Sesko’s late strike secures Manchester United victory at Everton
Manchester United climbed to fourth place in the English Premier League after Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to score the only goal in a 1-0 win over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool on February 23, 2026.
Sesko, who has yet to start a match under interim manager Michael Carrick, has found remarkable form in recent weeks, netting six goals in his last seven appearances after scoring just twice in his first 22 games following a £74 million ($100 million) move from RB Leipzig.
The decisive goal came 19 minutes from time, following a swift team move in which Sesko laid the ball off to Matheus Cunha before running downfield to finish from Bryan Mbeumo’s perfectly weighted pass. The strike broke a goalless deadlock in a largely uninspired first half for both sides.
The win moves Manchester United three points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for next season’s Champions League qualification, with only the top five sides guaranteed a spot. United have also kept three clean sheets in Carrick’s six matches, compared with just two prior to his appointment.
Everton, meanwhile, have now gone seven home games without a victory as they continue to struggle to adapt to life at their new 52,000-capacity stadium. Manager David Moyes’ men missed the chance to move into seventh place, remaining on the fringes of the battle for European competition.
Carrick’s impact on the team has been evident despite a lack of rhythm in the game, with United showing improved defensive organisation and counter-attacking threat. Jordan Pickford denied Amad Diallo an early opener, while Michael Keane’s long-range effort was tipped over by Senne Lammens late in the match.
The result also signals a continued turnaround for Manchester United since the departure of former coach Ruben Amorim, with the team displaying greater cohesion and attacking efficiency in recent matches.
With key performances from Sesko and an increasingly disciplined squad, Manchester United look set to challenge for Champions League qualification and re-establish themselves among the Premier League’s top contenders.
