Michael Carrick once again fielded a team that was virtually unchanged for Man United's game against Everton. Leny Yoro came into the starting XI to replace the injured Lisandro Martinez, but otherwise Carrick chose to put his faith in the side he was left largely unchanged since he first arrived at Old Trafford.
The game against Everton unravelled fairly similarly to Man United's last game against West Ham, and United fell foul of the same mistakes. They failed to unlock Everton's tight low block, and struggled to match the physicality and organisation of Everton's side.
Just like United's game against West Ham, the game was only unlocked when Carrick made his first subtitution, bringing on striker Benjamin Sesko. Just like the West Ham game, it was Sesko who broke the deadlock and scored the final goal of the game: against West Ham, it won United a point. Against Everton, it won United all three.
Benjamin Sesko is making himself impossible to ignore for Michael Carrick
Sesko's form in front of goal is becoming far too good for ignore. Benjamin Sesko is currently number one in the entire league for non-penalty goals this calendar year, with 6 in his last 7 games. He's done it with only two starts, and a total of 223 minutes on the pitch, averaging to a goal every 45 minutes.
Despite this regular output, Sesko still hasn't been handed a start by new head coach Michael Carrick. It's difficult to criticise Carrick's team selections, considering the club is in such good form, but if one could levy a criticism against him, it's his misuse of Sesko.
United's games against West Ham and Everton were characterised by frustration: United struggled to break down the low blocks they had set up in, and lacked a focal point to draw defenders in and receive the ball in tight spaces. Sesko can be that focal point, and time and time again he is proving it.
Perhaps what is most impressive is Sesko's comfort in coming off the bench. It takes a player of a certain attitude to accept a role off the bench, especially when they find a patch of form as good as Sesko has.
When asked about his relationship with Carrick after the game, Sesko responded: "He believes in me... Whenever the coach decides to put me on, I'm going to be there." With three crucial, points-winning goals now under his belt, surely Carrick is soon going to have no choice but to start him more regularly.