Carrick remains unbeaten: United's golden sub Sesko checkmates Moyes' Everton

People say football is often a game of mistakes. A team that makes fewer errors ultimately wins. In that sense, football resembles chess.

Last night, two football masters faced each other - one experienced in Everton’s dugouts and the other young on Manchester United’s bench, David Moyes and Michael Carrick, former manager and player at Old Trafford. And even though his lads made only two severe mistakes in 96 minutes at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the Scotsman’s crew lost - 1-0.

United’s “once bitten, twice shy” strategy: Look at Carrick, remember Solskjaer

The first time, James Tarkowski came to Everton's rescue with a goal-line clearance, but the second mistake from the 71st minute was costly, as United’s golden sub Benjamin Sesko was there to punish it.

It’s not that the Red Devils were flawless, but the Toffees' attacks were way too futile to hand a blow to the visitors. For most of the match, they seemed content with a draw, waking up only after conceding. In the end, they remained empty-handed, as Carrick checkmated his former boss Moyes.

In the first half of the clash at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the crowd witnessed a genuine "chess game" in the midfield, but few good moves and notable moments, and no goals.

The impression was that Everton's primary idea was salvaging a draw, as most of their (counter)attacks ended near United's box - not in it. Their only solid attempt was James Garner's free-kick strike from over 30 meters, which Senne Lammens easily stopped.

He isn’t regular under Carrick, and he won’t be behind the wheel either

On the other hand, the Red Devils wanted to play their usual fluent and free-flowing game but were mainly held back by the Toffees' dense midfield and defensive line.

Diogo Dalot and Bryan Mbeumo attempted to surprise Jordan Pickford from a distance, but the visitors' best chance came just four minutes into the game, when Amad Diallo picked up a rebound and fired it towards the goal, but James Tarkowski deprived him of his third Premier League goal this season with a skillful goal-line clearance.

Everton opened the second period with much better energy and threatened after only 28 seconds through Harrison Armstrong, but Lammens was cautious. Five minutes later, Mbeumo failed to exploit Tarkowski's error, shooting high over the bar from extremely close range. The long-awaited fire on the pitch was ignited. The duel in Liverpool only lacked goals, so Michael Carrick called Benjamin Sesko off the bench and subbed him on for Diallo.

Until the 72nd minute, it could be said that the Toffees were better than their rivals after the break. They imposed their style and constantly threatened from set pieces, leaving the Red Devils little room to attack. However, they apparently did not count on Carrick's crew's counters.

After one such, initiated by Matheus Cunha's magnificent long pass, Mbeumo escaped Everton's defence and set an ideal chance for Sesko, who easily broke the deadlock for the visitors' immense joy.

David Moyes responded to United's lead by subbing on another striker, Beto, desperately trying to avoid defeat. In the 82nd minute, Michael Keane superbly shot from a distance, but Lammens made a terrific stop. By the end of the game, the corner count was 10-0 in the home team's favour, but in vain.

The Red Devils' fortress held out, as they reduced the gap behind the third-placed Aston Villa to just three points. The Champions League race in the remaining 11 rounds guarantees fireworks.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 27

Saturday

Aston Villa - Leeds 1-1 (0-1)

/Abraham 88 - Stach 31/

Brentford - Brighton 0-2 (0-2)

/Gomez 30, Welbeck 45+1/

Chelsea - Burnley 1-1 (1-0)

/Pedro 4 - Flemming 90+3/

West Ham - Bournemouth 0-0

Manchester City - Newcastle 2-1 (2-1)

/O'Reilly 14, 27 - Hall 22/

Sunday

Crystal Palace - Wolverhampton 1-0 (0-0)

/Guessand 90/

Nott. Forest - Liverpool 0-1 (0-0)

/Mac Allister 90+7/

Sunderland - Fulham 1-3 (0-0)

/Le Fee 76 pen - Jimenez 54, 61 pen, Iwobi 85/

Tottenham - Arsenal 1-4 (1-1)

/Kolo Muani 34 - Eze 32, 61, Gyokeres 47, 90+4/

Monday

Everton - Manchester United 0-1 (0-0)

/Sesko 71/