LONDON/ MANCHESTER: Everton made a mockery of the Premier League table as they beat Manchester United 3-0 in fine style on Sunday to dent their visitors’ hopes of direct entry into the Champions League.
Had United won on Merseyside, they would have climbed into second place however, 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 into 10th place.
Only the top three teams in the 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.
And United are not yet certain of fourth, given they lead Liverpool, who are fifth, by seven points having played a game more than their bitter rivals.
United manager van Gaal said his side, which has 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 has shown more of that than us,” said the Dutchman. “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.”
Pellegrini aims for unbeaten finish
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes his team can go through the remainder of the Premier League season unbeaten if they show the same character they displayed in a 3-2 victory over Aston Villa.
Saturday’s thrilling win at Eastlands, settled by Fernandinho’s 89th-minute shot, left City firmly on course for a top-four finish and Champions League football next season.
“We didn’t play well today [Saturday], maybe it was one of our worst games in possession,” said Pellegrini. “We have so much possession every game, against every team, so it was strange to see how much possession we lost.”
City were gifted an early lead after an error by goalkeeper Brad Guzan which saw Sergio Aguero score his 21st league goal of the campaign and remain on course to finish as the division’s leading scorer.
“I think it is important, after the team, to have individual awards for different players,” said Pellegrini. “Also it is important for Kun [Aguero] to score more goals but it is more important to win the game. That’s why we’re trying to work as a team.”
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