Maitland-Niles’s last-gasp debut goal salvages Everton’s miserable week — At the final whistle, the first song the stadium DJ played was Spirit of the Blues and how those relieved Evertonians lapped it up after a week of angst.  
Their team had been on the precipice of a defeat that would have exacerbated all the frustrations that bubbled away following the chaotic conclusion to the transfer window. Indeed, it was 10 seconds over the allotted five minutes of added time when the ball fell to Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
It had been three years since the former Arsenal full-back had played in the Premier League – his last goal in England was on October 30, 2019, in an EFL Cup tie with Liverpool at Anfield that ended 5-5 – and he would not have joined Everton if their attempt to sign Kenny Tete from Fulham had not failed.
But here he was 30 yards from goal, with no need to break his stride as Manchester United's backtracking defenders presented him with an invitation to shoot. So that's what he did. With one perfectly timed swish of his right foot, an unlikely hero transformed the mood of a club.
"Brilliant technique," said David Moyes, Everton's manager, who had only introduced Maitland-Niles in the 77th minute after James Garner had succumbed to cramp and could run no more. "We are still getting to know Ainsley but that was a brilliant goal."
Only those with the coldest hearts would begrudge Everton this point, which was especially hard-earned given they had conceded an 88th-minute header to Benjamin Šeško. But there is no chance a disbelieving Michael Carrick will feel that way.
United should, really, have won this game comfortably. Everton were there to be exploited and when Bryan Mbuemo put them ahead early in the second half, they should have powered away into the distance. Everton's effort was good but they were in danger of losing hope.
Yet, incredibly, United gave Everton two helping hands. They had not been in a position to assist last Tuesday evening, when phone calls from Merseyside to Old Trafford to take Joshua Zirkzee on loan were met with rejection. But the second half display more than made up for that.
"We're bitterly disappointed," said Carrick, who was one step removed from having steam puffing from his ears. "All the work that went into putting us in that position at different stages to then come away like that… it's not a great feeling. It feels like a defeat. It's a bit of a cliché to say."
Michael Carrick said the draw 'felt like a defeat' – Peter Byrne/PA
But clichés are true. First United were passive when Tyrique George crashed in a brilliant right-footed drive in the 83rd minute and then, after Šeško profited from Jordan Pickford's weak hands, they were passive again in allowing Everton to build the move that ended up with Maitland-Niles's howitzer.
How had it come to this? It was beautiful bedlam, the kind of joy that only football delivers, but for long periods it felt like it was an opportunity for United. There was anticipation that Everton's fans would create a furnace but there was also the fear it would be dispiritingly quiet.
Had this fixture been at Goodison Park, with its steep stands, tight confines and acoustics that split your ears, United would have been aware of the siege mentality as soon as their bus rolled up outside the stadium but their new sparkling home is rather more hospitable.
This is no criticism of the home crowd – it is anything but. Why should it always fall to them to bail out the failings of those in charge when those in charge, specifically the executives and recruitment department, have given them scant reason to have hope?
Everton players and fans have had little to cheer recently, not least a poor transfer window which has begged questions over the direction of the club – Michael Regan/Getty Images