Everton vs Manchester United: as it happened

WRAP

After what Louis van Gaal classed as United's best performance of the season last time out against Chelsea, their display today was one of 'where did that come from'. United were devoid of ideas going foward, and ropey at the back. Despite a lively start from the visitors and, even after Everton took an early lead, they had the lion's share of possession but couldn't do a thing with it. Fellaini had a frustrating day on his first return to Goodison and was replaced by the ineffective Falcao who at least notched an effort on target. United looked to be suffering something of a hangover from that Chelsea game, especially in the second half when they gifted sub Mirallas the third when the defence stood still waiting for an offisde flag that never came. Thanks for joining us today. Please join my colleague Alan Tyers for the tasty fixture across London in Arsenal vs Chelsea.

15.50

Can't believe it Everton fans? Well have a read of Mark Ogden's match report and believe it.

15.33

What did we learn from United's hefty defeat? Well firstly that rumours of Fellaini’s improvement may have been greatly exaggerated. Here are four other things...

15.29

Two of today's goalscorers have their say on a fantastic win.

James McCarthy: "We had them on the break a couple of times but were magnificent all over the pitch. Now we're going to push on and final the season on a high.

John Stones, who chipped in with his first goal for Everton, says: It's a big day for us, and keeps us on a roll. It's the big games and players you enjoy going up against. We've been under par this season but have shown in last 10-15 games that we're coming back to ourselves.

15.21

Everton move into the top half for the first time since Christmas with their biggest win over United in 23 years. United stay fourth and seven-points clear of Liverpool although Brendan Rodgers' side have a game in hand.

90+3 mins

Falcao comes deep trying to engineer something, anything. The ball gets worked around and Valencia sprays it deep into the box, but it's too close to Howard, and Falcao can't test the Everton keeper. It's the last little attack they can muster as the final whistle blows. Everton are now unbeaten in six.

90 mins

Patient build up play from United again, but no end product as Everton clear their lines but needlessly hand the ball back to the visitors. Three minutes of stoppage time. The final whistle can't come soon enough for Van Gaal's side.

86 mins

Everton make a double substitution with Naismith and Kone coming on for Lukaku and Barkley. Rooney, who picked up a slight knock to his knee, is replaced by Van Persie for United. A day to forget for the two former Evertonians.

85 mins

Mirallas picks up a loose ball from De Gea's clearance under pressure. He puts on his sprinting boots to work some space and fires a fizzing shot which moves in the air and De Gea tips over the bar. Falco gets the resulting corner kick away.

81 mins

Finally Falcao has the ball IN THE BACK OF THE NET. But the flag is up and it won't count. The home fans - and most of the away fans - found the funny side.

78 mins

Shaw gets a lucky break when the ball bobbles off Coleman's back and into his path. Young collects and dinks one into the centre, but it's all too predictable.

74 mins

Play to the whistle. Play to the whistle. That's what youngsters are always told. The United defence don't practice what they have been preached as Everton breach their backline again. Lukaku was in an offside position when the ball was played forward by McCarthy, but Mirallas wasn't. The sub takes the ball on and slots past De Gea for an easy third.

GOAL!! Everton 3 (Mirallas) Manchester United 0

72 mins

Everton are getting pinned back now but United don't appear to be brimming full of ideas. Coleman dances his way past Herrara and finds himself in space, but his final ball is poor. Mirallas hopes for more joy down the left, Baines whips in a centre but again they have few bodies in the box.

70 mins

Falcao gets on the end of a long lifted Di Maria loop into the box. He's got his back to goal but he manages to flick it on target, but Howard easily scoops up.

68 mins

Di Maria sprays the ball out to Shaw. Young collects and plays in Rooney who brings Valencia in front the right. His cross is met by Young at the back post. He knocks it down, but it's behind Falcao. Everton make their first change of the afternoon as Mirallas comes on for Osman.

65 mins

A great spell of play for Everton now as Osman takes advantage of a McNair slip up. He plays in McCarthy who drills in a low ball to the near post but it's cut out for a corner.

64 mins

Barkley drives forward and goes alone again. United haven't been able to get close to him today. With no team-mate in close quarters he goes for goal, but he's surrounded by four red shirts and he can't get a shot away.

63 mins

Di Maria replaces Mata. United's second sub of the day.

62 mins

Mata slows up the pace as he tries to find a way through Everton's backline. He plays a one-two with Herrara and then darts into the box, but Jagielka cuts out the pass. Another cross from Valenica moments later is whipped clear by Jagielka. The two centre-halves have been solid for the hosts. Di Maria is all set to come on.

60 mins

United have offered little in the way of going forward today. Falcao has barely had a touch of the ball since replacing Fellaini. The story of his season.

57 mins

Great running from Barkley as he holds off Rooney, gives the England captain the run-around and then sprints into the United half. The move eventually breaks down, but there's applause ringing round Goodison for his endeavour.

56 mins

Lukaku has an injection of pace to move past Smalling and into the box. He fizzes an effort back across goal, but there's no one in there to get on the end of it. United caught napping there from a quickly-taken throw in.

54 mins

Young plays a clever reverse ball to Shaw which sets the young defender off to the byline. Shaw pulls it back to Mata but McCarthy closes down quickly and the Spaniard's effort spins away.

51 mins

United are passing it around well today, but as yet haven't been able to get behind Everton's resolute defence. Mata finds himself in space on the edge of the area, but he wastes an opening by sending his shot high and wide.

48 mins

Barkley and Shaw go in for a 50/50 challenge. The United defender beats the Everton midfielder but Barkley's hand catches Shaw as they both tumble to the floor and the physio is called upon.

46 mins

Rooney has dropped a little deeper as a result of that change. He makes an immediate impact as he wins a corner from the re-start. The England man is in the thick of things from the resulting free-kick. He's in space, he swivels and shoots but Howard is on him at a flash to save with his feet.

45 mins

Change for United at half-time as Falcao replaces Fellaini who picked up booking during a frustraing first 45.

Ross Barkley has been pulling the strings for the hosts. He's completed 21/24 passes (88 per cent).

45+1 mins

Mata tries to launch one final attack before the half-time whistle but the ref blows and despite their increased possession (over 60 per cent) they're 2-0 down.

45 mins

Lukaku flicks on a long ball and Barkley gets motoring. He tries to curl one into the far corner, but he lifts it too high.

43 mins

Blind collects in the centre circle has plenty of time to work an attck. Herrera feeds Mata and it gets worked to Shaw before it goes out for another corner. The ball is swung in to Fellaini again, but the big man is penalised again. It's been a frustrating first-half for the Belgian.

41 mins

Nice control from Valencia as he backheels the ball away from Baines, but his long-ball forward is rather hopeful and doesn't pick anyone out. Everton are back on the attack in a flash through Barkley. He lays it off to Osman who easily fools Mata. The ball is finally played long to Lukaku and McNair has to clear the danger despite wanting De Gea to come and collect. Good pressing from Everton.

38 mins

Goodison crowd seem a little stunned to be leading 2-0 as they start to find their voices. The camera pans to Roy Keane in the crowd who appears to be enjoying his afternoon despite the scoreline which doesn't reflect well on his own team. Everton have had three less attempts than United overall (5) but have had four on target.

35 mins

Baines whips in a decent flag kick which Fellaini heads out for a second successive corner. A second inswinger is cleared this time by Rooney. Third time lucky, perhaps? Yes it is. Stones connects this time and it flies in off the underside of the bar, Young on the line can't jump high enough to clear.

GOAL

!!

Everton 2 (Stones) Manchester United 0

Stones got clear of his marker Fellaini to thunder home a header. It was poor defensive from United. But Everton don't care.

33 mins

Barry wrestles the ball away from Rooney's grasp this time as Everton struggle to hold on to the ball. Lennon frees Coleman down the right with a great swivel and pass but his centre is cut out by Smalling.

31 mins

Lennon tries to give Everton some respite as he picks up a loose ball and tries to pass to Barkley. United win posession back but a ball into Mata is too fast and the Spaniard watches it run on to Howard.

29 mins

Everton scramble the ball clear as United press again. Rooney sees a half-chance blocked before the ball breaks for Young just outside the area but he leans back as he shoots and it soars over the bar.

27 mins

Baines shakes off Mata as he surges infield and lays the ball off to Osman. The ball is temporarily cleared before it's fed back to Lukaku. He takes the ball on and curls an effort which De Gea easily gets his body behind.

24 mins

Everton have slowed the temp up. They manage to hold on to the ball for a good minute but then give it away cheaply. United come at them again and in a flash and win another corner when Barry heads clear under a challenge from Rooney.

22 mins

Rooney and Herrera have a one-two which takes the latter into the box. It comes back at him a little quicker than he'd hoped and he can't quite dig the ball out from under his feet.

20 mins

A header on target from Smalling, but it's another easy one for Howard to gather from Mata's free-kick delivery. It's a lively opening from both teams.

18 mins

United set up their own counter attack from an Everton corner but it's broken down and United patiently play the ball around their back line trying to work the spaces. Shaw is set free and cuts inside into the box, but the ball runs out of his reach and Howard is on hand to mop up the danger. The big keeper may have picked up knock though.

15 mins

Fellaini and Barry tussle again, but this time the Belgian wins the duel and exchanges passes with Young. The ball is worked to Blind who has a go from 18 yards but it's easy for Howard.

13 mins

Lukaku's low shot manages to strike Osman on the edge of the area, he tries to turn and shoot, but the ball is cleared and now United go back on the attack through Shaw and win another corner. We know what happened from their first one.

12 mins

Fellaini is given a talking too for a wild swipe out at McCarthy. The Belgian has a second nibble at Barkley just 30 seconds later and he's the first man in the book. Everton have a decent chance here from 30 yards. Lukaku fancies it.

11 mins

United haven't been thrown by that early Everton goal, but they're still throwing men forward at will and opening themselves up at the back. Coleman swings in another centre which Lukaku does his best to connect too, but the ball is cleared.

9 mins

Herrera finds Blind in space on the edge of the area, he lays the ball off to Rooney who plays in Mata down the right, but the flag goes up.

7 mins

So close! Fellaini has a great chance to equalise nearly straight away. He pursues Barry and easily muscles the ball off him. He's through, but blazes his effort over the bar.

4 mins

Everton break quickly as United's corner breaks down. They get a lucky break as the ball bobbles into McCarthy's path.

GOAL!! Everton 1 (McCarthy) Manchester United 0

United had committed men forward there and are punished as McCarthy manages to keep his head and untangles his feet from Coleman's pass to slot the ball past De Gea. It's Everton's first shot on target.

3 mins

Shaw is clattered to the floor to win a free-kick as United dominate possession early doors. Valencia is freed down the right-hand side and Baines is forced to put the ball out for a first corner.

1 min

Fellaini is beaten to the ball by Jagielka in their first aerial duel, the ball breaks back to the former Everton man again but his right-foot shot is blocked.

13.30

And we're under way at Goodison in glorious sunshine...

13.25

The teams are out - including United's star-studded subs bench featuring Valdes, Januzaj, Di Maria, Van Persie and Falcao. We'll have a minute's silence before kick-off in tribute to Sir Phillip Carter and to remember those who lost their lives in the Bradford City fire 30 years ago.

13.22

Van Gaal finally comes round to what everyone has been thinking over the last month or so...

13.18

What impact will Marouane Fellaini have in his first return to Goodison Park? The Belgian has scored five times this season after not managing a single goal in his debut campaign.

His most memorable effort was the header that put United 2-1 up against Manchester City, and Fellaini has also been a lot more accurate with his shooting this season compared to last (57 per cent are going on target, compared with 44 per cent in 2013/14).

He's made himself undroppable this season under Van Gaal but one thought, will he be celebrating if he scores today?

13.01

Plenty of goals historically in this fixrture. This 4-3 from 2004 was a particularly fine edition:

12.52

Everton will be paying tribute to their life president Sir Phillip Carter today, who passed away earlier this week.

12.31

The teams are with us:

Everton: Howard, Baines, Stones, Jagielka (c), Coleman, Barry, McCarthy, Osman, Barkley, Lennon, Lukaku
Subs: Joel, Kone, Mirallas, Naismith, Besic, Garbutt, Alcaraz

Man Utd: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, McNair, Shaw, Blind, Herrera, Mata, Fellaini, Young, Rooney
Subs: Valdes, Blackett, Januzaj, Pereira, Di Maria, Van Persie, Falcao.

11.15

A relatively super Premier League Sunday kicks off at Goodison Park at 13.30 this afternoon. Vicki Hodges will be here from about 12.30 to guide you through all the pre-match excitement. In the meantime, here's Louis Van Gaal promising big things for United next year. This from our own Jason Burt:

Louis van Gaal has pledged to win the Premier League title during the three years of his current deal as Manchester United manager.

“I have a period of three years and I am sure I will win a championship or a title within the three years,” Van Gaal said ahead of the league meeting at Everton on Sunday. “Maybe we can do that next year.”

• Everton vs Manchester United: match preview

The United hierarchy had privately expected a title challenge this season, setting him Champions League qualification as a minimum target, and will hope that Van Gaal – who is planning to reshape his team this summer with up to five new signings – can mount a more sustained threat during the next campaign.

^{Mats Hummels has been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford}

Van Gaal conceded it has taken him longer than he expected to make United competitive again. “The process hasn’t worked that quickly here because, when I was with other teams, I had already won titles by now. Normally, our philosophy shall win titles. But we have had to make big changes here, not just in the philosophy but in the accommodation and structure of the club.”

• Depay agent drops United hint on Twitter

Van Gaal will again be backed this summer in the transfer market as he plans moves for a central midfielder (a “number six”), a right-back, central defender, right-sided midfielder/ winger and a striker – although United insist no final decision has been made as to whether or not Radamel Falcao will be signed permanently.

However, a £43 million deal seems unlikely for the Colombian striker with Van Gaal also dismissive of Javier Hernandez’s prospects of returning to United after his season-long loan at Real Madrid ends.