Ole Gunnar Solskjær speaks. “All I can do is apologise to the fans. That was not good enough.” Anyway, time to let the Manchester United inquest begin. Thanks for your company, emails and tweets. Luckily, there is plenty more live action to get stuck into:
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Read Andy Hunter’s report from Goodison Park:
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Anyone for some distance-covered stats? Manchester United ran 8.03km less than Everton; the biggest negative difference for United in a Premier League game since defeat to Spurs in August 10.2km less). They have ran less than their opponents in 15 out of 17 games under Solskjaer, and it has not always been doom and gloom. They have, however, lost six of their past eight games.
Some lukewarm Everton reaction, courtesy of Theo Walcott, who completed the 4-0 rout at Goodison. “We all work really hard together and it shows – the most important thing is the fans, they enjoyed the weather and we enjoyed the day,” he says. “I’ve found it difficult of late but the team have been playing well, all you have got to do is get your head down, train hard and it shows I am ready when called upon.” Patiently waiting with his hand raised is Henry Carter. “Does this mean Everton are better than Barça!!??”
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It is going to be a very expensive summer at Old Trafford. Or it should be, at least. Gary Neville, for one, is absolutely seething. “I am furious,” he says. “There is some Japanese knotweed at that football club and it’s attacking the foundations of the house and it needs dealing with properly. That performance today was rancid.”
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A gentle reminder that Manchester United have conceded 48 Premier League goals in 2018-19, their highest ever tally in a single season in the competition and their most in a top-flight league campaign since 1978-79 (63). Ole Gunnar Solskjær looked close to tears as he went over to the United supporters at the final whistle, apologising for his side’s performance. That was nothing short of an embarrassing, listless display.
Full-time: Everton 4-0 Manchester United
Where do Manchester United go from here? Outclassed, outworked and outfought. Everton scored four excellent goals and dominated from start-to-finish but, boy, were United bad; they looked frightened, flimsy in defence, crumbling time and again and mustered a single shot on target. They have now lost six of their past eight games and lose five on the trot away from home for the first time since 1981. A chastening defeat, arguably the worst of the post-Ferguson era. Credit to Everton, who blew them away but ultimately breezed to victory. United made it so, so easy.
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90 min: There will be four added minutes. Four more minutes of misery for Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjær and co.
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89 min: Another decent delivery by Dalot into the box, but Jagielka gets up to head away. Goes without saying that it is too little too late but Dalot has found some joy down the left, making in-roads since Everton were forced into that defensive reshuffle following an injury to Digne.
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88 min: Everton seem happy to call it quits at 4-0.
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85 min: “We want five!” emails Robert Greenland. If anything, United may just pull one back. Jordan Pickford is perhaps a little lucky to get away with barging Scott McTominay out of the way inside the box, before carrying on outside the 18-yard area. The England goalkeeper ended up closer to the corner flag than his goal-line. It all stemmed from a decent cross into the box, by Diogo Dalot with the outside of his boot, was cleared by Coleman.
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83 min: Just when United thought it couldn’t get any worse: here comes Phil Jagielka, in place of the injured Lucas Digne. Ademola Lookman was primed to come on but Jagielka ends up getting the nod. Digne has been fantastic and that strike for Everton’s third majestic, a goal that will live long in the memory.
81 min: Coleman saunters into the box ahead of Dalot and lets fly! It has plenty of power but it’s straight at David de Gea, who gathers.
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80 min: Does this shambles actually put Ole Gunnar Solskjær at risk of the sack? They are heading for a sixth defeat in eight matches, five of which have been away from Old Trafford. United have been dire, arguably the poorest performance since Sir Alex Ferguson walked away. How United must pine for those glory days.
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79 min: Rob Moore, on email, says: “Stuck between a rock and a hard place as a Liverpool fan, but this shambles from United has me nervous for Wednesday and arguably our best chance of City dropping points. Hopefully Ole gets the hårføner out.” And, more from our resident Norwegian specialist. “Looks like you might need this phrase too,” starts Phil Grey via email. “To throw in the towel in Norwegian is: å kaste inn håndkleet.” Smooth.
76 min: Andreas Pereira replaces Marcus Rashford, United’s final change.
75 min: James McCarthy replaces Idrissa Gueye, who has been quietly magnificent in the Everton midfield.
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72 min: Who on earth is at the wheel? Ole Gunnar Solskjær will not want to put his name to this listless, lethargic and lost display. This is as bad as any performance under Mourinho. Everton, meanwhile, are enjoying themselves. A different kind of “Ole!” rings out round Goodison. United have been well and truly battered. They look bruised, and beaten.
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69 min: Anthony Martial shoots wide! Paul Pogba plays Martial into a gaping hole in the Everton defence and the forward really should hit the target. Everton made life difficult, throwing themselves at his effort, but Martial drags wide. Jordan Pickford is still to make a meaningful save.
67 min: McTominay is booked as Everton win another free-kick on halfway. At least it looks as though he cares. Is that a thing?
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66 min: José Mourinho has presumably just cracked open another bottle of red. Manchester United have been all over the shop.
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GOAL! Everton 4-0 Manchester United (Walcott, 64)
It’s FOUR! More excruciating defending – Dalot gets painfully sucked in to leave United at sea – allows Gylfi Sigurdsson to slip through Walcott, who side-foots the ball beyond an exposed De Gea. Humiliating for Manchester United but no less than Everton deserve. Goodison Park is absolutely rocking.
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58 min: De Gea boots away Sigurdsson’s corner! It was curling in, too. A devious corner was whipped goalwards by the Everton midfielder and almost caught United cold. Everton very nearly found a fourth goal! Everybody was expecting Sigurdsson to flight a ball towards the penalty spot but a quick-thinking Sigurdsson bent the ball in towards the near post, and it almost crept in, only for De Gea to hoof the ball off the line with his right foot.
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57 min: And now Smalling slips as Calvert-Lewin charges towards the box, with Ashley Young going to ground to hook the ball away for another Everton corner. United are being given a real runaround. They are at sixes and sevens defensively, and they’ve not been much better in attack.
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GOAL! Everton 3-0 Manchester United (Digne, 56)
Crikey, what a hit by Lucas Digne! Another stunning goal by Everton, with the full-back thrashing a swerving volley home, beyond David de Gea, who barely moved. Sigurdsson’s corner was punched clear by the Manchester United goalkeeper but it landed at the feet of Digne, who allowed the ball to bounce one before winding up a left-footed piledriver. The result of that is devastating for United, joy for Everton.
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54 min: Sigurdsson torments Matic on the edge of the box, twisting and turning before having a pop with his left foot. Again, he caught it sweetly but this time United get a block in. Everton win another corner.
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51 min: First things first: a hair dryer in Norwegian update. “Ooo, I know that one,” pipes up Phil Grey on email, as have others. “Hårføner.” Back to the football, Matic and Martial momentarily combine but Pogba cannot keep pace in the box.
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50 min: Walcott replaces Richarlison.
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48 min: Richarlison, who had a problem at the tail end of the first half, is grounded by what appears to be the same issue. Theo Walcott is being readied down on the Everton bench. In that first half, Anthony Martial had a meagre 11 touches, the same number as Jordan Pickford. Michael Keane, for context, had 18, Romelu Lukaku just 19 and Marcus Rashford 20.
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47 min: Smalling heads clear a routine cross in from the left by Digne after Bernard made ground. One final half-time email, courtesy of Hubert O’Hearn. “So, what is the Norwegian word for ‘hair dryer’?” Anyone?
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46 min: We’re back under way at Goodison Park, with two new faces on the pitch. A double change for Manchester United: Fred is replaced by Scott McTominay, while Ashley Young takes the armband, on in place of Phil Jones. United have not lost five consecutive away games since ... 1981. But they are danger of equalling that record this afternoon.
Things can only get better for Manchester United, right? They surely cannot play much worse. The second half is imminent.
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That was desperate from United. Now, to some emails. “Phelan, Carrick and Solskjær on at half-time?” asks Richard Fielden-Watkinson. Matt Dony adds: “Here’s hoping that United are getting all of the absolute-rubbishness out of their system before Wednesday. I’m not holding my breath, though ...” And, via Twitter, @rooronnie7, rather aptly, says: “Looks like the wheels are coming off seeing the 1st half performance from UTD.”
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Half-time: Everton 2-0 Manchester United
One particular statistic speaks volumes of a miserable Manchester United campaign: they have now conceded 46 goals this season – the most they’ve ever conceded in a Premier League campaign. They trail by two goals, two beauties. First, an overhead-kick by Richarlison after a long-throw by the again impressive Lucas Digne, while Gylfi Sigurdsson found the bottom corner with a stinging strike from 25 yards. Everton, it must be said, have been excellent but United have been dreadful. Really, really bad.
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45+1 min: Richarlison takes a blow to the ribs after colliding with Dalot. He is seemingly winded and will require some treatment. On the touchline, Marco Silva looks very pleased with himself, and no doubt his team.
45 min: There will be two added minutes.
44 min: United clear Sigurdsson’s free-kick before Coleman, the last man, recycles possession, swivelling away from the onrushing Rashford. Everton have barely put a foot wrong.
43 min: And now Dalot is late on Richarlison. Everton have a golden opportunity to swing another ball into the box.
40 min: A hospital pass by De Gea to Dalot plays the defender into trouble and United are extremely fortunate to escape danger, as the ball ends up back in the Manchester United goalkeeper’s hands. Richarlison tried to rob Dalot of possession but the latter gets just enough on it before calming things down. Dalot didn’t want it in the first place but it was a catalogue of errors. The half-time whistle would be no bad thing for United.
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39 min: Phil Jones is in a spot of bother, appearing to injure himself after sliding in to nick the ball away from the whizzing Bernard. He gets up to valiantly limp away but on come the medical team to assist.
37 min: Schneiderlin is adjudged to have fouled Pogba and United gain a little respite. But Sigurdsson hoofs the free-kick clear.
35 min: On taking caretaker charge, the widespread discourse was that Ole Gunnar Solskjær had freed United. They look shot here, though, frightened of not only making mistakes but also of 10th-placed Everton.
33 min: Phil Jones wallops the ball into the sky, slicing his clearance as Everton continue to probe down the right flank, much to the amusement of the home faithful. United look so brittle defensively.
32 min: That goal was supposed to give United a kick up the backside. But if anything, Everton have grown further into the ascendency.
30 min: The frowns on the faces of Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Mike Phelan say it all. United have been second best throughout and, so far, they have simply been embarrassed by Everton.
GOAL! Everton 2-0 Manchester United (Sigurdsson, 28)
This is really not going to plan for Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Everton fly forward on the counter via Gueye, and once Gylfi Sigurdsson picks the ball up 30-odd yards from goal, there is only one thing in his mind. Beckoned to have a shot at goal by Nemanja Matic, who stands off his man, Sigurdsson lets fly and beats David de Gea from outside the box. De Gea is disappointed with himself but Sigurdsson’s effort was not lacking in power.
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27 min: Fred wins Manchester United their first corner of the afternoon but Rashford’s delivery is poor and Digne heads away at the near post.
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26 min: Zouma looks to pick out Digne with a high ball over the top, but United snuff it out. Digne has been a real outlet for Everton.
25 min: And now Fred catches Calvert-Lewin, but the referee Paul Tierney lets him off the hook. A little lenient, perhaps.
23 min: Idrissa Gueye is booked for a hefty takedown of Fred, a no-nonsense challenge around 35 yards from goal. Rashford is ambitious and has a go but fires his free-kick straight into the Gwladys Street end. That’s about as good as things have got so far for Manchester United.
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21 min: Pogba keeps a United attack alive with a deft pass before Rashford raids down the right but his cross is intercepted, much to the frustration of Anthony Martial and Lukaku, who have, it is fair to say, been totally anonymous so far. Everton promptly zoom up the other end but Richarlison, the goalscorer, gets himself in a muddle and overcooks his pass.
20 min: Pogba plays a wonderful 50-yard pass downfield in search of Marcus Rashford and the striker does well to get a shot away, but it loops over Jordan Pickford’s goal. He had to strike early, with Zouma and Keane quick to swarm him for company.
19 min: Lucas Digne has been lively for Everton down that left flank. In a fairly flat season, he has been one of Marco Silva’s shining lights.
17 min: Digne whips in a dangerous corner that almost drops kindly for Calvert-Lewin but United – just about – manage to clear their lines until Fred surrenders on the right flank. And Everton win yet another corner. A dominant spell culminates with a wayward pass by Sigurdsson, of all people, but there is no doubt the momentum is with Everton.
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15 min: Lucas Digne reloads for another mammoth long throw, with Kurt Zouma in his sights this time but Jones heads the ball away.
14 min: It’s all Everton, as Sigurdsson swings in another corner. Pogba blocks a rifled Digne effort but back come the hosts. It is wave after wave of attacks for United to deal with and, at the moment, they cannot cope. United have barely been outside of their own half, penned in by Everton.
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Manchester United (Richarlison, 13)
It had been coming. A Lucas Digne long throw is not dealt with and, after Calvert-Lewin helps the ball on, Richarlison acrobatically converts from inside the box, hooking the ball beyond De Gea. Diogo Dalot stooped to head the ball away, but it was very half-hearted. That’s Richarlison’s 14th goal of the season and his third in his last six matches. Manchester United have been underwhelming at best and have got what they deserve.
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12 min: Smalling intercepts another slipped ball down the left flank. Everton are piling the pressure on and their home fans are loving it.
11 min: A big save by David de Gea to keep Richarlison out! Everton recycle the initial corner and, when the ball is played back in towards the back post, there is the Brazilian lurking to hammer a volley goalwards. De Gea gets his body behind it, clambering the ball to safety and away.
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10 min: Richarlison cannot reach the free-kick but Everton can maintain the heat after winning a corner. Lucas Digne delivers ...
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8 min: Sigurdsson turns 30 yards from goal, and is clipped by Fred. The Iceland midfielder will likely dink it towards the back post, where Michael Keane, Kurt Zouma and co are queuing up.
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7 min: Schneiderlin wins the ball just inside his own half before spraying the ball into the bath of an advancing Bernard. That is the base for another Everton break forward, with Séamus Coleman and Nemanja Matic going head-to-head on the byline. But United win a free-kick. It has been a fairly lethargic start by United, who have allowed Everton to do as they please.
6 min: Sigurdsson does brilliantly to weave his way into the box off the right flank but his cross is easily gathered by De Gea, Calvert-Lewin unable to reach it.
5 min: United counter from the corner, and Calvert-Lewin tugs at the shirt of Rashford, who was breaking at speed. Everton win a free-kick on halfway. United fans are in good voice in the away end. “Ole’s at the wheel!” ...
4 min: Sigurdsson delivers but it cannons off the back of Smalling and De Gea gobbles it up. The Spaniard rolls the ball out to Smalling but his pass is wayward, straight out of play and Everton regain possession, winning another corner as Calvert-Lewin wins a duel against Jones.
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3 min: Everton win a corner, De Gea unable to keep the ball in.
2 min: Marco Silva urges Everton to play it quicker as they enjoy their own early spell of possession. Bernard jets down the flank before United snuff it out.
1 min: An early touch for Lukaku is heavily booed by Everton fans, as United jump on the front foot. It looks as though Lindelöf, Jones and Smalling are playing as a back three.
Peeeeeeeeeeeep!
Idrissa Gueye kicks things off for Everton.
The teams are in the tunnel. Z-Cars rings round Goodison ...
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Romelu Lukaku takes a lot of flak – but his goalscoring record speaks volumes; he has scored at least 12 goals per season for six of the seven past Premier League seasons, the first of which was an impressive loan spell at West Brom, aged 19. He ripped it up at Everton, too, earning a £75m move to Manchester United. The thing eluding him is breaking that 20-goal milestone, something he has just done just once in his career, while on the books at Goodison. What’s more, he is still only 25 and, at 25 years and 343 days old, the Belgian becomes the sixth youngest player to reach 250 Premier League appearances – and is the youngest non-English player to do so, overtaking Ryan Giggs (26y 167d). That says a lot.
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Manchester United are “in the wilderness”, says Gary Neville before telling Paul Pogba to give the club some “clarity” on his future. The France midfielder could do with a big performance after being washed up in midweek. History is on United’s side at Goodison this afternoon at least: Everton have lost more Premier League matches against Manchester United than any side has against another in the history of the competition (36).
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Solskjær speaks about Romelu Lukaku returning against his former club. “Rom likes to play football, likes to prove he’s a goalscorer, that he’s in the team,” he says. “We’ve got three big games this week and it’s a chance for everyone to say: ‘I want to play against [Manchester] City and Chelsea’. We have to perform as a team, attitude has been really good and in some games we have been a bit off form, some we haven’t got what we deserved.”
Team news news: Ole Gunnar Solskjær makes three changes from the defeat to Barcelona, with Nemanja Matic, Romelu Lukaku and Diogo Dalot restored to the starting lineup. Ashley Young, who took the brunt of the criticism on the back of that defeat at Camp Nou, is among those relegated to the bench. Marco Silva also tweaks personnel, with Michael Keane replacing Phil Jagielka in the heart of defence, while former United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is in for the suspended André Gomes.
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Team news!
Everton: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne; Schneiderlin, Gueye; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Stekelenburg, Tosun, Walcott, Jagielka, Davies, Lookman, McCarthy
Manchester United: De Gea; Lindelöf, Smalling, Jones, Dalot; Pogba, Matic, Fred; Rashford, Lukaku, Martial
Subs: Romero, Lingard, Sánchez, Young, Mata, McTominay, Pereira
Referee: Paul Tierney
Preamble
They say time is the best healer and now Manchester United have had the chance to wipe away the grimaces from a humbling defeat at Camp Nou, how will they respond? After the toil and exhaustion of chasing Lionel Messi’s shadow for 92 minutes, as the painful reality that United are a world away from competing with Europe’s top table set in, there is a plausible feeling that Ole Gunnar Solskjær was only ever papering over the cracks. Either way, the Solskjær machine that cantered to eight straight wins requires some heavy greasing. Losing to Barcelona is no disgrace but the manner in which they were brushed aside exposed United’s shortcomings; they are too rugged in defence, too slow and predictable in midfield and unsure of the best plan of attack going forward. “There’s no quick fix, it’s not like we buy seven players and suddenly we’re in the right shape, we are where we are,” Solskjær said. “We have to take it step-by-step and of course there will be signings made in the summer.” Plenty of food for thought then, and a point or two to prove for one or two players at a sun-drenched Goodison Park. United have been leaking goals and have lost four consecutive matches on the road for the first time in 20 years, when Solskjær was up front in 1999. After their own mini revival, Everton slipped up against relegated Fulham last time out and Marco Silva’s side are also looking to bounce back, though will have to do so without the suspended midfielder, André Gomes. “It is a moment to learn because it will be tough for us,” Silva said.
Kick-off: 1.30pm (BST)
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