Manchester United

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We asked for your views on whether Manchester United have issues defensively at the beginning of a new season.

Here are some of your comments:

Bob: United are forever playing their full-backs too narrow. They give far too many chances and goals from out wide. Everton's first is a prime example, what was Luke Shaw supposed to be doing?

Desmond: We're paying now for the unnecessary overload in midfield at the expense of the defence. With Kobbie Mainoo in such reliable form, we didn't need three more, plus Mason Mount.

Tony: Conceding two goals in each of the first three games is a terrible start. I'm afraid a lot of the blame is on Lisandro Martinez and Shaw, who are both guilty of leaving United's left side exposed. As for Harry Maguire, say no more. Taking Marcus Rashford off and replacing him with Patrick Dorgu was a big mistake. Rashford was doing the bizz on the left, only to be swapped for a player incapable of putting a decent cross in.

Christine: It is like Groundhog Day. United's issues defensively are the same as they were in 2021 with Dalot, Maguire and Shaw. These players would never play in any top United side yet continue to play, and make the same mistakes, and be given new contracts. Too old and simply not good enough.

TC: The defence is untrustworthy at the moment. They should have got a strong centre-back to form a partnership with Matthijs de Ligt.

A fresh episode of your Manchester United podcast talks Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Sesko and "scared" defending.

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Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko has encouraged his team-mates to look forward with positivity despite a "painful" draw at Everton.

"We're disappointed, of course, because we were very close yet so far," Sesko told MUTV.

"To concede a goal like this, especially in those last, last minutes, is painful for everyone because everyone was giving everything trying to win the game. We really want [to win].

"Every single person here wants that.

"It's really important to take everything positive, even though it's not the best option from today.

"See the game in a good light, try to improve and focus for the next game and try to win the next game. That's the way it is."

Manchester United fan Beth Tucker says Michael Carrick substituting Marcus Rashford at Everton on Sunday was the reason the game ended as a 2-2 draw.

She called the substitution a "big mistake" - though Carrick explained the change was precautionary after the forward had "felt something" - but also went on to say it "was one of many" and that, at the moment, "we cannot trust Manchester United to see out a game of football".

Added to that is the view of former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison, who has pointed to issues in defence for United, who have conceded six goals in their opening three games.

In the post immediately below this one, he argues that the Old Trafford side needed to buy cover for Luke Shaw in the summer window, and that a centre-back pairing of Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire is no upgrade on last season.

So, what do you think? Is it just teething problems that are easily solved, or do United have real issues defensively?

Get in touch with your views here

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Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison says Manchester United have "problems at the back" after twice letting a lead slip to draw 2-2 at Everton on Sunday.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles' stoppage-time equaliser was the sixth goal Michael Carrick's side have conceded in the three games so far.

This is the first campaign in five years where United have let in at least two goals in each of their first three league matches.

"Manchester United have strengthened well in the midfield and up front but they needed to strengthen at the back as well," Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"There's problems at the back.

"They needed to buy cover for Luke Shaw - he had a good game against Everton but he's the only recognised left-back. Noussair Mazraoui can play there but he wants to play right-back.

"I still thought they could have gone out and got a quality centre-back as well. I know they have Matthijs de Ligt to come back and young Ayden Heaven, but there is a lack of depth.

"A partnership of Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire again is not an improvement on last season.

"That could be the difference between them finishing in the Champions League places or not this season. I don't think they're title contenders."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Luke Shaw was one of Manchester United's better performers against Everton.

The defender got forward with regularity and it was encouraging to see him provide the cross for Benjamin Sesko's late header.

"He was really good," said former United striker Wayne Rooney on Match of the Day.

"Defensively he was leading and he was good going forward as well. He looked more of a threat in his connection with Marcus [Rashford]."

To that end, Michael Carrick will hope the "something" Rashford felt that led to his second-half exit is not serious.

"Marcus and Luke were particularly dangerous down that side," said Carrick.

"They've played together for quite some time now and have an understanding. We're trying to build partnerships and combinations throughout the team."

Shaw has been ever-present in United's Premier League starting line-up since the beginning of last season.

"It was great to see that left side and the connection they have had for years, it was like Luke Shaw when he first came to the club," ex-United winger Ashley Young told Match of the Day.

"He goes so quick, overlaps and gets balls into the box, gets the defence on the back foot."

Now, though, Carrick must navigate through a tricky spell of four games in 11 days.

It is the busiest period he has had as United boss. Last term, neither of his two midweek games were followed by weekend matches.

How involved will Shaw be? If he does not play, who starts? Does Joshua Zirkzee really have a meaningful role?

Sesko, presumably, has put himself in line to start against Sabah on Thursday? Or does Carrick prioritise Sunday's Manchester derby instead.

These are the unanswered questions that would always come in a campaign that could feature 60 games.

The tricky bit is navigating through, while delivering positive results.

Watch Sunday's episode of Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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"It's not that bad, you know," was Manchester United boss Michael Carrick's assessment of his side's start to the season.

"We were that close to coming away with three points. That's football. There were little moments we can deal with a bit better, but we'll be fine."

Carrick got support in his assessment from his old friend Wayne Rooney, who analysed the Everton game for BBC Sport.

"I thought it was good away performance," he said.

"Obviously, I'd be disappointed with the result, but I thought there was a lot more control in the performance.

"The midfield three were really good. They were two great strikes from Everton which got two goals, but I think there was encouragement from United's point of view. They'll be very frustrated they haven't won the game, given the performance."

Rooney was right about that.

"It feels like a defeat," said Carrick.

"All the work that went into putting us in that position at different stages to then come away like that. We're disappointed, bitterly disappointed.

"We can't ignore the fact we have taken a point, but it feels that we should have had a lot more."

Read more here

Man Utd starting XI:

Senne Lammens: Made a mess of a routine ball into the box, although he had been impeded by Dewsbury-Hall. Aside from that, usual unflappable self. Saved the shots you would expect. 6

Diogo Dalot (off 84, Yoro): Another fortunate to escape an early yellow card for hauling back Tyrique George. Solid after that though and strong in the tackle. 6

Harry Maguire: Needed treatment for a bloody nose in the opening minutes but recovered and produced usual calm display. Partnership with Lisandro Martinez very effective. 6

Lisandro Martinez: Excellent effort from the Argentina defender. Positioning superb and didn't dive in for rash challenges. Got in the way of a Johnson shot as Everton pressed for an equaliser. 8

Luke Shaw (off 91, Mazraoui): Excellent effort and his fitness is so crucial now for Michael Carrick. Good block to stop an Armstrong effort and nipped in as Johnson was about to shoot. 8

Kobbie Mainoo (off 84, Santos): The usual smooth display, taking the ball and moving it on. Precise cross-field pass to Mbeumo led to the opener. 7

Youri Tielemans: Long-range effort didn't cause Pickford any problems. Went about his business quietly but still to see a stand-out performance. 6

Bryan Mbeumo: Quiet first half when a lot of his best work was in defence. Brilliant goal at the start of the second though. 8

Bruno Fernandes: Volleyed against the bar from a Mbuemo nod back, had another first-half effort deflected over and another blocked. 7

Marcus Rashford (off 70, Dorgu): Another eye-catching performance from the England man. Cunha wasted some of his excellent approach work. 8

Matheus Cunha (off 70, Sesko): Started in the number nine position and tried to exert influence but wasted an excellent chance midway through the first half. 6

Man Utd substitutes:

Patrick Dorgu (on 70): Game went crazy after he came on. 6

Benjamin Sesko (on 70): Thought he had scored the winner here for the second season running. Needs to stay fit. 8

Andrey Santos (on 84): 6

Leny Yoro (on 84): 6

Noussair Mazraoui (on 90): 6

Subs not used:

Karl Darlow, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, Ayden Heaven.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Manchester United manager Carrick speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Yeah, for sure, it is [on conceding late]. I thought there were a lot of good things in that game for us. We played some good football and looked dangerous at times, for the most part I thought we defended really well as a team. A few more balls went into the box, made it a little bit more difficult for us when we should have seen out of the game. We're disappointed that we didn't come away with a win.

On Everton: "They were two great strikes to be fair. We didn't give them clear chances, I thought we defended really well, a few bits dropped around the edge of the box, a few shots which we got blocks to. We defended the box for the most part.

On Man Utd's performance: "I thought that we played some really good football at times. Earlier on in the game and towards the end not so much, but we did a lot of good things, and looked dangerous. We caused them a lot of problems at certain times. Both were really good goals for different reasons, and the second one should have been the winner for us."

On what went wrong: "Of course we don't want to concede goals. Today was different to the others, it was about finishing the game off more than anything because we were in a really good position."

Listen to Carrick speak to BBC Radio Manchester here

Did you know?

• For just the second time in the last 50 years, Manchester United have conceded two or more goals in each of their first three games of a league season, along with 2020-21.

• Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo scored his first Premier League goal against Everton in his 11th game and 22nd shot against them.

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The Manchester United fans could hardly believe what they were watching as Ainsley Maitland-Niles produced the best moment of his Premier League career.

The season might only be three weeks old, but it has been a painful campaign for United supporters.

United lost at newly promoted Hull City on the opening weekend of the season, and their failure to win on the road has come as a result of a defence that is being breached too easily.

In addition to conceding twice at the KCOM and Hill Dickinson Stadium, United also conceded two goals against Ipswich, another newly promoted side, at Old Trafford last week.

This is the first campaign in five years where United have let in at least two goals in each of their first three league matches.

With United boasting Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbuemo and Matheus Cunha in attack, they must tighten up in defence if they are to build on last season's third-place finish.

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

Kick-off times BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Chelsea" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Everton match", for example.

New this season: Live match updates

Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.

Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

Find out more here

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New this season: Match of the Day Predictor

Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

Players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

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You can find the predictor in the navigation bar at the top of this page, or on this link

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.