Everton take Manchester United apart in 3-0 victory
Louis van Gaal's men fail to stretch seven-point gap over fifth-placed Liverpool in race for Champions League spot
Everton made a mockery of the Premier League table as they beat Manchester United 3-0 in fine style to dent their visitors' hopes of direct entry into the Champions League.
Had United won on Merseyside, they would have climbed into second place.
But this defeat, their third in as many league visits to Goodison Park, 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 to 10th place.
Only the top three teams in the English Premier League at the end of the season go straight into the first round of the Champions League, with the side finishing fourth facing the unwanted prospect of a qualifying round into the main event.
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
And United are not yet certain of fourth place, given they lead Liverpool, who are in fifth position, by seven points having played a game more than their bitter rivals.
United manager Van Gaal said his side, who've now lost eight league matches this season, had been out-fought by Everton. "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," Van Gaal said in a television interview.
"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."
Van Gaal, whose team featuring former Everton favourites Wayne Rooney and Marouane Fellaini were repeatedly undone on the counter-attack, added: "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."
Everton manager Roberto Martinez was delighted with the victory.
"I thought we were well worth a three-goal lead and that speaks volumes," said Martinez.
"To keep the concentration for 90 minutes and keep a clean sheet was magnificent."
