 |
| Harry Maguire | 5.12 |
| Lisandro Martinez | 4.96 |
| Youri Tielemans | 4.91 |
| Matheus Cunha | 4.80 |
| Senne Lammens | 4.75 |
| Diogo Dalot | 4.65 |
| Patrick Dorgu | 4.49 |
| Leny Yoro | 4.38 |
| Andrey Santos | 4.34 |
| Noussair Mazraoui | 4.20 |
Everton’s Unbeaten Start Continues
Everton will take plenty of encouragement from the way they responded to adversity.
They were twice behind against Manchester United, had lost several attacking options during the transfer window and were working with a very small senior squad.
Yet they continued to fight until the final whistle.
Maitland-Niles’ brilliant strike ultimately rescued a point and gave the Everton supporters a memorable moment during a turbulent period for the club.
For United, the result represents another missed opportunity.
Their attacking players produced enough moments to suggest they can compete at the top end of the table, but the recurring defensive weaknesses are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Both teams therefore leave Hill Dickinson Stadium with contrasting feelings: Everton can celebrate a hard-earned point, while Manchester United will wonder how they allowed victory to slip away so dramatically.