AINSLEY Maitland-Niles marked his return to English football by scoring a stunning stoppage-time equaliser as a resilient Everton came from behind twice to draw with Manchester United in the Premier League.
The former Arsenal full-back, who joined Everton from Lyon on transfer deadline day, left United goalkeeper Senne Lammens rooted to the spot in the sixth minute of added time when he curled an unstoppable effort into the net to deny the visitors a first away win of the season.
Michael Carrick’s side looked set to seal all three points at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the second consecutive season after Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko scored either side of Tyrique George firing Everton level.
But Maitland-Niles’ first Premier League strike since December 2019 maintained Everton’s unbeaten start to the season at the end of a turbulent week on Merseyside.
Fresh from hitting Ipswich Town for five last weekend, United made a fast start and almost went ahead inside eight minutes when Bruno Fernandes struck the crossbar following a knockdown from Mbeumo inside the area.
It was the 24th time United had hit the woodwork since the start of last season, more than any other Premier League side.
But that did little to dampen United’s mood as they, and Marcus Rashford in particular, continued to ask questions of the Everton defence.
Only days after selling the creative Iliman N’Diaye to Manchester City in a deal worth up to £65m, Everton showed little ingenuity or originality in the final third.
That was until two minutes before half-time when Thierno Barry, the club’s top scorer this season, headed over after a wonderful cross from makeshift full-back Merlin Rohl, and Jarrad Branthwaite forced a save from Lammens.
But the United breakthrough came less than 60 seconds into the second half, with Mbeumo picking the ball up from Kobbie Mainoo before curling a spectacular effort past Jordan Pickford to double his tally for the campaign.
Brennan Johnson almost drew Everton level, while Rashford continued to threaten.
Everton manager David Moyes summoned summer signings Jack Grealish and Hayden Hackney from the bench midway through the second half, and Hackney was involved in the equaliser when he teed up George to rifle home at the near post in the 83rd minute.
United thought they had won it five minute later when substitute Sesko made it two goals in as many visits to Everton by heading home Luke Shaw’s cross.
But it was an Everton substitute who had the final say, with Maitland-Niles’ strike sending the home fans into raptures.
The build-up to this match was dominated by conversations about who Everton failed to sign in the transfer window.
Since their last league match – a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth eight days ago – they had sold attackers N’Diaye and Beto, while Nathan Patterson joined Torino.
Their departures, plus Everton’s failure to bring in reinforcements – a deal for Folarin Balogun fell apart in the final minutes of the window – have left Moyes with only 18 senior outfield players until January.
When on-loan Grealish – once the most expensive British player of all time – took to the touchline on his return to the club, he appeared to be Everton’s most likely route back into the game.
That it turned out to be a stunner from Maitland-Niles, their other deadline-day recruit, made Everton’s late rescue act all the sweeter.
The fact that they needed a wonder strike from a player who has spent most of his career filling in at midfield and full-back – and only has 15 career goals – is a sign of the lack of options Moyes has.
Everton are one of only seven Premier League teams to remain unbeaten after three games, but a lack of reinforcements could be the undoing of the foundations Moyes has laid since his return in January 2025.