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Everton logo
Premier League
Apr 20, 2014 at 4.10pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

2-0

Baines (28' pen.), Mirallas (43')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Live Commentary: Everton 2-0 Manchester United - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's text coverage of David Moyes's return to Goodison Park to face Everton with Manchester United.
2

Everton took on Manchester United and former boss David Moyes in the third Premier League game on Sunday.

The Toffees were after their first league double over United and they achieved just that thanks to goals in the first half from Leighton Baines and Kevin Mirallas.

Read how it all unfolded at Goodison Park in our minute-by-minute updates below.


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Afternoon all! The last of three Premier League games on Easter Sunday takes place at Goodison Park as Everton, chasing a top-four finish, host Manchester United and former manager David Moyes.

BREAKING TEAM NEWS! Wayne Rooney, as expected, is fit to face his former club BUT Marouane Fellaini won't start as he is on the bench for the visitors. Full lineups coming right up...

EVERTON XI: Howard; Coleman, Distin, Stones, Baines; McCarthy, Barry; Mirallas, Barkley, Naismith; Lukaku

EVERTON SUBS: Robles, Hibbert, McGeady, Deulofeu, Osman, Garbutt, Alcaraz

MAN UTD XI: De Gea; Jones, Smalling, Evans, Buttner; Carrick, Fletcher; Nani, Kagawa, Mata; Rooney

MAN UTD SUBS: Lindegaard, Giggs, Hernandez, Welbeck, Valencia, Fellaini, Januzaj

It's two similar formations from managers Martinez and Moyes then. Both appear to have gone with 4-2-3-1 lineups, with Rooney leading the line and captaining the visitors today.

It's 11 days since United last played at Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final. Moyes makes four changes from the side that went down in Germany, with Jonny Evans, Alexander Buttner, Nani and Juan Mata in for Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck.

Everton, meanwhile, have had just four days to recover from Wednesday's home defeat to Crystal Palace. Roberto Martinez makes two changes as James McCarthy and Steven Naismith come in for Gerard Deulofeu and Aiden McGeady.

Before we dig a little deeper, let's just recap what's already happened today. Both sets of fans at Goodison today would have been upset at Liverpool's 11th consecutive league victory as they held off valiant Norwich to move five points clear at the top of the table. How the two clubs meeting at Goodison today must hate seeing the Reds surge towards the title!

Liverpool's Raheen Sterling celebrates after scoring his team's third goal against Norwich during the Premier League match on April 20, 2014© AFP

Meanwhile, they're midway through the second half at the KC Stadium right now with Arsenal well on top and leading Hull City 3-0. Open this link in a new tab if you want to follow the rest of that one too.

With Arsenal well on their way to victory in East Yorkshire, Everton will know of the importance of today's game if they want to finish in the top four. The Gunners are set to go four clear of the Toffees but Everton can close the gap back to just one by completing the double over United today.

Speaking of doing the double, Everton haven't achieved that against United for 44 years! They won at Old Trafford for the first time since 1993 in the reverse fixture back in December, with Bryan Oviedo scoring the only goal in the 85th minute.

Everton's Bryan Oviedo scores the opening goal against Manchester United during their Premier League match on December 4, 2013© Getty Images

Half an hour until kickoff at Goodison:


How will Evans and Nani get on today? They could both be rusy as Evans is making his first appearance for 13 games after a toe injury while Nani is starting for the first time in 2014!

ON THIS DAY! Rewind back exactly nine years and Everton took on United at Goodison on this day in 2005. That day the Toffees also won, with Duncan Ferguson netting the winner before Gary Neville and Paul Scholes were both sent off. Read our feature from this morning here.

Duncan Ferguson scores for Everton against Manchester United on April 20, 2005.© Getty Images

REFEREE WATCH! Mark Clattenburg is taking charge of today's game and that probably won't please Everton or United. Everton don't like him because of his refereeing performance in a Merseyside derby against Liverpool in 2007 that led to him not taking charge of another Toffees game until January 2012. Clattenburg recently refereed Liverpool's 3-0 demolition of United at Old Trafford and sent off Vidic:

Nemanja Vidic of Manchester United is shown a red card by Referee Mark Clattenburg during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on March 16, 2014© Getty Images

Here's the recent league form of the Toffees and the Red Devils:

EVERTON: LWWWWW
UNITED: WWLWLW

As you can see, Everton's superb winning run came to an end against Palace on Wednesday while United scored four goals in their recent two league wins against Newcastle United and Aston Villa.



PREDICTION TIME! Ten to go until kickoff at Goodison. The atmosphere should be brilliant and I fancy a high-scoring affair. Everton to nick it 3-2!

All over at the KC Stadium as Arsenal easily beat Hull to move four clear of Everton in the race for the top four:


Everton boss Martinez insists to Sky Sports that his side don't go into this game as favourites, citing United's away record which is the best in the league.

United must be eyeing a sixth-place finish come the end of the season. They go into today's game six points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur in sixth but do have two games in-hand on Spurs. Win both of those and they will be sixth as they have a far better goal difference.

The two teams are now out and Moyes follows them soon after. A few of the Everton fans boo their former boss. A little harsh that as he did do a fantastic job during his time at Goodison.

KICKOFF! Superb atmosphere at Goodison as we get underway.

Bright start by United as Mata skips past a couple of challenges before the ball falls to Nani, who tees it up for himself and crashes a left-foot volley goalwards. A great hit from the Portuguese that might have troubled Howard but for a brave block by young centre-back Stones.

Everton come forward through Coleman, who bursts past two red shirts down the right before his attempted clip to the back post for Naismith is blocked. Action-packed, high-tempo start to the game (yay!).

Odd surge forward from Evans as he drives into the left-side of the penalty area but then gets crowded out. He finds Buttner, but his cross is headed away by Distin.

First real opening is Everton's as Coleman's cross is headed out but straight to Barkley. His first touch gets away from him and when he tries to half-volley goalwards he is on the stretch and can only blaze it well over the top.

Coleman really has become one of the best attacking full-backs in the league this season. He exchanges passes with Lukaku before driving at pace into the area and crossing low towards Naismith. Jones is alive to the danger and stops the cross.

Everton under Martinez are known as a patient passing side but early on it's been United with most of the ball. They've had 62% possession and made 79 passes to Everton's 35.

Snapshot from Lukaku after a lay-off from Naismith that the Belgian sidefoots powerfully straight at Evans.



That Everton fan has now been led away by the stewards! Back to the action on the pitch, where Everton want a penalty but Smalling could do very little when Lukaku hit it at him.

This is a much stronger penalty appeal from the home side as Naismith meets Coleman's cross on the volley. He sidefoots it goalwards and it's blocked by what looks like Evans's armpit. Clattenburg is looking right at it and keeps his arms by his side. Right call in my view.

CHANCE! Best chance of the match so far as Lukaku gets up well to nod the ball down into the path of Naismith. The Scot approaches the ball on the run and hits it on the bounce from the edge of the box. It's a tough chance, but he should at least get it on target but can only slice high and wide.



PENALTY TO EVERTON!

Stupid from Jones as he puts his arm out to stop Lukaku's shot after slipping to the ground. Baines to take...

GOAL! EVERTON 1-0 MAN UNITED (BAINES PENALTY)

Baines makes it 13 out of 13 from the spot in the Premier League as he drills it straight down the middle. It took a slight touch of De Gea's boot but not enough to keep it out.

Nani writhes around theatrically on the floor after a slightly late tackle from goalscorer Baines. It was definitely a foul, but nothing more and Clattenburg keeps his cards in his pocket.

Nani and Mata exchange passes in the area before the former's dink to the six-yard line is well defended by McCarthy.



Although United have had plenty of the ball (66% possession), they're struggling to really do much in the final third. The Nani-Mata-Kagawa-Rooney front four are playing fluidly, but not getting in behind Everton's back four enough.

Swift, one-touch football from Everton as Naismith sweeps the ball out to Mirallas, whose low cross towards the near post is just too strong for Lukaku. Great stuff.

Chance for Everton on the break as Lukaku feeds Belgian teammate Mirallas on the right. The winger just has Evans to beat but it's good defending from the United man as he steals the ball.

United really are seeing so much of the ball outside the Everton penalty area but they just can't work out how to unlock the blue backline.

GOAL! EVERTON 2-0 MAN UNITED (MIRALLAS)

What a time to score for the Toffees as they double their lead against the run of play. They may not like him, but Clattenburg did the Toffees a favour there by not blowing up for a foul on Baines and playing advantage. The hosts broke upfield and Coleman slipped in Mirallas, who finished clinically into the far corner from a tight angle on the right. United appeal for offside, but Buttner was playing the Belgian on.

Just one minute of added time and United have a corner...

SAVE! And United almost make the breakthrough from the set piece as Rooney's inswinging delivery is inadvertently headed straight at his own goal by Barry. Fortunately for the home side, it's straight at Howard.

HALF-TIME: EVERTON 2-0 MAN UNITED

What a half from Everton! They're well on their way to a first league double over United for 44 years. In 1969-70 they won the league and if they can finish fourth this season, that will be some achievement as well.

As things stand in the race for fourth, Everton are set to close back to within a point of Arsenal.

If you're only just joining us and want a quick update on how the first 45 unfolded, read our half-time report here.

SNAP! Here's the moment that Jones handled Lukaku's shot to concede the penalty:

Manchester United's English defender Phil Jones (Far L) handles the ball off a shot from Everton's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku (R) which results in a penalty during the match on April 20, 2014© Getty Images

EVERTON SUB: The Toffees are forced into a half-time change as Antolin Alcaraz replaces Sylvain Distin at the back. That will encourage United's attackers.

KICKOFF! Back underway at Goodison. No half-time changes from Moyes.

CHANCE! What a chance for United to half the deficit in the first minute of the second half as Mata manages to get the ball into Rooney. The England international twists and turns in the area before Barry pokes the ball away from him just as he was about to shoot.

BOOKING! The first Everton player to be cautioned is Ross Barkley for pulling back Smalling.

SAVE! United have certainly come out with the intent of scoring a quick goal and Kagawa goes close with a well-struck low shot from 20 yards that Howard gets down low to save.

BOOKING! Clattenburg has his yellow card out again after a late tackle on Barry by Smalling.

Coleman has been electric down the right this afternoon and easily sprints away from Kagawa before comically slicing his effort on goal once he got into the area.

Free kick right on the edge of the box for United after Baines tripped up Nani. Just right of centre, looks good for Mata, who scored a great one at Newcastle recently.

It is Mata who looks to float it over the wall but he clips the top of the Everton defenders.

SNAP! Here's Mirallas enjoying the moment after slotting Everton two ahead just before half time:

Kevin Mirallas of Everton celebrates scoring their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match against Manchester United on April 20, 2014© Getty Images

Alcaraz gets up well to meet Mirallas's corner but can't get enough power on his header and it's an easy save for De Gea.

Buttner is picked out on the left by Mata and loops a cross to the back post where Kagawa heads to the near post and Howard makes a comfortable stop. Smalling was coming behind the Japanese and might have been able to do more with the header if Kagawa had left it.

BOOKING! McCarthy into the book for a firm challenge on Mata that Clattenburg didn't approve of.

UNITED SUBS: Moyes makes his first substitutions as Antonio Valencia and Javier Hernandez replace Nani and Evans. Valencia to right-back, Smalling joins Jones at centre-back.

CHANCE! Chance for Lukaku to seal the win for Everton as he gets in down the inside-right channel but can only hit it straight at De Gea with his weaker right foot.

"WHEEEEEY!" jeer the Everton fans as Fletcher slices wide with a first-time shot. Hernandez has looked energetic since coming on and is certainly pestering Everton a lot more up front.

Rooney is a lucky boy as he escapes a card for a rash, high tackle on McCarthy. Clattenburg didn't even blow up for a foul and replays show that the United man followed through a little on the Everton midfielder, who has yet again been superb this afternoon. What a first season it's been in blue for the former Wigan man.

Good stuff from Barkley as he first outmuscles Jones before beating Buttner for pace to get into the area. The angle is against him and he should look for a teammate instead of firing wide.

Looks like Martinez will be making his second change soon as Leon Osman prepares to enter. Remember, Distin had to come off at half time.

EVERTON SUB: It's Barkley who comes off for Osman, who should provide an assured presence as Everton look to see out victory in the final 20.

UNITED SUB: After a flat few minutes, Moyes looks to inject some pace into the game by sending on Danny Welbeck for Kagawa, who has been very quiet. United need a goal quickly if they are to be inspired into a late fightback.

Even though they've maintained possession levels around the 65%-mark, United have had just five shots at goal and only one of those - a long-ranger from Kagawa - has been on target. Simply not good enough going forward.

MISS! Chance for Everton to make it three as Mirallas surges down the right before crossing to the back post where Naismith can't keep his shot on the bounce down.

SAVE! Brilliant from Coleman as he wins the ball back from Rooney before starting a counter-attack. The Toffees have a four-on-three situation and it's fed out to Naismith on the left. The Scot cuts inside onto his right foot and then shoots low towards the corner where De Gea springs left to keep it out.

I keep saying it, but Coleman really has been superb today. His energy appears to know no bounds and again he charges down the right side before picking out Lukaku with his cutback. The Belgian hits it well right-footed but it's blocked before it can reach the goal.

There's a party atmosphere inside Goodison and they're really sticking it to former manager Moyes with their chanting.

SAVE! Brilliant stop from Howard as he stays really big to prevent Rooney pulling one back after Hernandez has wriggled past a couple of challenges and fed the former Toffee.

From the resulting corner, the ball eventually comes to Valencia at the back stick and he drills it across the box where it goes through harmlessly for an Everton goal kick.

Careless from Carrick as he gives the ball away inside his own area, with Mirallas unable to take advantage by shooting over the top. It did get a slight deflection though so Everton have a corner.

The fourth official's board signals that there will be four minutes of added time.

Chance for Smalling to head home a late goal for United but he can only direct Rooney's centre wide.

EVERTON SUB: Last-minute change for the home side as Mirallas hobbles off with a knock and Aiden McGeady comes on.

FULL-TIME: EVERTON 2-0 MAN UNITED

Clattenburg brings the match to an end and what an afternoon for Everton. They do the league double over United for the first time in 44 years to close in on the top four.

Click here to see how the table looks after another gripping Sunday of Premier League football.

With four games of the season left, Everton are back to within a point of Arsenal. How they will regret not playing this well on Wednesday when Crystal Palace visited Goodison and left with the points.

For Moyes and Man Utd, today's defeat means that they will officially not be in the Champions League next season. They remain six points adrift of sixth-placed Spurs and now only have one game in-hand on Tim Sherwood's side.

We're out of time here on SM, thanks for joining us. Make sure you stick around for reaction and analysis throughout the evening and night. Enjoy the rest of your Easter weekend!

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Duncan Ferguson scores for Everton against Manchester United on April 20, 2005.
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