Manchester United crash to 3-0 loss against Everton
Everton moved into the top 10 of the Premier League on Sunday, partly redeeming a hugely disappointing season for its supporters with an impressive 3-0 win over Manchester United.
James McCarthy scored the opener with only five minutes gone at Goodison Park, John Stones doubled the lead in the 35th and Kevin Mirallas added a third in the 74th for Roberto Martinez’s side.
United stayed fourth, seven points clear of Liverpool in the fight for a Champions League spot.
David Moyes, in his final match as United manager in this fixture last season, accused his players of “rank and rotten” defending — and it was the same scenario this time around.
McCarthy bundled his way past the woeful Paddy McNair and Daley Blind to put the Toffees ahead and Stones easily glanced in a header before the break.
And the United back four stood like statues waiting for an offside flag that never came in the second half as Mirallas finished to seal the rout for Everton, which is now unbeaten in six matches.
”Obviously it’s been a frustrating campaign but we’ve put a few wins on the bounce now and we want to kick on and finish the season on a high, but we don’t want to get carried away,” McCarthy told Sky Sports. “We need to take a game at a time and try and go unbeaten until the end of the season.”
After enjoying a run of six wins, Van Gaal has now seen his team lose two successive matches for the first time since he took over.
This was United’s fifth loss away from home.
Van Gaal will also be concerned to see Wayne Rooney hobbling off at the end of the match.
United seemed certain of a top-four finish two weeks ago but Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool team has a game in hand.
