TA: Manchester United struggled to control tempo after taking the lead; Luke Shaw can perfectly unlock Rashford

In the third round of the Premier League, Manchester United drew 2-2 with Everton. Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored a stunning long-range strike in stoppage time to level the match. After the game, The Athletic analyzed the contest.

The report said there were few shooting chances in the first half, with Everton probably creating the best opportunity. Thierno Barry met a cross from the right, but his header went over the bar.

However, the visitors took the lead just over a minute into the second half. After receiving the ball on the right, Mbeumo dribbled past several Everton defenders and fired a brilliant left-footed shot that went over Pickford and into the net. Everton equalized with seven minutes of normal time remaining. After a smooth move, the ball reached Tyrique George on the right, and he produced an incredible finish against Lammens that went into the top corner.

Sesko appeared ready to decide the match, first helping build the attack and then heading past Pickford in the 88th minute to put United ahead again. But Maitland-Niles eventually stepped up, following the ball after it rolled out of the box and firing a superb long-range shot to earn Everton a point.

Did Manchester United pay the price for losing control?

Manchester United could not have started the second half better. Although Rashford caused problems on the left, United still struggled to create clear chances against Everton's defense during the opening 45 minutes.

But Mbeumo broke the deadlock with a magical goal in the first minute after the restart, which should have provided United with the perfect platform to keep pushing and secure a valuable three points away from home.

Instead, their midfield strangely lost control afterward, and a series of mistakes ignited the atmosphere at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

One example was Dalot needlessly losing possession at right-back, when the better option was simply to keep the ball.

That mistake gave Everton a chance, forcing Martinez to block Brennan Johnson's shot.

United never looked settled when defending corners and set pieces, further encouraging the home supporters.

The decisions to take off Rashford and Matheus Cunha may have been made to bring on Sesko, but the overall effect was poor. Between Mbeumo's goal and Sesko's header, United did not register a single shot on target. Their attacking threat also declined, giving Everton more confidence to push forward.

Sesko scored what United thought was the winner, but the weakness exposed again in their defense came back to punish them.

Maitland-Niles' strike was superb, but United should have dealt with that set piece more effectively. They failed to protect two leads, losing two points, with the biggest reason being a loss of control.

How impressive was Maitland-Niles' debut?

People often say there is only one chance to make a first impression. In everyday life, a proper handshake and eye contact are usually enough. In football, showing some effort and displaying decent ability is generally considered acceptable.

But on his Everton debut, deep into stoppage time, Maitland-Niles produced a performance far more memorable than that.

Maitland-Niles joined the club earlier this week and was not a headline-making signing. The former Arsenal player had previously been at Lyon and had faded from many people's attention. His return to the Premier League was not a major story. Even for Everton, much of the deadline-day excitement was elsewhere.

The 29-year-old could prove to be a smart signing. He can play as a full-back, midfielder and winger.

For now, those qualities are only additional value. The goal he scored here was remarkable, as if it completely lit up the afternoon. More importantly, after a difficult week, it gave Everton much-needed confidence for the season.

It is difficult to imagine a better start for him.

How did Manchester United's intelligent off-ball movement help Mbeumo score?

The match desperately needed a moment of quality to break the deadlock, and Bryan Mbeumo delivered it 61 seconds into the second half. The goal came from clever off-ball movement by United. At the start of the attack, Bruno Fernandes and Dalot were United's highest players in the right half-space.

Fernandes' positioning pulled Mykolenko further inside, while Tyrique George followed Dalot's inward movement. Matheus Cunha dropped deeper and attracted Everton's midfield attention, opening a passing lane for Mainoo to find Mbeumo maintaining width.

As Mbeumo moved centrally, Fernandes drifted to the right touchline, causing Mykolenko to hesitate.

Dalot's inside run into the box prevented Everton's center-backs from stepping forward. This allowed Mbeumo, after escaping George's rushed tackle, to move to the edge of the area and curl the ball into the far corner with his stronger left foot.

It was a rehearsed move that ended with a brilliant finish and gave United their first Premier League lead of the season.

How important is the Luke Shaw-Rashford connection for Manchester United?

The clearest debate this week was United's failure to sign a left-back to share the burden with Luke Shaw. This was because of Shaw's injury record and questions over how United could rotate him during such a congested schedule while avoiding defensive risks.

But another reason Shaw must stay fit is the connection he has rebuilt with Marcus Rashford on the left. It feels as though they have resumed a rhythm interrupted years ago. Shaw is crucial to Rashford reaching his best form.

Shaw's threat made temporary right-back Le Roux cautious. He kept his distance from Rashford, giving Rashford enough room to attack the out-of-position midfielder.

Rashford was excellent here, repeatedly isolating Le Roux and showing his full threat on the left. Even after Everton moved Mykolenko to that side, Rashford still beat him easily and delivered a superb cutback, which Dalot missed before Matheus Cunha fired over.

With Shaw moving around him, Rashford delivered a dangerous cross in the first half that Branthwaite cleared well. He later ran through Everton's defense and cleverly laid the ball back to Cunha, who should have scored, though Tarkowski's last-second tackle was also excellent.

After his strong display against Ipswich at home last week, this match again showed that Rashford will be an important player after returning to United and remaining at the club.

Can George and Grealish give Everton hope amid their attacking problems?

For Everton supporters hoping this match would bring an end to the exhausting transfer deadline day on Tuesday, this was a positive result.

For the first hour, the team showed plenty of effort and occasional quality, but it still seemed likely to end in a predictable stalemate.

After Beto's departure and Balogun quietly disappearing, Thierno Barry became the team's only experienced striker. He did what Thierno Barry does: worked hard and made several good runs, but with the score still 0-0 near halftime, he headed a golden six-yard-box chance over.

On the right, Brennan Johnson failed to convince when trying to replicate Ndiaye's performances. Johnson moved well but was too gentle in possession; one shot was blocked and went over the bar, while in a better chance later he allowed the ball to run to Lammens with almost no pressure applied.

To be fair, there was a response, even before Maitland-Niles' equalizer. Tyrique George capped an active performance with a fine goal and briefly looked like he would win Everton a point. Then came Jack Grealish, who gave Everton a platform after coming on as a substitute in the second half.

The former England player linked play constantly, combined well with Mykolenko on the left, and raised the overall level of the hosts. He only began his second loan spell at the club earlier this week, but Grealish already has the feel of a key player. If he is not in the starting lineup against Tottenham next week, it would be a major surprise.