Substitute Sesko seals win for Man Utd at Everton

LIVERPOOL, Feb 23 : Manchester United's Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to score a vital goal for the second game in a row as he fired the winner in a 1-0 Premier League win at Everton on Monday.

Sesko sealed an uninspiring clash at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in the 71st minute as he swept in a clinical first-time shot from Bryan Mbeumo's pass after a flowing counter-attack started by Matheus Cunha's sublime pass.

Victory sent Michael Carrick's United clear in fourth place in the table, three points ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool.

Sesko's goal was a rare moment of quality in a scrappy match in which United almost took the lead in the opening minutes when James Tarkowski cleared an Amad Diallo effort off the line.

United keeper Senne Lammens was called into action to deny teenager Harrison Armstrong before keeping out Michael Keane's thunderous long-range effort as Everton tried to reply.

This was not a polished display by United, but it continued caretaker coach Carrick's impressive impact since taking charge. He has now won five and drawn one of his six games.

"It was really important for us to win this game. It was really difficult," Sesko, who also scored a late equaliser against West Ham United 13 days ago, said. "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 have 48 points from 27 games, with Chelsea and Liverpool on 45.

Everton huffed and puffed but struggled to gain any real momentum until the latter stages and are now without a win in their last seven home games in all competitions and stay in 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