Everton have taken five points from their opening three Premier League games. That total looks a little better after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
As of this update on 18 September 2026, David Moyes’ side have shown they can compete with the division’s bigger names. The manager wanted more, though, from a match that swung on two late moments and a full debut off the bench.
H2: September update: Everton earn five points from opening three games
Everton’s start to the season now reads five points from three fixtures, with the draw against Manchester United the latest data point in an encouraging early campaign. Moyes was honest about the balance of the game, admitting United had matched or bettered his side for spells.
“For periods we played well. I thought Man Utd played better than they have done in their other games,” Moyes said. It was not a straightforward afternoon. But Everton found a way to salvage a point, and they remain within touching distance of the top of the table this early in the season.
H2: Debut delight and late drama at Hill Dickinson Stadium
The headline moments both arrived in the closing stages. Tyrique George scored his first goal for Everton during the match, giving the young winger a defining moment on home soil. Ainsley Maitland-Niles then struck a stunning 96th-minute equaliser on his debut, rescuing a point for the Blues.
Moyes did not hide his frustration at conceding first. “The first goal we concede is shabby. But I thought if anyone was going to go on and win the game after we equalise it would be us. I set out to win,” he said. He was similarly candid about his priorities despite the drama of the finish: “For us, to give the crowd moments, it was a big moment. But I wanted to win, and I thought we were capable of winning. I need to win my home games.”
On Maitland-Niles’ strike, Moyes was full of praise. “It was a brilliant goal, technique, everyone will look at the way he finished it and the goalkeeper not being able to move for it,” he said, adding that the deadline-day signing would need time to settle. “We haven’t had much of a chance to get to know Ainsley yet, and his role. It’ll take a bit of time,” Moyes said. That mirrors the settling-in period some of the summer’s arrivals have needed, as we detailed in our earlier report on the squad’s early-season selections.
George’s contribution also drew warm words from his manager. “I don’t know who you made man of the match, but he was close; he caused them a problem early on. He is a young winger, and he will need time to develop. He is a boy who wants to learn, and we like him,” Moyes said.
H2: David Moyes on squad depth and home form ambitions
With a smaller squad than some Premier League rivals, Moyes has leaned on a message of collective responsibility this season. “Sometimes when you’ve got fewer players, it means everyone has to be ready. Players on the fringes are going to have to show why they deserve to be involved,” he said.
He expanded on that theme, insisting there is no alternative but to make the numbers work. “When you’ve got a small squad you have to find a way to make it work,” Moyes said, before revealing the squad had already discussed the issue internally. “We said there would be no excuses from any players and none of us from what has gone on. The players all agreed. They said we won’t be walking off shaking our heads if we are a player short or down.”
Moyes also set out his broader ambitions for the club, framing Everton as a side that should expect to compete with the Premier League’s leading names. “I want us to be a club that is building, ambitious, and can aim to challenge the top teams, so Everton supporters are thinking that we are going into these games with a chance,” he said. Looking back at last season’s meetings with United, he added: “We lost unluckily to Manchester United here last season and beat them at Old Trafford, and I want us to show all of the big teams that we are competitive.”
H2: Jack Grealish Everton status and fitness update under David Moyes
Jack Grealish is back playing for Everton after six months out with a foot injury. He made his first appearance since returning on loan from Manchester City, coming on after 66 minutes against Manchester United. David Moyes says the club must now manage him carefully to build up his match fitness.
“He is someone who the crowd here love, and he has not played for six months after a foot injury, so we have to find a way to get him fit,” Moyes said. The manager was encouraged by what he saw in Grealish’s cameo, highlighting the qualities he can offer once fully up to speed. “He kept the ball very well and made some very good passes through,” Moyes said.
Asked about Grealish’s role in the squad, Moyes pointed to his eagerness to contribute and the specific attributes he brings to the team. “Jack just wants to be involved in football all the time, and he gives us something else in that he can ball carry and retain the ball, so hopefully we can get him into top form,” he said. There is no confirmed timeline for when Grealish might be considered for a starting role. Moyes’ post-match comments made clear that regaining sharpness will take time after such a long spell out.
H2: What happens next for Moyes and Everton
Everton go into the next block of fixtures with five points on the board and clear signs of progress, even if Moyes wanted all three against Manchester United. The draw showed both the promise in this squad, through George and Maitland-Niles, and the selection questions Moyes still has to answer as Grealish builds towards full fitness.
Moyes’ comments make clear his priorities: win at home, integrate his new signings quickly, and manage a smaller squad without excuses. How Grealish is eased back in over the coming weeks will be one of the clearest tests of that approach. For now, Everton’s focus is on turning promising performances into results as the season develops.
