Everton 0-1 Manchester United result – Super-sub Benjamin Sesko nets only goal of game as Red Devils rise to fourth

Premier League / Matchday 27
Hill Dickinson Stadium / 23.02.2026
Live
Live Updates
  • All
  • Highlights
FT
FT
UNITED TAKE THE SPOILS AGAINST EVERTON TO MOVE INTO TOP FOUR
Everton might be forgiven for feeling a little hard done by as visitors Manchester United walked away with three points from the Stadium on Monday.
Both teams defended deep and neither had much opportunity on a sodden surface that seemed to confine activity largely to the centre of the pitch in a lacklustre first half.
Though the hosts returned after the half-time break seemingly with a fire in their collective belly, they lacked the quality in the final third to make their not inconsiderable efforts count.
Once again, it was super-sub, Benjamin Sesko, who found the net in the 71st minute, challenging caretaker manager Michael Carrick for a starting XI spot.
Sesko’s intervention and some decent defending by The Red Devils saw them take three points to move into contention for a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
They will look to get past Crystal Palace on Sunday in a bid to hold on to their top-four position, while ninth-place Everton face Newcastle United on Saturday.
FT
FT
CARRICK HAILS TEAM SPIRIT
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Michael Carrick hailed the spirit that got his team the win. He said:
We had the first four games and obviously the first four wins in a row and really good performances and then I kind of expected a period where we’d have to find ourselves a little bit and find results. We did it for a point at West Ham, and we had to do it today, and that spirit, that sacrifice, that willingness to work for each other as a team, I think the way we had to defend the box for the last spell of the game and everybody was playing their part… In the end we got a clean sheet – fantastic – and a great win for us.
Asked if the extended break had affected performance, Carrick said:
It didn’t really come easy for us tonight. I’ve been coming to Everton for a long time, and when we come over here it’s always tough, so I’ve never had an easy game. I’ve never had a game where it’s all clicked that I can remember, so we expected a tough one tonight. When we played our last game, it is what it is, but the lads have trained really well, actually, and we came in looking and feeling good about the game. It just was one of those nights for us and we had to dig deep, and it was a bit of a struggle at times, but sometimes they’re the best ones to win.

FT
FT
LIVE FOOTBALL ON TNT SPORTS
There are plenty of live Premier League matches still to come on TNT Sports and discovery+ this season. The next being Bournemouth against Sunderland on Saturday. Find out more here.
FT
FT
LAMMENS "REALLY HAPPY" WITH RESULT
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens said:
[It was about] the hard work, the defending together, togetherness. We know we didn’t play our best, especially in the first half. It was really difficult, and I think we have to be better on the ball, but then you can see, if you work together, if you defend well, if you don’t give goals away, then we have players on top who can make a difference… If you can keep the zero you can win away in these hard games, so I’m really happy.
We knew it was going to be really difficult, especially their defence is really big, so we knew the corners and the set pieces were going to be really difficult. It’s a strength of mine [defending corners] so I’m really happy I was able to help the team again today.
Speaking about the ending of the match and the number of players in the box, he said:
In the end, it was a bit over the top for me, personally, because I couldn’t even be inside the goal, I had to be behind the line to come out. so I think that’s a bit too much, but it’s also difficult for the referees sometimes to see it.

FT
FT
BIG WIN FOR UNITED
A huge win for Manchester United who leapfrog over Chelsea to find themselves in that all-important top four, with a game against Crystal Palace coming up on Sunday. Everton remain in ninth place as they look forward to a meeting with Newcastle on Saturday.
FT
FT
FULL-TIME!
There's the whistle at last and Manchester United take the spoils as they beat the host 1-0.
90+5'
90+5'
SUBSTITUTION
Cunha and Garner are getting a little heated now and Luke Shaw looks like he is (a little aggressively) trying to keep the peace. Cunha is substituted, and probably for the best.
A. Heaven
Substitution in
A. HeavenManchester United
Manchester United
M. Cunha
Substitution out
M. CunhaManchester United
Manchester United
90+3'
90+3'
LAST MINUTE DRAMA?
Sesko is going to have another go, but Pickford is out of his box early to take him on. It looks a little hairy, but he dispatches it. Great goalkeeping.
90+1'
90+1'
FIVE MINUTES STOPPAGE TIME
Just enough time for Everton to score? We'll see - we're back in their defensive area, now, for the first time in a while, it must be said.
84'
84'
AND MAGUIRE SOON FOLLOWS
The ref is a bit over all this argy-bargy and Maguire is similarly reprimanded.
H. Maguire
Yellow card
H. MaguireManchester United
Manchester United
83'
83'
LITERALLY FIGHTING, NOW
Tarkowski is given a yellow card after he literally tosses Yoro in the goal as the box gets a little crowded. There's more pushing and shoving in the moments that follow and Tarkowski probably needs to be a bit careful here.
J. Tarkowski
Yellow card
J. TarkowskiEverton
Everton
82'
82'
EVERTON FIGHTING BACK
Everton have been trying hard to equalize and have had a series of corners either side of that substitution. Michael Keane has a shot now and Lammens just gets a glove to it.
79'
79'
SUBSTITUTION
Iroegbunam is off now making way for Beto.
Beto
Substitution in
BetoEverton
Everton
T. Iroegbunam
Substitution out
T. IroegbunamEverton
Everton
73'
73'
SUBSTITUTION
Everton look to mix things up by replacing Armstrong with George.
T. George
Substitution in
T. GeorgeEverton
Everton
H. Armstrong
Substitution out
H. ArmstrongEverton
Everton
71'
71'
GOAL FOR MANCHESTER UNITED!
Sesko does it again, as the super-sub does it again! A rapid counter attack by Mbeumo sets him up in the centre of the area, and he whips it past Pickford.
B. Sesko
Goal
B. SeskoManchester United
Manchester United
63'
63'
DEWSBURY-HALL GIVING DEFENCE A HAMMERING
This is much more like it by Everton, now. Dewsbury-Hall is one of the main players in this barrage against the United defence. The quality hasn’t been there, thus far, but surely it’s only a matter of time if they keep this up?
58'
58'
SUBSTITUTION
Sesko is coming on now to replace Diallo.
55'
55'
BETTER FROM EVERTON
There was a decent counter-attack by Everton there, although eventually dispossessed as they approached the final third – something of a theme in this match. Nonetheless, they do seem to have a bit more urgency to them after the halftime break, and some signs of life seem to be showing.
52'
52'
MBEUMO STRIKES!
Mbeumo takes a punt from the near corner of the goal, it's a pretty tight angle and it misfires over the bar.
47'
47'
CLOSE FOR EVERTON!
A great turn by Ndiaye who keeps hold of the ball just outside the area to find Armstrong on the far side. Armstrong strikes, and it’s good but not good enough as it meets squarely with Lammens.