Everton Vs Man United: Sesko Winner and Lammens Calm Lift United Into Champions League Contention

Manchester United's stoppage-time resilience and a decisive substitute strike secured a 1-0 victory that matters in the run-in. The Everton Vs Man United fixture produced a match-winning Benjamin Sesko intervention and a composed performance from goalkeeper Senne Lammens that moved United into fourth and sharpened their bid to return to the Champions League after a two-year absence.

Everton Vs Man United: Sesko's decisive intervention

Benjamin Sesko came off the bench and finished a quick-hitting counter with a 71st-minute strike to win the game. The sequence combined a spell of endurance—running roughly 70 yards at top speed after laying off a pass to Matheus Cunha—with the composure to steady himself and coolly slot home Bryan Mbeumo's square pass. The goal followed a stoppage-time volley that had earned United a point at West Ham on 10 February, underlining the young forward's recent ability to change matches from the bench.

Sesko's form, numbers and background

The context lists Sesko as a 22-year-old forward who has been prolific recently: six goals in his latest seven appearances and a season tally that one account places at eight. It is also noted that he only scored twice under Ruben Amorim earlier, and that his move from RB Leipzig has been described with two different fee figures in the materials provided—one listing a transfer of £73. 7m in August 2025, another describing him as a £66 million summer signing. His hot run began with three goals in two matches while Darren Fletcher was interim boss after Ruben Amorim's dismissal at the start of January.

Senne Lammens and the calm that quelled chaos

Goalkeeper Senne Lammens was credited with steadying the team throughout the match and keeping his first away clean sheet for United since last March. Everton attempted to unsettle him by stationing players near him at a series of second-half corners and by pressuring from kick-off, but Lammens repeatedly dealt with those situations, including a notable save from Michael Keane. The goalkeeper's control of crosses and corners in the closing stages was singled out as key to preserving the narrow lead.

What the win means for United's Champions League push

The victory put Manchester United out on their own in fourth spot in the table, three points behind Aston Villa and three points ahead of both Chelsea and Liverpool. Michael Carrick's spell in charge has so far been unbeaten: five wins and one draw from six games at the helm, and he has yet to lose since taking over from Ruben Amorim. That run of results is described as boosting United's chances of cementing a return to the Champions League after two seasons away.

Key moments and match flow at Hill Dickinson Stadium

• Kick-off pressure: Thierno Barry charged down Lammens' clearance straight from kick-off, with the rebound trickling out for a goal-kick.
• Early United chance: Kobbie Mainoo squeezed a shot past Jordan Pickford from United's first attacking move, narrowly denied by a goal-line scramble involving James Tarkowski.
• Midfirst-half: James Garner forced Lammens into his first save with a dipping free-kick from about 30 yards in the 39th minute.
• Second half: Harrison Armstrong had a chance that was placed too close to Lammens; later, Bryan Mbeumo had an opportunity at the back post that sailed over the bar.
• United attack: The front line of Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha provided fluidity and tested Everton's concentration throughout.

Everton's home struggles and the broader context

Everton remain without a win in their last seven home games in all competitions, and one account notes they have suffered six league defeats at their new stadium this season. Another line of the context records that Everton have won just four of their 14 Premier League games at the same new venue. Their manager acknowledged the adaptation challenges, noting there are things about the stadium that the team still has to get used to.

Reactions, managerial position and what comes next

Michael Carrick praised both the striker's progress—describing a player who is growing and taking sizeable steps in development—and the goalkeeper's ability to remove chaos from the penalty area. Everton's manager described Lammens' evening as 'bloody brilliant' for his saves and handling of corners. The match was United's first outing since a high-profile comment by the club's largest single shareholder about the UK being 'colonised by immigrants', an off-pitch context that preceded the game. United's next league fixture after this match is a home game against Crystal Palace on March 1. Details beyond those facts are unclear in the provided context.

Note: the match coverage includes slightly different numerical details on Sesko's transfer fee and past scoring records; both sets of figures are recorded here exactly as they appear in the provided material.