Everton vs. Manchester United: Score, Grades and Reaction from North-West Derby
James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas scored the goals as Everton defeated visiting Manchester United 3-0 on Sunday and stretched their unbeaten run in the Premier League to six matches.
United dominated possession but generally failed to trouble Everton's defence on the way to their second straight league loss. McCarthy opened the scoring following a fifth-minute counter, before Stones headed in the second 10 minutes before half-time.
Mirallas, having entered as a substitute only five minutes earlier, slotted in the third in the 74th minute as the Toffees recorded their third straight win over the Red Devils at Goodison Park.
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The win—Everton's first this season against a team currently in the top six—sent Roberto Martinez's side up to 10th place with 44 points, ahead of West Ham United on goals difference. Following a poor start to the season, the Toffees have now won five of their last six league games and are now resembling the team that thrilled the Premier League last season in a fifth-place finish.
United, on the other hand, were left disappointed again, losing for the second straight week despite dominating possession in both games. After falling 1-0 at league leaders Chelsea last weekend, Louis van Gaal's side once again struggled in the final third against Everton, with the defeat representing a potentially costly setback in the race for second place.
Of additional concern for Van Gaal was his team's deficiency in defensive midfield. With the influential Michael Carrick missing out through injury, United turned to Daley Blind, who was unable to replicate Carrick's form in front of the back four.
Following the defeat, United head into the final four games of the season in fourth place on 65 points. Manchester City are one point ahead in second, while Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are seven points behind.
Up next, United host West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. Everton play at Aston Villa the same day.
Following the theme of the match closely, United controlled possession in the game's opening minutes but were unable to turn their territorial dominance into chances in the final third. Everton promptly punished their visitors, opening the scoring in the fifth minute following a blistering counter.
After the Toffees cleared a United corner, McCarthy led an attack down the middle of the pitch and laid off for Seamus on the right flank. Regaining possession following a deflection, McCarthy thrust into the box between Paddy McNair and Daley Blind and, maintaining his composure after losing his balance, slotted past the onrushing David De Gea.
Facing an early 1-0 deficit, United nearly hit back through Marouane Fellaini in the seventh minute. But the big Belgian—who was making his return to Goodison Park after joining United from Everton two years ago—curled well over the bar from the edge of the box after stealing the ball from Gareth Barry.
United began to pile on the pressure, once again dominating possession in their opponents' half. Blind side-footed a shot on target in the 16th minute, but Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard saved easily. The American then held Chris Smalling's header four minutes later following a Juan Mata free-kick.
Once again, though, United were unable to turn their dominance into goals, and in the 35th minute, Everton doubled their advantage via a set piece. Leighton Baines whipped in a corner from the right to the near post, where John Stones—who had run across the face of goal—headed back towards the far post. Ashley Young tried to clear, but his defensive header only went as far as the underside of the bar and then into the goal.
With a two-goal deficit at half-time, Van Gaal hauled off Fellaini and introduced Radamel Falcao to United's attack. A chance quickly followed in the 47th minute, when Wayne Rooney turned and shot from close range. Howard saved again, however, coming off his line and spreading his body to block the ball.
United continued to search for a way back into the game, but instead, Everton found a third goal through Mirallas in the 74th minute. Ross Barkley played the role of provider, opening up United's defence with a cushioned pass over the top.
Clearly offside, Romelu Lukaku allowed the ball to run to Mirallas in space, and with only De Gea to beat, Mirallas tucked his shot into the bottom corner at the near post to give Everton a 3-0 lead.
The Belgian nearly had another in the 85th minute, testing De Gea with a rasping drive to the top corner after cutting inside from the right flank. De Gea made a fine save, though, pushing the ball over the bar acrobatically.
Grades
| Tim Howard | 7.5 |
| Seamus Coleman | 7.6 |
| John Stones | 8.7 |
| Phil Jagielka | 7.6 |
| Leighton Baines | 7.8 |
| Gareth Barry | 7.5 |
| Aaron Lennon | 7.3 |
| Ross Barkley | 7.9 |
| James McCarthy | 8.1 |
| Leon Osman | 7.0 |
| Romelu Lukaku | 7.1 |
| Kevin Mirallas (for Osman, 69') | 7.3 |
| Arouna Kone (for Lukaku, 87') | No rating |
| Steven Naismith (for Barkley, 88') | No rating |
| David De Gea | 5.9 |
| Antonio Valencia | 6.7 |
| Chris Smalling | 7.2 |
| Paddy McNair | 6.6 |
| Luke Shaw | 6.6 |
| Daley Blind | 6.3 |
| Juan Mata | 6.5 |
| Ander Herrera | 6.7 |
| Marouane Fellaini | 6.0 |
| Ashley Young | 6.0 |
| Wayne Rooney | 6.4 |
| Radamel Falcao (for Fellaini, 46') | 5.9 |
| Angel Di Maria (for Mata, 63') | 6.2 |
| Robin van Persie (for Rooney, 88') | No rating |
Reaction
Everton manager Roberto Martinez, via BBC Sport:
"Manchester United are very good in how they work, their positional play and their work-rate. We were happy to let them have it in certain areas, but we showed a lot of dynamism and were clinical to change defence to attack.
I think that the likes of Aaron Lennon, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku carried so much threat. I thought we were well worth a three-goal lead and that speaks volumes. To keep the concentration for 90 minutes and keep a clean sheet was magnificent. It showed an incredible mentality and that is something that we have learned in a hard season.
It has been a big demand to be in Europe and the domestic competitions and I think that there has been a mental fatigue from that. But I think that is a display that (former Everton chairman) Sir Philip Carter will have enjoyed looking down on.
"
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, via BBC Sport:
"We have always had more fighting spirit on the pitch and I think that this is the first match that the other team have shown more of that than us. We created five chances in the first half - Marouane Fellaini had to score—that is more than Everton. In the second half they scored on the counter and we had to play against a defensive side.
This was the first match when I saw a team that was more motivated and aggressive than us. It is not good, but we are human beings. We have to see that our opponents will defend more and cope with that as a club. Everton deserved to win—when the result is fair, you can live with it.
"
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