Everton vs Manchester United LIVE: Premier League result as late Everton penalty is overturned
Everton 2-2 Manchester United: Ashley Young went to ground under the challenge of Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire but a penalty was overturned
Everton were denied a last-gasp penalty as Manchester United fought from behind to claim a draw in a dramatic Premier League clash at Goodison Park.
Everton, who led by two goals at half-time only for United to draw level, were awarded a penalty deep in stoppage time as Ashley Young went down in the box.
But referee Andrew Madley overturned his decision after an on-field review, ruling that Young had thrown himself to the ground under the challenge of Matthijs de Ligt.
Everton had appeared to be continuing their resurgence under David Moyes as goals from striker Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure fired the Toffees into a deserved half-time lead.
But as United looked to be slipping to a third defeat in a row, captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up to curl a free-kick past Jordan Pickford and give the visitors late hope.
Manuel Ugarte then found the equaliser as he smashed in a volley from the edge of the box, and United finished the stronger side as Pickford tipped over a Fernandes shot.
And while United remain 15th in the table, behind 12th-placed Everton, the hosts will feel they should have had an opportunity to take all three points on a dramatic afternoon.
Follow all the latest reaction from the 2-2 draw with our live blog below:
Manchester United’s illogical comeback can’t hide an alarming trend
David Moyes and Ruben Amorim can testify to the difficulties of walking in Sir Alex Ferguson’s footsteps. The most famous comment made by Manchester United’s most decorated manager came after his most celebrated comeback. Football, bloody hell? As two of his successors met, this seemed another case of it, a fightback that, like Ferguson’s against Bayern Munich in 1999, was remarkable in part because it felt inexplicable, because United were out of sorts, outclassed, seemingly out for the count.
Much of Everton’s display was testament to Moyes’s transformative effect. Much of United’s was atrocious. They nevertheless emerged with a point apiece. It was thanks in part to the catalytic prowess of Bruno Fernandes and his refusal to accept a defeat that his teammates seemed resigned to.
Manchester United’s illogical comeback can’t hide an alarming trend
Manchester United turn around ’embarrassing’ display to snatch draw at Everton
Manuel Ugarte’s stunning strike and an overturned penalty decision at the death helped Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United escape with a 2-2 comeback draw at David Moyes’ Everton.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Old Trafford looked set to inflict a 13th Premier League defeat of the season on the wretched Red Devils, who have won just four top-flight games since the Portuguese arrived in November.
Moyes has overseen as many league wins since returning to Everton in January and looked set to add another after Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure benefited from some abysmal first-half defending.
Manchester United turn around ’embarrassing’ display to snatch draw at Everton
Up next
Both sides face midweek fixtures in the league, with Everton taking on Brentford at the Gtech on Wednesday, 26 February – that kicks off at 7.30pm.
United are at home to Ipswich at the same time on Wednesday, as they look to put some distance between themselves and the teams in the relegation places.
Premier League releases VAR statement on Everton’s overturned penalty against Manchester United
The Premier League has explained why Everton saw a last-gasp penalty overturned during their dramatic 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
David Moyes’ side led at half-time thanks to goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure but were pegged back in the second half at Goodison after strikes from Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte.
However, Everton thought they had been handed the chance to claim all three points in stoppage time when Ashley Young went down in the box and referee Andrew Madley pointed to the penalty spot.
Premier League releases VAR statement on Everton’s overturned penalty against Man Utd
Fernandes reacts
Bruno Fernandes is the only player to speak to TNT, and he says that it was the right decision to overturn the penalty.
“The ref said the hand was very close from the body,” he explains.
“We had our chances in the second half, but we started too late. We were too static, it was difficult to create.
“We need to start games better, we know that. Every time we concede, when we are down, is when we start [to play].
“[We need] to stick to the plan, to make it work. We have to stick to what our ideas are, that’s what we did in the second half with much more freedom, more movement.
“This club is all about results. We have to do much more, everyone has to lift each others’ standards,” he adds as he finishes.
Moyes reacts
Everton boss David Moyes said that his side “had a couple of chances to make it 3-0”, but his side can’t be too disappointed with a draw.
“We were up against a great side, I know they’re not in a great moment, but getting a point isn’t the worst result.
“It feels disappointing having been 2-0 up. We probably did as well as we could do.
“I thought free-kick decisions were correct, but look at the decisions the referee didn’t give in the first half,” he adds.
On the penalty, he says: “I’ve had a look, he undoubtedly pulls his jersey. I thought the on-field decision looked correct, I’m a bit surprised he was asked to go to VAR. It looks difficult to change your mind on that.”
Moyes adds that decisions “went against us today, we’re not going to complain too much about it”, adding that survival is not assured.
“We have to get more points. Recent results are looking great, and today’s result was good as well.
“How we played, how the crowd saw the team performing [was important],” he adds.
Today’s other matches
Arsenal and Chelsea are both in action today, with the Gunners’ match the pick of the 3pm kick-offs (which are underway now). Today’s other games include:
Arsenal vs West Ham - 3pm
Bournemouth vs Wolves - 3pm
Ipswich vs Tottenham - 3pm
Southampton vs Brighton - 3pm
Fulham vs Crystal Palace - 3pm
Aston Villa vs Chelsea - 5.30pm
FULL-TIME! Everton 2-2 Man Utd
This result means that it is just four wins in 15 Premier League matches for Ruben Amorim so far. That is a serious worry for United fans and the hierarchy.
It’s possibly a tad harsh on the Portuguese, but it’s notable how few, if any, of United’s players are performing any better now than they were under ten Hag.
Amorim reacts
United boss Ruben Amorim has spoken to TNT Sports.
He says that he doesn’t think it was a penalty, calling it a “soft touch”.
“It was soft, it was clear,” he says on the decision to overturn.
“if you start the game without losing 2-0, it’s a good point, but we need to play all the game,” he says.
“The worst part is that we are losing the ball without any pressure, we’re not doing what we’re supposed to do. We concede two goals via second balls. We were soft.
“In the second half, we didn’t change anything. We have to do the same things but in a good way,” he adds.
On his side’s biggest problem being scoring, he says: “Yes, not just scoring goals but creating chances. We struggle with scoring goals.
“I don’t know. We have to continue to think about the next game. Everything we do during the week we have to use in the game.
“In this moment we need to focus on the day-to-day.
We need to survive this season then think ahead.
“It’s really hard. The second half was so much better, and in the end we were near to winning this game,” he adds as he finishes.
Premier League comment on penalty decision
The Premier League has released their official comment on the penalty decision.
“VAR checked the referee’s call of penalty to Everton for a challenge by Maguire on Young and deemed that no foul had been committed and recommended an on-field review.
“The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a drop ball.”
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