A woeful Manchester United suffered their fifth straight away defeat, in all competitions, with a 4-0 Premier League hammering at the hands of a vibrant Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.
United did not manage a shot on target until the 86th minute as they fell to their sixth loss in eight games since their memorable victory at Paris St Germain in the Champions League.
The euphoria felt in Paris and at the start of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign already seems a distant memory after a United performance that lacked not only quality but aggression and fire.
Full-time at Goodison Park. #MUFC #EVEMUN pic.twitter.com/KVFqRz8lPA
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 21, 2019
"We just didn't perform. That was not worthy of a Manchester United team," said Solskjaer.
"We hold our hands up and apologise to everyone associated with the club," added the Norwegian who went over to the travelling United support after the final whistle.
"Everton were better than us at all the basics. There are so many things that we need to do better to get a result. Talent has never been enough."
United must now somehow pick themselves up in time for the visit of Manchester City to Old Trafford for the derby on Wednesday.
For Marco Silva's improving Everton, in seventh place, this was their third top-six scalp in as many home games following victories over Chelsea and Arsenal.
"I just want to apologise to the fans. They're the only people with the badge on today who can hold their head high, because we can't."
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 21, 2019
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his Manchester United team "just didn't perform".https://t.co/7bG4H739xX#MUFC #EVEMUN #EvertonFC pic.twitter.com/CnJHy7zp0P
Brazilian Richarlison fired Everton ahead in the 13th minute with an acrobatic high volley after Dominic Calvert-Lewin flicked on a long throw.
Gylfi Sigurdsson made it 2-0 with a low drive from over 25 yards out that United keeper David De Gea was slow to react to as the home side ran rampant.
Solskjaer took off the ineffective Fred for Scott McTominay at the break while Ashley Young came on for the injured Phil Jones at the back but the change in personnel made no difference to the flow of the game.
Everton were faster, sharper and more aggressive while United's midfield pair of Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba were spectators for most of the game.
Lucas Digne then blasted in the third in the 56th minute after De Gea punched out a corner to the French full-back with United struggling to get even a foot in the game.
Icelandic playmaker Sigurdsson then put substitute Theo Walcott through with a clever pass through the legs of Victor Lindelof which the former Arsenal striker confidently converted.
? - "I'm furious, to be honest with you."@GNev2 says @ManUtd's performance today was "embarrassing" and compares the work-rate to that of @LFC and @ManCity.
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 21, 2019
Watch Super Sunday live on Sky Sports PL now: https://t.co/HENVUzvZOk pic.twitter.com/UFXUwduXvd
"The first goal was the key," said Sigurdsson.
"After that we defended really well. It was important for us to get the next goal after going 2-0 up. It gave us constant belief and we controlled the game after that."
United, eliminated from the Champions League by Barcelona on Tuesday, remain in sixth, outside the four qualification spots for next season's campaign.
Statistics showed the Red Devils, who had not lost five straight away games since 1981, ran 8.03 km less than Everton.
Journalist: "Does the players in dressing room care enough to play for this club?"
— Dribble Fever ⚽ (@DribbleFeverFC) April 21, 2019
Ole Gunnar Solskjær: "I don't know."#EVEMUN #ManchesterUnited #EPL pic.twitter.com/RzJ37k6pWZ
RESULTS:
Arsenal 2 (Ozil 47, Aubameyang 77) Crystal Palace 3 (Benteke 17, Zaha 61, McArthur 69)
Cardiff 0 Liverpool 2 (Wijnaldum 57, Milner 81-pen)
Everton 4 (Richarlison 13, Sigurdsson 28, Digne 56, Walcott 64) Manchester United 0
English Premier League table (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):
Liverpool 35 27 7 1 79 20 88
Man City 34 28 2 4 87 22 86
Tottenham 34 22 1 11 64 35 67
Arsenal 34 20 6 8 68 43 66
Chelsea 34 20 6 8 57 36 66
Man Utd 34 19 7 8 63 48 64
Everton 35 14 7 14 50 44 49
Watford 34 14 7 13 49 49 49
Leicester 35 14 6 15 48 47 48
Wolves 34 13 9 12 41 42 48
West Ham 35 12 7 16 44 54 43
Crystal Palace 35 12 6 17 43 48 42
Newcastle 35 11 8 16 35 44 41
Bournemouth 35 12 5 18 49 62 41
Burnley 34 11 6 17 42 60 39
Southampton 34 9 9 16 40 57 36
Brighton 34 9 7 18 32 53 34
Cardiff 35 9 4 22 30 65 31
Fulham 35 6 5 24 33 76 23 -- relegated
Huddersfield 35 3 5 27 20 69 14 -- relegated
