Everton rescued a point against Manchester United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles firing home a stunning stoppage-time equaliser on his debut.
Maitland-Niles joined the Toffees on deadline day, and announced himself to the fans in the best way possible. After the game, the former Arsenal man was full of praise for the supporters, saying: “It felt like a win. We dug deep and managed to get a point in the end. The crowd were with us and we were fighting to the end and that’s why you get those results.”
The result sees David Moyes‘ side move up to eighth in the Premier League table, having taken five points from their opening three matches, and the manager will be hoping the undefeated streak continues at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next time out.
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Everton’s upcoming Premier League fixtures |
Date |
|
Tottenham Hotspur (a) |
September 12th |
|
Ipswich Town (h) |
September 19th |
|
Hull City (a) |
October 11th |
|
Chelsea (h) |
October 17th |
|
Arsenal (a) |
October 24th |
However, while it was a day to remember for Maitland-Niles, Pat Nevin believes a different player was the difference-maker for the Toffees, and could be key to their chances going forward, with some difficult fixtures on the horizon.
Pat Nevin lauds Jack Grealish after Man Utd comeback
Speaking after the game, Nevin singled out Jack Grealish for high praise, following the Englishman’s second debut for Everton, and suggested Moyes cannot afford to lose him.
The pundit said: “The point gives you a massive lift if you’re Everton. There are players out there capable of living with the best teams. They will battle, and they will work with each other.
“In the end, there are going to be injuries. Can you imagine if Jack Grealish picks up another injury? He came on and completely changed the game.”
Grealish was only brought on after 66 minutes, replacing Tyrique George, and didn’t score or assist, but he won two of the three duels he contested, while also completing one tackle and making one key pass.
Why Jack Grealish re-signed for Everton
Speaking about his decision to sign for Everton from Manchester City on a permanent basis, Grealish clarified that Moyes being at the club played a major role.
The forward said: “I love him, the manager. I think he’s such a great guy. He was a big reason why I wanted to come back here as well. I’ve had certain managers in the past where I feel I’ve played my best football under them – and he falls into that category, for sure.
“I had such a good connection with him – and the players here. I’m ready to play wherever the manager wants me and help as much as I can.”
