Sunday, October 5, 2025
Everton FC

Everton 1-0 Man Utd: Three talking points

Richard Buxton
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Everton edged out Manchester United to rack up back-to-back home wins.

A cagey encounter was settled on 28 minutes as Anthony Gordon’s shot from the edge of the area was deflected off Harry Maguire into the Park End net.

The result gave Frank Lampard’s side a four-point cushion from the Premier League’s relegation zone ahead of Burnley’s trip to Norwich City on Sunday.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:

Blues dig in for victory

When the final whistle sounded, multiple Everton players sank to their knees.

Exhaustion as much as relief told in those reactions after the preceding 95 minutes against Manchester United had drained every inch from their bodies.

Failure was not an option for Frank Lampard’s side against an opponent who were suffering a bout of troubling form of their own heading into this match.

Yet casual observers would mistake the Red Devils as the team teetering on the brink of relegation rather than at the Premier League’s business end.

A stroke of fortune may have played its part but Lampard’s reaction in front of the Gwladys Street, punching the air in delight, told the real story of this win.

Desire, commitment and fight, all qualities which had been sorely lacking for large parts of this season, appeared in abundance from his sapped players.

More performances like this, especially in their final four home matches of the season, may be enough to help the Blues successful beat the dreaded drop.

DCL going through the motions

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s struggles since returning from injury are inescapable.

At present, Everton’s no.9 is generating bigger waves through his daring fashion choices than his main stock in trade of goal scoring exploits.

Saturday’s lunchtime encounter saw Calvert-Lewin cut a frustrating figure leading the line as he failed to have any meaningful impact on the game.

Recapturing fitness has been as problematic for the England international in recent weeks but form is likely to prove as similarly arduous challenge.

He played constantly on the periphery; unable to test United’s haphazard back line headed up by Harry Maguire or even extert any meaningful pressure.

On the rare occasions that Calvert-Lewin had the chance to cause problems for the visitors’ defence in the second half, his output was underwhelming.

Whether down to the dismal form of the team or the ongoing speculation around his future, the striker appears to be going through the motions.

Pickford ends England contest talk

Like Calvert-Lewin, Jordan Pickford has been dogged by unhelpful talk around his future. Supposedly, he is in a fight to retain England’s number-one shirt.

Those who have been pushing Aaron Ramsdale to the front of the queue, however, were handed a timely reminder of the incumbent’s truest qualities.

Pickford’s shot-stopping heroics during an early spell of pressure from United gave Everton a solid base to eventually take the lead against the run of play.

Denying international teammate Marcus Rashford twice in quick succession with two impressive saves highlighted the 28-year-old’s unrelenting class.

In a team which has largely been unable to buy a win this season, Pickford has been a key constant that never really received the credit he deserved.

But everyone leaving Goodison was left in no doubt as to just why he continues to enjoy the confidence of his managers for both club and country.

Contest? What contest?