Everton had many famous nights against Manchester United under the Goodison lights. They craved a similar moment on Monday at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium home, but came up short.
It was telling that for a side shorn of creativity and width — some of these failings at least in part self-imposed — the solution to overturning a 1-0 deficit was a forlorn attempt at brute force.
Everton peppered United’s box with crosses, ending with 10 corners to their visitors’ solitary one. High balls rained down on goalkeeper Senne Lammens, with James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, Jarrad Branthwaite and strike duo Thierno Barry and Beto all trying to bundle over the line. But Lammens and United held firm.
There were times during manager David Moyes’ first stint at the club when Everton bullied United sides. When Duncan Ferguson or Marouane Fellaini were able to impose their strength and will on otherwise superior opposition.
Maybe there is an element of hindsight here, but Moyes’ current vintage never seemed likely to repeat the trick.
Moyes was unable to guide his side to a win against Manchester United (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Some of this was due to poor execution. James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were both guilty of floating corners straight into the imposing Lammens’ arms. Tarkowski did have one dangerous late effort in a saturated six-yard box cleared behind. And unlike Goodison, Hill Dickinson Stadium does not yet seem to possess the power to “suck the ball into the net,” to borrow legendary manager Howard Kendall’s quote.
But even with considerable height in their ranks, Everton have been dominated more than they have been the dominator at set-pieces this season. Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Brentford all came away from Hill Dickinson Stadium having gained the upper hand in this area. United, meanwhile, boasted the aerial prowess of both Lammens and defender Harry Maguire.
Unlike one of his predecessors, Andre Onana, Lammens is comfortable fielding crosses under his crossbar as attackers race towards him. Standing at 6ft 3in, the Belgian told Sky Sports afterwards that dealing with high balls was a “strength” and called Everton’s approach “over the top”.
“I had to be behind the line in order to come out. It was too much, but it can be difficult for the referee to see it,” he added.
Lammens, ironically, was targeted by Everton as a free agent in the summer of 2023 when he left Club Brugge. Talks were held over a move to Merseyside, but he was given the impression he would start as understudy to long-term No 1 Jordan Pickford and joined Antwerp instead.
Everton had expected the 23-year-old and his team-mates to be more susceptible under the high ball. If there was a disappointment, it was perhaps that they did not vary their delivery more to challenge United in different areas.
In other words, that it became too predictable.
“It was that the goalie wouldn’t do as well as he did. He was bloody brilliant for them tonight,” said Moyes in his post-match press conference, when asked to explain the approach. “The save he made from Michael Keane. There was a huge amount of pressure on them (the corner kicks). We hoped some way we’d get a nick on one of them.
“You can look another way and say we should have tried something else to get a goal. But it’s very difficult to get that information on during the game. And the way it was going, I actually thought we would get a goal from it. But their goalkeeper was the best player tonight.”
Defeat was a tad harsh on Everton, who were made to pay for one crucial lapse. United’s goal came during a period when Moyes’ side were on the front foot and pushing for the opener themselves, while around £200million worth of summer signings in Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha combined for that winner.
Benjamin Sesko celebrates scoring the only goal of a closes game (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Everton, of course, do not possess that purchasing power. They cannot afford someone to deliver a pinpoint ball like Cunha or bring a £70m striker in off the bench.
That they had to turn to basic route one football in an attempt to claw their way back into the game said something both of their own limitations personnel-wise and Moyes’ ongoing efforts to strike the right balance, particularly at home.
Everton appeared set up to contain United and absorb long spells of pressure. They largely did, only succumbing when they pushed forward in search of a winner of their own. But there was a vulnerability about United in other areas that was rarely probed. In Branthwaite, Garner and 18-year-old Harrison Armstrong, they had a central defender at left-back and two central midfielders at right-back and left wing. Square pegs, ultimately, for round holes.
Perhaps Branthwaite’s superior pace in central areas would have prevented Mbeumo finding Sesko for the winner. Maybe Garner’s extra quality in midfield would have allowed Everton more of a foothold. Loanee Tyrique George’s cameo, meanwhile, finally provided Everton with some pace and drive late in the game.
Boos greeted the final whistle, most likely out of frustration with referee Darren England and his officiating team. But Everton were applauded off the field and fans who remained at the end sang in support of their team.
For that reason, this had a different feel to other recent home defeats where the atmosphere soured. Hill Dickinson Stadium was with Everton and as loud at it has been for some time as they pressed for an equaliser. Their efforts were deservedly acknowledged at full-time.
But Moyes’ search for a truly balanced performance and a home victory continues. Everton are now winless in six at their new stadium, since beating Nottingham Forest in December.
There is a sense they are still playing with the handbrake on. Still finding their way at this new venue.
But the clues to a revival are unlikely to be found in the past.