Loss to Everton left Louis van Gaal’s side fourth in the table
Everton's James McCarthy, left, celebrates after scoring during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park (Photo: AP)
London: Everton made a mockery of the Premier League table as they beat Manchester United 3-0 in fine style at Goodison Park on Sunday — their third straight home win over the Red Devils in as many seasons. Had United won on Merseyside, they would have climbed into second place. But this defeat, their seventh league reverse of the season, left Louis van Gaal’s side fourth in the table with four matches to play as goals from James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas saw Everton rise into 10th place.
Only the top three teams in the Premier League at the end of the season gain direct entry into the first round of the Champions League, with the side finishing fourth facing the unwanted prospect of a qualifying round. It took Everton, who kicked-off 24 points behind United, just five minutes to open the scoring in front of their own fans as McCarthy surged between flimsy challenges from Paddy McNair and Daley Blind before his low shot beat United goalkeeper David de Gea.
Everton doubled their lead 10 minutes before half-time when Stones powered in a header from a corner that beat both de Gea and Ashley Young, stationed on the line.The second half saw Belgium international Mirallas secure a fifth win in six league games for Roberto Martinez’s Everton side.But there was a touch of controversy regarding his 74th minute goal. Ross Barkley’s ball forward appeared to be aimed at the offside Romelu Lukaku.
But Lukaku opted out of receiving the ball and, with United waiting for a flag that never came, the onside Mirallas raced beyond Lukaku and swept the ball in, with referee Andre Marriner letting the goal stand.
Fernandinho strike sends Man City second
On Saturday, Fernandinho volleyed in a dramatic 89th-minute winner as Manchester City edged FA Cup finalists Aston Villa 3-2 to reclaim second place. A calamitous miskick by Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan allowed Sergio Aguero to put City ahead in the third minute and Aleksandar Kolarov extended the hosts’ lead with a 66th-minute free-kick.
Villa hit back through Tom Cleverley and Carlos Sanchez, only for Fernandinho to claim victory with a back-post finish from Kolarov’s left-wing corner.
( Source : AFP )
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