Credit: The Overlap

Dan Godfrey

Thu 27 February 2025 17:40, UK

Roy Keane and Ian Wright were involved in a heated exchange that largely centred around the recent Everton versus Manchester United match.

Everton took a two-goal lead against Man United on Saturday (22 February) but were pegged back in the second half by goals from Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte

United then staggered to a 3-2 Old Trafford win over Ipswich Town, while the Toffees clawed back an away draw against Brentford (26 February) as Jake O’Brien scored his first goal in blue.

Everton v Manchester United fallout provokes Keane and Wright

Keane and Wright debated Manchester United on the latest episode of The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, and specifically whether Fernandes is captain material for the Red Devils.

Former United skipper Keane argued while the Portuguese is a top-drawer footballer, he is not an adequate leader and should not be given all the credit for digging Ruben Amorim’s men back out of a hole against Everton at Goodison Park last weekend.

Wright disagreed, prompting a fiery debate which lasted over four minutes at the studio table.

“I watched [Man United] at Everton on Saturday,” Keane said. “People pretending to close players down. They’re 15th in the league and he’s saving them?! Bruno’s a talented player, but talent’s not enough.

“What’s he saving – 2-2 at Everton. What’s he saving?! They drew at Everton and celebrated like they won the cup, it’s [expletive] bizarre.

Wright responded: “Don’t blame Bruno. If Bruno’s not there, Man United are in the relegation places. I’m not having Bruno getting dug out.”

Keane went on: “Wrighty… I’ve had enough of that rubbish, man. Sit and watch a game.”

The two results saw United leapfrog the Toffees in the Premier League table, now sitting on 33 points to the 32 of David Moyes’ men – but the expectations could not have been more different heading into the start of the campaign.

Moyes and his side seven unbeaten in Premier League

Everton are now seven unbeaten and are playing full of confidence; on another day, they would have swept Brentford aside with the chances that were passed up.

This is a Brentford team superb at home, as well, and very well organised under Thomas Frank. The Toffees would absolutely have lost that fixture a couple of months ago, and likewise the lively Goodison affair against Man United.

United leader Fernandes would have been lauded a hero had his side come back to win the game; he would have been painted a villain alongside his teammates had Ashley Young’s penalty claim been successful and the ball had then been planted into the net for Everton to win 3-2.

The fine margins of football mean everything, and the Toffees keep chipping away, being bold in their play and finally creating opportunities on a regular basis.

Players like O’Brien, like Beto – who could have had a hat-trick in midweek – and like Carlos Alcaraz are playing with a new lease of life, on a blank canvas knowing their manager rates and backs them.