Manchester United escapes defeat against Everton

Manchester United avoided yet another painful defeat in their dismal Premier League campaign, securing a 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park. A dramatic finish saw the visitors score twice in the final 20 minutes before VAR overturned a stoppage-time penalty decision against Matthijs de Ligt, saving United from another loss.

United’s season of struggles continues

Manchester United's season has gone from bad to worse, with Rúben Amorim struggling to implement his philosophy at Old Trafford. Since replacing Erik ten Hag in October, the Portuguese manager has been unable to halt the club’s downward spiral. Heading into this fixture, United sat in a lowly 15th place, desperate for points. Everton, meanwhile, came into the match in fine form under David Moyes, having not lost in the league since mid-January. The home side carried that momentum into the game, putting United under immediate pressure.

Everton’s dominance in the first half

Goodison Park, soon to be replaced by Everton Stadium next season, was in full voice as the hosts took the lead early on. Beto struck first from a corner, though the goal had to survive a lengthy three-minute VAR check for offside. Once confirmed, United found themselves chasing the game yet again. The situation worsened for the visitors after 30 minutes when Abdoulaye Doucouré doubled Everton’s lead with a powerful header, leaving Amorim’s side stunned. Despite boasting quality players, United looked lost, struggling to create meaningful opportunities as Everton controlled the first half.

A late United fightback

For much of the second half, United remained sluggish and uninspired. It wasn’t until the final 20 minutes that they finally showed signs of life. Bruno Fernandes sparked the comeback with a superb free-kick, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Sensing an opportunity, United pressed forward, and Manuel Ugarte equalized with ten minutes remaining, sending the away fans into celebration. The momentum was suddenly with United, but the match had one more twist in store.

VAR saves United in stoppage time

In stoppage time, Everton thought they had the chance to steal all three points. The referee awarded a penalty after De Ligt was judged to have pulled down Ashley Young in the box. But after reviewing the footage, VAR ruled that Young had gone down too easily, leading the referee to overturn the decision. The final whistle confirmed a 2-2 draw—perhaps a small relief for United, but another reminder of their struggles.

United’s worst Premier League season?

With just five teams below them in the standings and 12 defeats from 26 games, Manchester United is enduring one of their worst seasons in Premier League history. While the comeback against Everton showed some resilience, the overall performance continues to raise concerns about the team’s future under Amorim. As the season progresses, United must find solutions fast, or risk further humiliation in what is becoming an increasingly disastrous campaign.