LIVERPOOL, England — The crucial goal for Manchester United against Everton originated from an impressive long pass by Matheus Cunha. The pass found Bryan Mbeumo, who charged towards Michael Keane before delivering a precise pass across the goal.
There, Benjamin Sesko outpaced James Tarkowski to neatly tuck the ball past Jordan Pickford. It was a goal that seemed to come out of nowhere during the match, but for United’s executives observing, it reflected their successful transfer strategy from the previous summer.
This goal propelled Michael Carrick’s squad to a slim 1-0 victory on Monday, lifting them to fourth place in the Premier League standings, ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool in their quest for a spot in the UEFA Champions League.
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This season has turned into an intense battle for United to reclaim their place in Europe after two years of absence. While this might not suffice long-term for a club of this stature, the successful integration of summer signings like Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko brings hope that previous recruitment struggles might finally be resolved.
“The new players have made a significant impact, which is fantastic,” Carrick noted. “Their character and personality are crucial attributes, especially when playing in this environment.
“Winning games requires a combination of factors. Sometimes it flows easily, while other times, like tonight, we faced a challenging match against Everton.
“It wasn’t as smooth for us, but the growing spirit, belief, and trust among the lads is vital,” he added.
One of United’s top priorities this summer will be to appoint a new manager. Regardless of who takes the helm—whether permanent or interim—the role will be greatly facilitated if the right players join the squad.
Regardless of how the remainder of the season unfolds, it is clear that this season will likely fall short of the club’s esteemed expectations, which were historically set by the legendary tenures of Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Nonetheless, upon reflecting on this campaign, one of the bright spots will undeniably be the contributions from summer acquisitions: Cunha, Mbeumo, Sesko, and goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
The young Belgian, brought in from Royal Antwerp for under £20 million, also played a pivotal role against Everton by handling the pressure from James Garner‘s corner kicks, especially during a hectic final quarter of the match. He produced an excellent save from Keane late in the game and made another critical stop against Tyrique George in stoppage time, ensuring a crucial three points for United.
“The goalkeeper was fantastic for them tonight,” remarked David Moyes after the match.
United’s recent transfer history has been marred by costly missteps involving players like Alexis Sánchez, Jadon Sancho, and Antony. It’s been a long time since they successfully secured four competent signings in a single summer, and this recent spending trend is a positive indicator for the future, particularly with the significant choice ahead regarding who will replace Casemiro.
With the Brazilian, a key figure in United’s resurgence under Carrick, set to depart at the season’s end, the responsibility will again lie with CEO Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox, and recruitment director Christopher Vivell to identify a suitable central midfielder to fill his role.
“It’s challenging for me to comment on the past since I wasn’t here,” Carrick admitted. “I mentioned this when I first joined; we tend to expect players to perform without considering that there are many factors at play.
“Adapting to the environment and feeling comfortable enough to deliver your best performance is essential and may take time.”
Currently, Carrick seems to be settling in well. With five wins and a draw from six matches in charge, the 44-year-old has positioned himself as a strong candidate for the permanent managerial role. United remains the only Premier League club without a loss in 2026, accumulating more points than any other team since the year’s start.
However, if he wishes to grasp the intensity of management at United, he need only glance across at the Hill Dickinson Stadium sideline.
Moyes has proven his managerial prowess with successful stints at Everton and West Ham United, yet he lasted just 10 months in the high-pressure environment of Old Trafford before parting ways. Moyes faced his own recruitment challenges during his tenure at United.
Having witnessed Sesko, Cunha, Mbeumo, and Lammens be the distinguishing factors against Everton, Moyes is well-placed to remind Berrada, Wilcox, and Vivell that, regardless of who occupies the managerial seat, success is far more attainable when the right players are on board.