Everton were 2-0 up and cruising against Manchester United but somehow the game ended 2-2 at Goodison Park on Saturday.
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Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure had Everton 2-0 up at half time and David Moyes’ side were dominant against a lackluster United.
However, Bruno Fernandes whipped in a superb free kick and then Manuel Ugarte volleyed home superbly to make it 2-2 with 10 minutes to go. There was still enough time for Everton to be awarded a penalty kick in stoppage time but referee Andy Madley was asked to go to the pitch-side monitor and overturned his original decision.
With the point Everton have 31 points, while United are on 30.
Bruno Fernandes the savior for United
Manchester United had a 0.04 xG before Bruno Fernandes stepped up to take a free kick with 20 minutes to go. He curled home a stunner to give them hope and his free kick into the box led to Ugarte’s equalizer. All of that came after Fernandes was moved deeper to get on the ball because before that United just couldn’t get him involved in the game. It’s clear that United need to get their talisman on the ball as much as possible and sometimes football it is that simple. Get your best players on the ball as much as possible and working closer together in combinations. Fernandes linked up well with Garnacho, Zirzkee and Odi when he came on as everything flowed through the experienced playmaker. Going forward, Fernandes alongside Ugarte is probably the best solution for Ruben Amorim to create more chances.
Everton vs Manchester United player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Everton head to Brentford on Wednesday, February 26. Manchester United host Ipswich on the same day.
Everton vs Manchester United score: 2-2
Beto 19', Doucoure 33'; Fernandes 72', Ugarte 80'
Everton vs Manchester United live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Penalty to Everton... but the ref changes his mind!
Gueye’s shot is pushed out by Onana and Young is going to finish, but De Ligt clearly grabs his shirt. VAR has asked the referee Andy Madley to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor. Unreal. He has changed his mind. Young made a meal of it, but there was clearly a pull from De Ligt.
Pickford denies Fernandes!
Bruno Fernandes is running the show and his curling shot is on target and forces Pickford to stretch and tip it over. United pushing for a winner!
Beto’s header saved by Onana
Everton finally relieve some pressure and a cross is swung in but Beto can’t generate the power needed on it and Onana saves.
Ugarte volleys home! — Everton 2-2 Manchester United
A free kick comes in and Beto heads it clear but Ugarte is there to chest and volley home superbly. United are level! Who saw this coming!? What a comeback.
MAN UNITED COME SURGING BACK. 😤
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 22, 2025
Two spectacular goals in eight minutes have leveled it up at 2-2.
📺 USA Network | #EVEMUN pic.twitter.com/UFN4L9z8it
Bruno Fernandes curls home a stunning free kick! — Everton 2-1 Manchester United
With 20 minutes to go United are back in it. A free kick is awarded, correctly, after Garnacho is clipped. Everton’s fans weren’t happy about it and they’re fuming now as Fernandes uses Maguire as a shield on the wall and curls a fine free kick into the bottom corner past Pickford. United, somehow, are back in it!
Onana denies Doucoure
Lovely play from Everton down the right and Doucoure’s volley is on target but Andre Onana pushes it away.
Much better from United early in the second half
The energy levels are there for United and Amorim is seeing a bit of a reaction. But let’s be honest, that first half was shocking and anything would’ve been an improvement.
Half time: Everton 2-0 Manchester United
A simply brilliant first half from the Toffees. They were full of hunger and drive and are deservedly two goals to the good. Man United have been so far off the pace it is frightening. Everton’s fans roar their team off at half time in the sunshine at Goodison.
Mazraoui with a crucial block
Doucoure surges into the box and his cross is about to be tapped home by Beto for his second and Everton’s third, but Mazraoui makes a fine last-ditch block four yards out.
The Toffees continue to push
Everton are just flying all over the pitch. They’re so much sharper and quicker than United. Beto had a chance to shot but took too long after the cross came in. Lindstrom with some lovely touches on the right too. Gueye has been excellent in central midfield. United have barely had a kick.
Doucoure heads home! — Everton 2-0 Manchester United
Wonderful goal from Everton as Lindstrom plays a lovely ball to Beto. He finds Harrison who has his shot well-saved by Onana but the ball loops up and Doucoure beats Maguire and heads home. Everton are flying!
Beto finishes after chaos from a corner! — Everton 1-0 Manchester United
A corner is whipped in and United can’t clear after four attempts and the ball is kept alive. It drops to Beto and he hits it into the ground and in. Goodison goes wild! Everton deservedly ahead. Woeful defending from United. VAR check for a possible offside before the goal, but the goal stands.
Dorgu does well but Pickford saves
Better from United as Patrick Dorgu is played in and he crosses towards Hojlund. Pickford is there to block the cross before Hojlund arrives and gets caught. Brave goalkeeping. Much more like it from United.
Toffees pressing high as Onana denies Beto
Everton have started superbly, just as you’d expect given their recent form. They’re pressing United had and forcing them into defensive mistakes. A cross is whipped in to Beto and he gets his header on goal but Andre Onana saves. Goodison is rocking.
Everton lineup
Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Lindstrom, Doucoure, Harrison; Beto
Manchester United lineup
Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Mazraoui; Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu; Fernandes, Zirkzee; Hojlund
Everton team news, focus
OUT: Iliman Ndiaye (knee), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh), Orel Mangala (knee), Armando Broja (ankle), Dwight McNeil (knee), Seamus Coleman (calf), Youssef Chermiti (thigh), Nathan Patterson (thigh)
Manchester United team news, focus
OUT: Amad Diallo (ankle - out for season), Manuel Ugarte (knock), Toby Collyer (knock), Mason Mount (thigh), Luke Shaw (foot), Jonny Evans (muscular), Lisandro Martinez (torn ACL - MORE), Altay Bayindir (undisclosed)
Everton vs Manchester United prediction
United’s injury list is tough, but it’s not like Everton’s is short. Predicting a beauty of a game would be silly, but seeing a possible goal-heavy, chaos-filled affair is a more likely possibility. Maybe Everton’s Moyesian second honeymoon will take a downward turn for at last a weekend. Everton 1-2 Man United.
Everton vs Manchester United preview
Moyes was the Toffees boss as they became a top-half mainstay during the first decade of this century, so impressing Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson that he installed his countryman as his replacement at Old Trafford. United and Everton have since both plummeted from their early-century statuses, and now Moyes is back at Everton and Amorim is the latest manager bidding to restore United to Ferguson’s glorious standards.
Moyes has Everton ahead of Man United on the table but there’s not a lot of celebration there considering they sit 14th and 15th. Who will move closer to the top half in Week 26?
How to watch Everton vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday
Venue: Goodison Park — Liverpool
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live online via NBC.com
