Manchester United moved into the top four of the Premier League as Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to score the only goal at Everton.
A stodgy, combative game was settled by a fantastic counter attack as Michael Carrick continued his impressive cameo in charge of the Red Devils.
Matheus Cunha played a wonderful ball over the top to Bryan Mbeumo, who was able to run on and find Sesko for a simple, cool finish.
No player has scored more non-penalty goals in the Premier League in 2026 than Sesko (5).
United’s heavy investment in attacking options last summer paid off again as they moved ahead of Chelsea with 11 matches left.
Slovenia striker Sesko has yet to start in interim head coach Carrick’s six matches in charge but has now scored two winners and snatched a late equaliser to maintain his unbeaten start.
Sesko was made to wait until just before the hour mark to replace Amad Diallo but made an impact to secure a fifth win in six matches and move United into fourth, only three points behind Aston Villa.
He took his chance coolly and clinically in United’s first threatening moment since the fourth minute, when James Tarkowski cleared Diallo’s shot off the line after it had squirmed under goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
By his standards his 71st-minute goal was comparatively early as his two previous efforts in Carrick’s unbeaten run had come after the 90th minute, one to beat Fulham and the other to snatch a draw at West Ham.
He has now scored six in his last seven appearances, making it difficult for Carrick to ignore his contribution to the team’s resurgence, which has only strengthened the head coach’s own credentials after he was tasked with resetting the team following the sacking of Ruben Amorim in January.
“For me, it’s important whenever I come on to try and help the team. That is why I’m here,” Sesko said.
“Whether that is five minutes or 90 minutes, it doesn’t really matter. It’s about showing I can deliver if I possibly can and I’m really happy with that.”
Everton’s best chance came when Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall moved the ball from right to left but Harrison Armstrong, whose only goal this season came against Wrexham while on loan at Preston, saw his weak shot fail to extend Senne Lammens.
United are now undefeated in their last 10 games in the Premier League. Their last longer unbeaten streak was from 30th January 2021 to 9th May 2021, a run of 14 games.
Will Carrick get the chance on a longer basis come the end of the season?
