Having emerged victorious from just one of their last five away league outings (D3, L1), United looked determined to start on the front foot in Merseyside.
Carrick’s men went close to breaking the deadlock inside four minutes, as Amad Diallo’s low effort was thwarted by a combination of Jordan Pickford and then James Tarkowski on the goal line.
The visitors remained the more threatening of the two sides as the first half progressed, as Diogo Dalot saw a powerful long-range strike fly narrowly wide of the target.
Grateful to still be on level terms, Everton improved before the break, with their best chance falling to James Garner, whose free-kick was impressively held by Senne Lammens.
After a relatively uneventful opening period, the Toffees could’ve taken the lead within a minute of the restart when Harrison Armstrong’s curled effort from 12 yards was saved by Lammens.
United went close themselves shortly after, but Bryan Mbeumo blazed wastefully over the bar when well-placed in the box.
Having lost five of their previous nine Premier League games on home soil, David Moyes’ side continued to probe in the final third, but their pressure was undone by a brilliant counter-attacking goal from United in the 71st minute.
Cunha started the move for the Red Devils with a raking pass into the path of Mbeumo, and the Cameroonian bided his time to pick out the run of substitute Sesko, who swept a superb first-time finish into the far corner.
Faced with the prospect of another home defeat, Everton rallied in pursuit of a late equaliser, as Michael Keane saw a thunderous effort from range tipped over by Lammens.
The Toffees refused to give up without a fight, though, and Lammens stood firm once again in the visitors’ goal, denying Tyrique George late on.
That ultimately proved to be Everton’s final chance, as United battled through the closing stages to secure a hard-earned three points and move to within three points of Aston Villa in third.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Senne Lammens (Manchester United)
