Everton vs Manchester United result: Dismal display the worst defeat yet under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Five years and a day have passed since an Easter Sunday defeat at Goodison Park spelt the end for David Moyes’ time in charge of Manchester United, when a man dressed as the Grim Reaper watched over him behind the dugout.

The bell does not yet toll for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - far from it, less than a month on from him signing a three-year contract to become permanent manager, and after all his work as caretaker to revive a season which seemed to be a write-off.

But concerns that United moved too soon on his appointment will only grow after this abject 4-0 defeat at Everton. This was their sixth loss in eight games and, even allowing for Barcelona’s masterclass at the Camp Nou last week, it was the worst of them.

Everton were excellent, on top from the kick-off, first to every ball and uncompromising in their pursuit of a dominant victory. For the fifth straight home game, Marco Silva’s side welcomed a ‘top six’ club. They have beaten three of them and lost against only one.

Their four goals were shared equally between Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott and though United’s lax defending played a part in all of them, each was still evidence of a team finding its way under an ambitious manager.

For their wretched opponents, it was the “reality check” Solskjaer had said some members of his squad needed. For the first time in three years, they conceded four goals in a single game. They are now without a clean sheet in 11, their worst run since 1998.

Fourth-placed Arsenal’s surprise home defeat to Crystal Palace later the same afternoon meant that this result was not as costly to United’s hopes of a top-four finish and qualifying for next season’s Champions League as it could have been. The gap is still two points.

But with Manchester City and Chelsea to come to Old Trafford this week, such a heavy defeat could be extremely damaging. Anything less than a full-scale improvement on this performance will result in two further defeats.

Despite an unusually hot and humid day on Merseyside, with the sun beating down on the Goodison Park pitch, Everton began with an energy and an intensity that their lethargic visitors simply could not match.

Only David de Gea’s sharp reflexes prevented Richarlison from establishing an 11th-minute lead, with the United goalkeeper beating away a snap-shot at the far post, but the Brazilian would not be denied a second time.

Moments later, and just as against Arsenal earlier this month, a long Digne throw-in flicked on by Dominic Calvert-Lewin produced results. Richarlison still had much to do when the ball broke his way but De Gea was helpless to stop his overhead kick.

This should have acted as a wake-up call for United but they did not emerge out of their slumber, nor did Everton relent in the search for second. It came just before the half-hour mark and from one of several first-half counter-attacks.

But was helped, unquestionably, by Nemanja Matic, who allowed Sigurdsson the time and space he required to turn inside, shoot and find De Gea’s bottom right-hand corner from a range of around 30 yards.

Matic’s inability to close Sigurdsson down was United’s display in microcosm. “Attack, attack, attack” was heard soon after from the away end during one spell of aimless possession. It was its first airing since the time of Mourinho.

open image in gallery

Solskjaer was unimpressed. An injured Phil Jones was replaced Ashley Young at half time, while Scott McTominay was introduced in place of Fred, but the changes failed to have the desired effect.

And despite Everton losing Richarlison to injury, it was soon three. When De Gea’s punch on Sigurdsson’s corner only reached as far as Digne, the full-back exploited a gaping hole in United’s untidy backline, tucking the ball inside the near post.

As if the scoreline was not embarrassing enough, Everton almost scored their fourth directly from a corner. Sigurdsson’s whipped delivery curled in and threatened to cross the goal-line at the near post. De Gea scrambled to boot it away.

open image in gallery

With Chris Smalling caught woefully out of position, Sigurdsson pounced and slipped in Walcott, on for Richarlison. The substitute’s touch was heavy but he still beat De Gea to the loose ball in time to sli a side-footed finish into the far corner.

This was now a rout. There were shouts of ‘Olé on those rare occasions of sustained United possession in opposition territory. Attempts at goal, such as Matic’s shanked effort wide, were mocked with cheers from the home crowd.

At least the travelling fans were loud until the end, supportively singing Solskjaer’s name at some points. Ole remains ‘at the wheel’, as the refrain goes, but the wheels are in danger of coming off United’s season if this display of sheer ineptitude is repeated.