As Michael Carrick knows from first-hand experience, Manchester United are no strangers to early-season defensive mishaps away at Everton. Fourteen years before Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ 96th-minute equaliser at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Rio Ferdinand joined a list of injured centre-backs, midfielder Carrick had to fill in and was bullied by his future teammate Marouane Fellaini, who scored a winner for David Moyes’ Everton.
As Carrick and Moyes, United and Everton renewed acquaintances in Sunday's 2-2 draw, there was a different kind of continuity. United maintained their record of conceding two goals in every game this season. It would scarcely be ideal whatever the fixture list but they have played Hull and Ipswich, each in the Championship last year, and Everton, who only outscored five teams in the Premier League then. In the equivalent fixtures last season – substituting in the sides promoted in second and via the play-offs – United only conceded twice in total.
