Everton analysis from Chris Beesley after the Premier League Summer Series friendly match against Manchester United
ECHO Everton reporter Chris Beesley has covered Everton and Liverpool both in the Premier League and abroad since 2005. He cut his teeth in professional sports journalism at the Ellesmere Port Pioneer and then the Welsh edition of the Daily Post, where he also covered Manchester United.
Prior to that he worked on the student newspaper Pluto at the University of Central Lancashire, a role in which he first encountered David Moyes. Chris is well-known for his sartorial elegance and the aforementioned Scottish manager once enquired of him at a press conference: “Is that your dad’s suit you’ve got on?” while the tradition continued in 2023 with new Blues boss Sean Dyche complimenting him on his smart appearance.
Amad Diallo of Manchester United celebrates with team mates after being awarded a penalty when Everton captain James Tarkowski was adjudged to have brought him down. Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
What is it with penalties in Everton games against Manchester United?
Having relinquished a two-nil half-time lead in the two sides’ last meeting at Goodison Park, the Blues appeared to have been handed a reprieve in stoppage time when Ashley Young went down in the area and Andy Madley pointed to the spot. However, despite the Everton substitute almost having the shirt ripped off his back, a VAR intervention saw the decision overturned.
Bizarre and frankly hollow excuses were given as to the nature of the controversial decision, claiming that because the officials in Stockley Park were looking at a challenge from one Red Devils player, they somehow could not examine one from for another.
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Fast forward 163 days to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and James Tarkowski – back starting his first game since suffering a hamstring injury in April and captaining the side – applied as much force to United winger Amad as a maitre d’ might be expected to use when guiding you to a seat in a restaurant and the referee pointed to the spot.
Maybe you might think that this was an inexperienced official, not used to taking charge of two top flight English teams and the level of physicality expected from such contests. But no, this was Thomas Bramall, who was the man in the middle for 11 Premier League games last season.
The ECHO was told that the 35-year-old apologised to Everton’s players afterwards, admitting he got it wrong, but that is of little consolation.
United captain Bruno Fernandes subsequently sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way from 12 yards but that moment shouldn’t define the match for the Blues as they refused to crumble, twice battling back to earn a deserved share of the spoils. United still lifted the trophy and it only gives Everton a single point from their time in the USA, but they can at least now return home with a positive narrative that would not have been applicable had they lost all their matches.
Instead, David Moyes could justifiably point to them improving in each of their games with what is well-documented to have been a threadbare squad as they work hard to bring in necessary additions.
Along with Tarkowski’s return, as already mentioned, Pickford was back in goal while the team reverted to a more familiar flat back four as Jake O’Brien switched to the right-back berth he filled so gamely for his manager for the bulk of the second half of last season.
The big Irishman proved a handful throughout and had several good moments going forward. It was his ball over the top that picked out Beto before United’s penalty and the striker, who has taken on the number nine jersey in pre-season, did well to take a touch and beat Altay Bayindir only for his effort to be ruled offside.
O’Brien also went close when he struck the post with a shot while he should have done better with a headed chance that came his way. The Blues were good value for their equaliser though and it was a combination of endeavour and nice passing that saw them back on level terms as Vitalii Mykolenko did well to win back possession just outside the United area before Idrissa Gueye guided a clever diagonal ball that Iliman Ndiaye calmly finished at the back post.
Pickford appeared furious, waving his arms around in frustration, when substitute Mason Mount restored United’s lead in the second half but in truth it was a smart finish from a talented player who, like so many at Old Trafford, has lost his way in recent years.
Despite their own lack of options in reserve, it was a couple of players who came off the bench who helped secure a draw for Everton. Tyler Onyango is a rangy central midfielder by trade who was turning out for League One Stockport County on loan last season but he did well to burst down the right and pick out Dwight McNeil in the centre. Just as the former Burnley player was about to pick his spot, a couple of United players stepped in and did the rest for him as Amad and Ayden Heaven got in a mix-up with the latter putting the ball past his own keeper in calamitous fashion.
It was no more than Moyes’ side deserved though and with the manager also able to hand his latest signing Adam Aznou a debut off the bench in a more advanced left midfield role for the final half an hour, his other new outfield face Thierno Barry again looked a handful up front when he came on.
This has been a trip where the victories have been off the field for Everton, but at least they can now head back to Merseyside with hopes that better times lie ahead in the coming weeks, months and even years as their major rebuild continues for a pivotal moment in the club’s history.