Everton

"You have to give the fans an awful lot of credit."

That was one of the takeaways for BBC Radio Merseyside's Mike Hughes after Everton's 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

"The atmosphere they created and the delirium was just absolutely amazing," said Hughes. "It was the least that Everton deserved. It gives an air of positivity."

Hughes is joined by Giulia Bould and Chris Coughlin to bring you The Weekend Round-up show. The BBC Radio Merseyside team discuss the transfer window and look back on a thrilling draw with United.

Coughlin said: "Does that not sum up Evertonians at their best? Positivity when they are up against the wall."

Listen to the show by hitting play above or on BBC Sounds here

Take in a clip below as the team discuss the stunning late equaliser Ainsley Maitland-Niles produced...

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Everton and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Thomas: Excellent battling to secure a point in the end, but let's face it, this Manchester United side are very average. We can't rely on players scoring screamers every week and need to create more chances in the box.

Greg: We hung on in there and struck two cracking goals. Brennan Johnson should have been hooked at half-time because he gave us nothing, and neither did Thierno Barry or Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Jack Grealish came on and changed the game. Within two minutes he created two opportunities. As long as he stays fit, he has an awful lot to offer.

Dusty: A great ending but we weren't at our best. The start was good and we were tight, but we started slipping. The subs caused a reaction and the goals were deserved through persistence. David Moyes has a job on his hands with this squad, though.

William: I'll take a point against Manchester United, who were the better team for most of the first half and aren't an easy side to get a result over. Nice to see Grealish back. He showed his class and we can now look forward to our next game with some degree of hope.

Man Utd fans

Bob: Anyone who watched the pre-season could have predicted these first three performances - excellent attacking, slightly fragile midfield and Keystone Cops defending. Hopefully things will calm down as the new signings bed in.

Matt: Really poor game management by United at the end of the match. In the 94th minute, Senne Lammens hits it long from a goal-kick into touch, which led to Everton getting the ball. We can just go short. Prior to that, Leny Yoro tries to pick out Benjamin Sesko and loses the ball, instead of going to Bryan Mbeumo to run it into the corner. Heads aren't screwed on.

Nigel: Three points in the bag, two of them thrown away. Why? Too slow in the build-up, too many simple passes going astray and not clinical enough in front of goal. We will rue the decision not to strengthen the striker options in the transfer window. Difficult week coming up with the Champions League on Thursday and Manchester City next Sunday. This will test our resources.

Terry: Another slow and ponderous performance. Manchester United are just not moving the ball about quickly enough, nor paying attention to what's around them when defending.

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

There was some bemusement among supporters when Everton announced the arrival of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has endured something of a nomadic career since making his professional debut for Arsenal in a Champions League tie against Galatasaray in 2014.

He had spells on loan at Ipswich, West Brom, Roma and Southampton before finally leaving his boyhood club in 2023.

His move to seven-time French champions Lyon did not pan out the way he would have expected.

Maitland-Niles hoped to finally put to bed the debate over his best position, with the majority of his previous managers viewing him as a versatile figure who could be deployed in defence or attack.

But even after making close to 100 appearances in Ligue 1, he was unable to establish himself as such in France.

Following the retirement of Seamus Coleman at the end of last season, Everton chief executive Angus Kinnear spoke about taking their time to find a replacement.

When they eventually settled on Maitland-Niles, it was not the coup supporters had envisaged after a tedious, summer-long search.

That opinion is sure to have shifted - even if only slightly - after he scored his first Premier League goal in almost seven years on Sunday to snatch the Toffees a point against Manchester United.

"Our main feeling was we didn't know enough about him since we got him in," said manager David Moyes. "We haven't had much chance to get to know him.

"It was a brilliant goal and a great finish. It's a good start for him and it will help him settle in as well."

Read more here

Image source, Getty Images

Scoring a stunning last-minute equaliser against Manchester United on his debut was "an indescribable feeling", says Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

The former Arsenal full-back, who joined Everton from Lyon on transfer deadline day, left United goalkeeper Senne Lammens rooted to the spot in the sixth minute of added time when he curled an unstoppable effort into the net.

"It's definitely up there with one of my favourite debuts," Maitland-Niles told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"We deserved a point way before I scored. We showed fighting spirit and pinned them back and we just needed to find that little moment of excellence. We managed to find that right at the final whistle.

"We had a foot in the game and really pinned them back for 15-20 minutes but just failed to score during that time. We have got to stop the crosses and defend a little bit better down the flanks. In due time, that will come - people are just building relationships now with the new players who have come in."

The 29-year-old was brought in to help fill the gap at right-back left by the retiring Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson's move to Torino.

"I'm loving every moment of it and being here," said Maitland-Niles, who has spent most of his career filling in at midfield and full-back.

"The fans have embraced me so warmly so I'm just happy to be here.

"It is an indescribable feeling. Really emotional being out there and experiencing it first hand. I came from a bit further back and was following it in. I was there and didn't have any second thoughts - keep my head and knee over the ball and just strike through it."

Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds

United States striker Folarin Balogun could move to the Saudi Pro League, where the transfer window is still open, with Monaco under financial pressure to sell the 25-year-old after he pulled out of a switch to Everton late on deadline day. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Everton starting XI:

Jordan Pickford: Not the busiest afternoon for the England keeper - might have done better for the goal. 6

Merlin Rohl (off 74, Hackney): Encouraged to get forward more by team-mates but seemed wary of leaving too much space behind him. Did provide the cross that Thierno Barry should have headed in. 6

James Tarkowski: Long ball straight to Senne Lammens in the second half drew groans from the crowd and a stream of invective from his manager. 6

Jarrad Branthwaite: Strong defensive performance, not afraid to get his body in the way of Manchester United shots and a brilliant tackle on Rashford. Found time to have a go at goal himself at the other end. 8

Vitalii Mykolenko: Found himself in space to create something inside the Man Utd box but failed to make the most of the opportunity. Got behind Bryan Mbeumo at the start of the second but again the outcome was poor. 6

Harrison Armstrong: Cautioned for needlessly dragging Bruno Fernandes round the neck, but a minor blot on an otherwise impressive performance. Easy to see why the Everton fans reacted so fiercely to the prospect of him being sold. 7

James Garner (off 76, Maitland-Niles): Decent effort against his old club. Worked tirelessly in defence and going forward. 7

Brennan Johnson (off 66, Grealish): Picked ahead of Jack Grealish but not the greatest game going forward. Blatant foul on Matheus Cunha earned a booking but probably worth it as it stopped the Brazilian racing into the box. 6

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: Industrious performance in the middle of the pitch went unrewarded in terms of result but would have been appreciated by boss David Moyes. 7

Tyrique George: Started well and lifted the ball over Mbeumo with superb skill. Drifted out of the game in the second half, until he beat Lammens. 6

Thierno Barry: Lucky not to be booked for a clear dive early on to try and win a penalty. Headed Everton's best first-half opportunity over from close range. Overhit a pass that could have sent Johnson through. 5

Everton substitutes:

Jack Grealish (on 66): Ran at Diogo Dalot and drew a yellow card from the Man Utd man. Clearly determined to make an impact. His presence roused Everton's fans for a big finish. Tied Mbeumo in knots as he tried to set up an equaliser. 7.

Hayden Hackney (on 75): Played the pass for the equaliser. 6

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (on 77): The decisive contribution. 8

Subs not used: Travers, Keane, O'Brien, Dibling, Alcaraz, Graham.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Everton boss David Moyes, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I did [on if Everton decided a point], but it looked as if it wasn't going to be the case. We opened up a bit at the end as well, and Manchester United were countering. We had a couple of good defensive moments to stop them from making it three, but overall, we deserved to get that second goal, and it was an unbelievable goal as well.

On what he said in the Everton pre-match day programme: "I never doubted it [togetherness] from the fans, that was for sure. We need everyone here, and I thought today was a big moment, to come back, and get a draw in the end was great for the crowd. We want to keep progressing and we have a little momentum at the moment. A couple wins, a couple draws, so we have to try to keep that going.

On the performance of his team: "Absolutely. They did, and I think that they will [the team working hard due to being a small squad]. We brought Jack [Grealish] on, and Jack has had a few minutes since the injury. [Ainsley] Maitland-Niles is getting minutes, but no real time to introduce him to what we are doing and how we hope he will play in his position. But overall, just the effort, Hayden Hackey came on as well, and made a big effort. So, I think there was a lot of positives to take from the game. The disappointing thing for me is I think we had enough chances, and we should have been clinical and you know, crossed it better, finished better, but as well as that, Manchester United had chances as well and played very well.

On new signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles: "He's only been in a couple days really. Haven't had much training time with him, but now we do know what he can do from outside the box."

On wasted attacking chances: "It's the forward players who are the ones who will get the most opportunities to create and score so that's why I'm a bit disappointed that we didn't do it a bit better in the first half. I thought we had moments where we could have tried to capitalise on it and we didn't, but in the end Tyrique [George] scored a very good goal as well. He played very well on the left, and when he also went out to the right. Let's hope that he picks it up, he's still a young boy learning his trade in the Premier League.

On if the performance will calm supporters from the lack of signings: "I don't think they will be calm by that because they still know the size of the squad we got. Sometimes it gives players an opportunity to show what they can do. Sometimes, having too many players in the camp gives you problems behind the scenes, squads are too big, and players moan because they aren't in it. Players will be given opportunities and that's where they will be judged in how they do."

Listen to Moyes speak to BBC Radio Merseyside here

Did you know?

• Ainsley Maitland-Niles was the first player to score on his Premier League debut for Everton since Richarlison against Wolves in August 2018, and first English player since Andrew Johnson v Watford in August 2006. It was just his second goal in 110 Premier League appearances, and his first since December 2018 for Arsenal against Liverpool

• In his 15th appearance and from his 16th shot, Tyrique George scored his first Everton goal in all competitions. Aged 20 years and 214 days, he was the Toffees' youngest league goalscorer since Jarrad Branthwaite against Chelsea in December 2021 (19y 172d).

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The build-up to this match was dominated by conversations about who Everton failed to sign in the transfer window.

Since their last league match - a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth eight days ago - they had sold attackers Iliman N'Diaye and Beto, while Nathan Patterson joined Torino.

Their departures, plus Everton's failure to bring in reinforcements - a deal for Folarin Balogun fell apart in the final minutes of the window - have left David Moyes with only 18 senior outfield players until January.

When on-loan Jack Grealish - once the most expensive British player of all time - took to the touchline on his return to the club, he appeared to be Everton's most likely route back into the game.

That it turned out to be a stunner from Ainsley Maitland-Niles, their other deadline-day recruit, made Everton's late rescue act all the sweeter.

The fact that they needed a wonder strike from a player who has spent most of his career filling in at midfield and full-back - and only has 15 career goals - is a sign of the lack of options Moyes has.

Everton are one of only seven Premier League teams to remain unbeaten after three games, but a lack of reinforcements could be the undoing of the foundations Moyes has laid since his return in January 2025.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Everton's performance

What did you make of Manchester United's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are two games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

Everton v Man Utd (14:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Arsenal v Chelsea (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

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Everton ended up keeping hold of young midfielder Harrison Armstrong but they made a mess of their attempts to sign another striker before the transfer window closed.

I know Thierno Barry comes in for criticism and his finishing is erratic, but at least they still have him to lead their line.

He scores some brilliant goals too, as does Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, so I don't think it will be all doom and gloom for Everton fans this season, despite their frustration at the moment.

As for Manchester United, well I know some of their supporters think I am down on them all the time.

So, I'd like to point out I backed them to win their first two games of the season and they are joint top of the table (based on my predictions).

This time, I'm going for a draw, but that would still be a decent result for Michael Carrick's side.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Undefeated Everton host a Manchester United side bidding for a first away win of the season.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of their meeting at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday (14:00 BST).

As timelines go, turbulent doesn't really do justice to the final days of Everton's transfer window.

A £40m offer for academy prospect Harrison Armstrong was accepted and then rebuffed following a fan backlash. Four players left on deadline day, including star winger Iliman Ndiaye, with only two brought in.

A £40m deal for Monaco forward Folarin Balogun collapsed spectacularly at the 11th hour.

The net result is that Everton will play until January with only 18 senior outfield players available.

Toffees boss David Moyes used 22 players in the Premier League last season, the fewest of any manager, but even for someone who prefers to work with a smaller squad, Everton's resources look stretched at best for a side who will play at least 17 games before the transfer window opens again in January.

One positive on a difficult deadline day was the loan signing of Jack Grealish for a second successive season from Manchester City.

Grealish proved to be a popular addition to the Everton squad in 2025-26 before a stress fracture to his foot ended his campaign after a 1-0 win at Aston Villa in January.

While Everton's goal output was broadly the same with and without Grealish, their win percentage and points-per-game tallies were both significantly higher with the 30-year-old in the side.

Despite missing four months of the season, only James Garner (seven) provided more assists than Grealish's six for the club, while Grealish ranked top for fouls won (58) and touches in the opposition box (105).

The England international's creative numbers also compared favourably to Ndiaye.

Grealish created eight more chances, won 21 more fouls and provided three more assists in the Premier League despite playing 12 fewer games than the Senegal international.

Manchester United had challenges of their own during the transfer window having not signed a left-back to offer competition to Luke Shaw.

United did still spend about £100m on new players, including marquee signing Carlos Baleba.

The central midfielder, who joined for an initial £65m from Brighton, could make his debut this weekend, although United may look to another matchwinner.

Captain Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick in the 5-2 win against Ipswich Town and he enjoys playing against Everton.

The Portugal international has been involved in 11 goals in 13 Premier League appearances against the Merseyside club, scoring six and assisting five, the joint most of any United player.

This will be 20th Premier League game of Michael Carrick's second tenure in charge of the club, with no side winning more points than United's 42 during this period.

And United tend to do well in this fixture. They have won six of the past eight Premier League games against Everton (D1, L1), keeping a clean sheet in five of those wins.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Moyes started by saying he is "disappointed we didn't do more business and disappointed things didn't go our way in" in the transfer window. He said it "wasn't anybody's fault" that the deal for Folarin Balogun fell through because "the player had a problem in his medical and that was simply it".

• On the sale of Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City: "We were looking to get some money in. We lost Iliman, who we didn't want to lose, but it's quite difficult when the likes of Manchester City come along looking for your players. Ultimately, we didn't want to lose a lot of the players, but for different reasons that had to happen."

• On the reported late bid by Chelsea for James Garner: "What was said was completely untrue, so I don't know where that's come from. There's no truth in that whatsoever."

• He said he has "been around long enough" to know what was needed this summer and "what it's like to build a squad for the Premier League". Moyes added: "They're all going to have to be able to muck in. We've got a real small squad now." Moyes added he "has no concerns" that people will step up and play their part when needed.

• He said he's "not sure" the academy players are "ready to make the step up," but "some of them might be pushed in" due to various reasons like injuries and suspensions.

• On the target for this season and whether it has altered: "I haven't really made huge targets but, behind the scenes, I speak to the players about what we're expecting. There's a lot of positivity and confidence about how we've started the season. I want to keep pressing on and keep the club going in the right direction. Our job is to challenge as near to the top end as we can."

• He added that "there might not be great expectation" around Everton this season, "but behind the scenes" he is "rallying them".

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