SOCCER: Substitute Sesko seals win for Man Utd at Everton

LIVERPOOL – Manchester United's Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to score a crucial goal for the second consecutive game, securing a 1-0 Premier League win over Everton on Monday.

Sesko struck in the 71st minute, converting a first-time finish from Bryan Mbeumo's pass after a swift counter-attack set up by Matheus Cunha's precise delivery. The goal proved decisive in an otherwise scrappy contest at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The victory lifted caretaker coach Michael Carrick's side to fourth place in the Premier League table, three points ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool.

Sesko’s strike was one of few moments of quality in a match where United nearly took the lead early on when James Tarkowski cleared an Amad Diallo shot off the line. Everton also had chances, with goalkeeper Senne Lammens denying teenager Harrison Armstrong and keeping out Michael Keane's powerful long-range effort.

While United’s performance lacked polish, it continued Carrick’s impressive run since taking charge. He has now won five and drawn one of his six matches.

“It was really important for us to win this game. It was really difficult,” said Sesko, who also scored a late equalizer against West Ham United 13 days ago. “We were fighting. They were fighting. It was a really 50-50 battle, but we managed it until the end and secured the win.”

United now have 48 points from 27 games, with Chelsea and Liverpool on 45 points.

Everton struggled to gain momentum and remain without a win in their last seven home games across all competitions, holding ninth place in the table.

“I’m not happy with the scoreline, that’s for sure,” Everton manager David Moyes said. “You have to win games if you are going to keep moving on, and we haven’t been doing that, especially here. They got the one goal on the counter-attack, and we put in a great effort to try and get the goal back but just lacked the quality to make it count.”

Carrick has transformed United’s fortunes, and Slovenian forward Sesko is beginning to flourish after a slow start following his big-money move from RB Leipzig. The 20-year-old has now scored six goals in his last seven appearances, having only two goals prior.

“We always feel as though we have a chance. The clean sheet was just as important as the goal. It was a fabulous goal,” Carrick said. “Ben is in a good place at the moment, and we’ve had some really good talks about it. He’s going to be a big player for us for a long period of time, I’m sure of that.”

-Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters