LIVERPOOL // Louis van Gaal accused his Manchester United players of being out-fought in a 3-0 defeat at Everton on Sunday that left the Premier League top-four door slightly ajar for Liverpool.
Victory at Goodison Park would have all but guaranteed a return to the Uefa Champions League for United after this season’s absence from Europe but they were picked off by a clinical Everton side despite hogging possession.
A breakaway goal after five minutes by James McCarthy put Everton ahead and they doubled their lead before half time with a glancing header from John Stones.
Kevin Mirallas fired Everton’s third after the break to kill off the 20-times English champions and leave United seven points above fifth-placed Liverpool who have a game in hand against relegation-threatened Hull City on Tuesday.
“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,” Dutchman Van Gaal told the BBC.
“We created five chances in the first half – Marouane Fellaini had to score – that is more than Everton.
“In the second half they scored on the counter and we had to play against a defensive side.
“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.
“Everton deserved to win. When the result is fair, you can live with it.”
Fellaini, who has enjoyed a better second season at Old Trafford following a miserable first campaign after leaving Everton, wasted a great chance to equalise early on and was booked for scything down Seamus Coleman.
While United are still well-placed to secure a top-four spot with four games to go, Van Gaal said that Sunday’s result will fuel Liverpool’s belief that they can still snatch fourth.
“Yes, I know that. You give the light to your opponents. I said that (to the players).”
Roberto Martinez, Van Gaal’s opposite number, was much happier, for good reason, after the final whistle.
His team deserve praise for the way they contained United and then punished them so destructively on the counter.
The Spaniard reserved special praise for Stones after he scored his first goal for the club.
“John deserves his moment because scoring his first goal is a memory he is going to treasure,” the Everton manager said.
“The boys were giving him a hard time because he only scores in training. His defensive display was his best since he was playing in the first team.”
With the win, Everton not only redeemed a hugely disappointing season, they have moved into the top 10 of the league table.
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