Manchester United's Defensive Woes Continue as They Draw with Everton

Manchester United walked out of Goodison Park with a 2-2 draw and the familiar taste of regret. They led twice. They played well for long stretches. They still couldn’t close the game.

This was everything but the finish – in both boxes.

Attacking ideas, missing edge

For long spells, United looked like a side that had finally found some rhythm. The first half brought controlled possession, sharper combinations and, crucially, goals from restarts that twice put them in front.

The front three knitted moves together with intelligence and variety. Creative forwards dropped into pockets, dragged Everton’s defenders around and opened lanes that haven’t always been there this season. On the ball, United often looked composed and purposeful.

But when the moves reached the edge of the area, the picture changed.

There was no consistent presence in the six-yard box, no relentless runner attacking the near post, no one repeatedly gambling on the cut-back. United worked the ball well into promising positions, only to find nobody in the right place to turn territory into clear chances.

Benjamin Sesko’s return to fitness offers one obvious solution. His late header, from a Luke Shaw cross, looked destined to be the winner in the 88th minute and showed exactly what United have lacked: a striker attacking the space with conviction. Bryan Mbeumo, if restored to a central role, could also help restore that penalty-box threat.

On the right, Amad’s absence continues to bite. Shea Lacey is a talent but not yet ready to shoulder that responsibility every week, and there’s little indication that Michael Carrick sees Matheus Cunha as a realistic option at right wing. The result is a front line that can create angles and overloads, but too often has nobody to finish the story.

A pattern that won’t go away

The more damning issue sits at the other end. United have now conceded two goals in each of their opening three games. Hull City, Ipswich Town and an Everton side short on confidence have all found a way through. Six goals shipped to that trio is not a blip. It’s a warning.

The back four looks unstable, and everyone can see it.

Shaw, ironically, produced his best performance of the season. He blocked, overlapped Marcus Rashford, and delivered dangerous crosses – including the one Sesko buried late on. Yet even his improved display carried a sting. For Tyrique George’s first equaliser on 83 minutes, Shaw drifted too far inside, leaving George just enough space to lash a vicious effort into the near-post top corner. Arne Lammens got a hand to it, but not enough.

The individual errors didn’t stop there. Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot all had moments they’ll want to forget. Maguire was fortunate when Thierno Barry headed over from close range in the 42nd minute after losing his man. Dalot’s attempted clearance in first-half stoppage time went straight to Jarrad Branthwaite, who could only fire at Lammens. Later, a mishit Dalot cross in midfield left Shaw and Martinez scrambling to recover and just about divert Brennan Johnson’s effort over the bar.

These aren’t isolated incidents. They’re part of a wider fragility.

Sitting back, inviting trouble

With a 1-0 lead for most of the second half, United retreated. They stopped pressing the ball aggressively, stopped trying to control possession and instead invited Everton to attack.

The pressure built. Everton dominated the ball, pushed United deeper and deeper, and eventually found the spectacular goals that the game was begging for. United’s passivity made them possible.

After the first equaliser, Carrick turned to his bench. Noussair Mazraoui came on at left back, Leny Yoro on the right. The changes did not steady the ship. In the 90th minute, Mazraoui lost George again, allowing another near-post effort that Lammens saved – the flag went up anyway. The warning was clear.

It went unheeded.

Five minutes into stoppage time, with United seconds from victory, Hayden Hackney drifted past Yoro far too easily and slid the ball to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Mazraoui’s attempted clearance fell straight to Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who unleashed a stunning, Puskas-level strike into the top corner. Everton rescued a point. United stood staring at another lead thrown away.

Carrick’s substitutions will face scrutiny, but the questions run deeper. If he had left Dalot and Shaw on, would anything really have changed? Or is this simply a back line that cannot be trusted, regardless of the names on the teamsheet?

Structural flaw, not just bad luck

The uncomfortable truth for United is that this doesn’t feel like a simple form issue. It feels structural.

Shaw remains a technically gifted fullback, but he no longer has the recovery speed to bail himself out when United push high. Dalot suffers from similar limitations on the opposite side. When both fullbacks step forward and the ball turns over, the centre-backs are left defending huge open spaces against pace. Better teams will target those areas relentlessly.

The club spent the summer reshaping the midfield, and there are clear positives there. United move the ball with more purpose through the centre, they look more inventive going forward, and the attacking combinations suggest goals will come in volume once a true penalty-box presence is restored.

But the balance of the squad still feels off. The back line, especially at fullback, looks like the part of the puzzle that never quite made it onto the table.

Matthijs de Ligt’s looming return from a long layoff offers hope of greater authority in central defence, yet even he cannot fix the wide spaces on his own. Ayden Heaven’s name will inevitably enter the conversation as calls grow for fresh legs and fresh ideas at the back.

Champions League on the horizon

United leave Merseyside with a point, a highlight-reel goal against them, and a growing sense of déjà vu. They can create. They can score. They can take leads.

They just can’t keep them.

With the first Champions League match of the season looming, that is a terrifying place to be. How many more times can this team play well, score enough to win, and still walk away wondering how it slipped through their fingers again?