Everton overpower United as Chelsea aim to close on title

LONDON: 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.

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 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, 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," the Dutchman told Sky Sports.

"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." (AFP)