An own goal from Jaap Stam four minutes from time secured a point for Everton in a highly competitive encounter at Goodison Park.

BBC Radio's John Murray: "Advantage first day winners Arsenal and Chelsea"

Dwight Yorke had given Manchester United the perfect start when he ran through to score after only seven minutes.

But late Everton pressure finally forced Stam to head past his helpless keeper Mark Bosnich. The big Dutchman looked stunned as the Everton fans roared their appreciation.

It was a deserved reward for the blue half of Merseyside after their side refused to let their heads drop.

United began strongly with Paul Scholes and Roy Keane dominating midfield.

Scholes was unlucky not to find an immediate opener with an attempted volley from outside the box, but a marvellous save kept from Paul Gerrard him out.

Mark Bosnich: Early nerves for the united goalkeeper

Minutes later came another chance, however, and Yorke wasted no time to secure United's first Premiership goal this season.

The striker beat the off-side trap, sprinted onto Andy Cole's pass and beat Gerrard, even though the keeper got a hand to it.

It was a perfect start for the treble-winners, whose pace on the flanks caused numerous problems for the home side.

But Everton were clearly not willing to accept defeat with Don Hutchison denied by the woodwork on the half-hour after a pinpoint cross to the back post from David Weir.

It marked the beginning of a good period for Everton who started to dominate possession.

Keane was then booked for a late challenge on Hutchison, which caused a temporary fracas with almost every player involved.

Referee Dermot Gallagher broke it up, however, and play quickly resumed.

United had enjoyed the better of the first half, the only worry for Sir Alex Ferguson being a nervous-looking Bosnich, whose distribution on the ground looked suspect.

Yorke could have added his second just before the break after a raking 45-yard pass from David Beckham which split the Everton defence, but Gerrard got down quickly.

Desperate defending

Minutes after the break, Everton wasted a perfect opportunity to get back on level terms.

A Nick Barmby drive was parried by Bosnich, but Everton were unable to find the net, with a host of United players throwing themselves in front of the ball.

It was a let-off for the European champions, but the home side failed to give up, peppering United's penalty area with crosses.

On a United break, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tried to curl the ball past Gerrard from the right but it faded past the post.

Seconds later he put a second chance wide after Keane forced a low ball into the area.

Everton manager Walter Smith then made his first substitution - replacing Mitch Ward with Danny Cadamarteri, before Solskjaer missed a third opportunity having been fed by Yorke inside the box and was replaced by Nicky Butt with 14 minutes left.

Teams:

Everton: Gerrard, Ward, Watson, Gough, Weir, Barmby, Gemmill, Collins, Unsworth, Hutchison, Campbell. Subs: Ball, Pembridge, Cadamarteri, Phelan, Simonsen.

Man Utd: Bosnich, Neville, Berg, Stam, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Cole, Yorke, Solskjaer. Subs: Van Der Gouw, Sheringham, Butt, Curtis, Cruyff.