Everton v Man Utd
Robin van Persie started life at Manchester United with a defeat as Everton produced an outstanding performance to deservedly claim victory at Goodison Park.
Sir Alex Ferguson's £24m signing from Arsenal emerged as a 67th-minute substitute - but he made a quiet introduction and was powerless to prevent United starting the Premier League season with a defeat - their first since they lost at Chelsea in 2004.
And it was fitting that Everton's winning goal came from the outstanding Marouane Fellaini, who tormented Manchester United's makeshift defence throughout a thunderous evening on Merseyside.
Man Utd were not clinical - Vidic
The giant Belgian's towering 57th minute header from Darron Gibson's corner finally ended the defiance of United keeper David de Gea, who had kept Everton at bay with a series of outstanding first half saves.
Leon Osman also struck the crossbar - and when Van Persie was finally introduced Everton had an iron grip on the game and only looked like conceding the advantage Fellaini had given them when Phil Jagielka cleared off the line from Tom Cleverley.
Everton have traditionally been slow starters but in this opening game they dominated United for spells, with keeper Tim Howard only being troubled by the occasional effort from Wayne Rooney.
Goodison Park celebrated the victory noisily at the final whistle, leaving Ferguson to contemplate a lacklustre performance undermined by a reshuffled rearguard in which Michael Carrick never settled in his role as emergency central defender alongside returning captain Nemanja Vidic.
Analysis
"Manchester United were the better side in the second half by a long way. But Everton for their first-half display, and for the way they defended in the second half, just about deserved it. I think this is the season when if anyone's going to get close to the top four, it's Everton."
United were without Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans - and how Everton exploited the weakness.
Ferguson eased Van Persie into life at Old Trafford with a place on the bench, entrusting attacking duties to Rooney and England youngster Danny Welbeck.
United were grateful to keeper De Gea for a performance of defiance and athleticism that kept his side on terms as they were terrorised by the power and presence of Fellaini.
The young Spaniard stretched to turn over Steven Pienaar's header then dived to turn away the South African's shot as Everton applied pressure. He did even better to save Osman's shot on the turn and leap to claw away a free-kick from Leighton Baines that was destined for the top corner.
United had opportunities of their own but they were rarities, Howard saving twice from Rooney and Welbeck rolling a low shot wide as United claimed a penalty when he tangled with Jagielka.
United's biggest escape came just after the interval when Fellaini once more headed into the path of Osman, who did beat De Gea but held his head in anguish as his effort rattled the crossbar.
Everton were not to be denied and finally got the lead they so deserved. The source was no surprise as Fellaini - who had simply been too much for Carrick - rose above him to power in Gibson's corner.
United gave Everton their most anxious moment after 66 minutes when Jagielka cleared off the line from Cleverley and seconds later Van Persie entered the fray in place of Welbeck.
Everton deserved the victory - David Moyes
However, with Jagielka and Sylvain Distin magnificent, Everton were in no mood to see their resistance broken and they claimed a win their efforts merited.
Read Sir Alex Ferguson's post-match reaction to United's defeat.
Everton manager David Moyes: "I'm really pleased because we performed ever so well. We've often started the season slowly but just because we've won one game doesn't mean we've had a good start - as it would not have been a bad start had we lost.
"Marouane Fellaini is a really good player. We can play him behind the striker, in the middle or because of his power in the air we can play him as a defensive one as well.
"The only time we had a really good start here we ended in the Champions League places. I don't know if that's possible but it would be nice for us not to be playing catch up.
"David de Gea made some great saves. In the build-up it was all about Manchester United and what they could do - I felt people called that wrong because we are a tough team to beat at Goodison Park.
"We defended really well when we had to. Phil Jagielka was outstanding."
Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)
Everton
- 24 Howard
- 02 Hibbert
- 03 Baines
- 06 Jagielka
- 15 Distin
- 18 Neville
- 04 Gibson Booked
- 21 Osman (Coleman - 80' )
- 22 Pienaar
- 25 Fellaini (Heitinga - 90' )
- 07 Jelavic (Naismith - 89' )
Substitutes
- 01 Mucha
- 05 Heitinga
- 23 Coleman
- 20 Barkley
- 14 Naismith
- 19 Gueye
- 28 Anichebe
Manchester United
- 01 De Gea
- 03 Evra
- 15 Vidic
- 07 Valencia
- 16 Carrick
- 17 Nani Booked (Young - 78' )
- 22 Scholes Booked
- 23 Cleverley (Anderson - 85' )
- 26 Kagawa
- 10 Rooney
- 19 Welbeck (Van Persie - 68' )
Substitutes
- 13 Lindegaard
- 02 Rafael
- 31 Wootton
- 08 Anderson
- 18 Young
- 09 Berbatov
- 20 Van Persie
Ref: Marriner
Att: 38,415
Live Text Commentary
90:00 +4:29 Full time
Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00 +2:54Corner taken right-footed by Ashley Young from the left by-line, clearance by Sylvain Distin.
90:00 +2:30Effort from 25 yards by Darron Gibson. Paul Scholes gets a block in.
90:00 +2:00Steven Pienaar fouled by Antonio Valencia, the ref awards a free kick. Leighton Baines restarts play with the free kick.
90:00 +1:23Effort from 18 yards by Patrice Evra. Blocked by Tony Hibbert.
90:00 +1:07 SubstitutionSubstitution Marouane Fellaini leaves the field to be replaced by Johnny Heitinga.
90:00 +0:38Oliveira Anderson has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
90:00 +0:11Antonio Valencia crosses the ball, Sylvain Distin makes a clearance.
90:00 BookingBooking Caution for Darron Gibson.
89:27The free kick is delivered right-footed by Tony Hibbert from right wing, clearance by Nemanja Vidic.
88:54 SubstitutionSubstitution (Everton) makes a substitution, with Steven Naismith coming on for Nikica Jelavic.
88:54Nemanja Vidic gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Seamus Coleman.
87:23Ashley Young delivers the ball, Tim Howard makes a comfortable save.
85:27Centre by Seamus Coleman, blocked by Michael Carrick.
84:36 SubstitutionSubstitution Tom Cleverley goes off and Oliveira Anderson comes on.
83:38Antonio Valencia sends in a cross, blocked by Steven Pienaar.
82:42Marouane Fellaini gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nemanja Vidic. Michael Carrick restarts play with the free kick.
81:33Free kick awarded for a foul by Phil Neville on Patrice Evra. Ashley Young takes the free kick.
80:48Foul by Darron Gibson on Shinji Kagawa, free kick awarded. Tom Cleverley restarts play with the free kick.
79:28 SubstitutionSubstitution Seamus Coleman is brought on as a substitute for Leon Osman.
78:23
The ball is sent over by Antonio Valencia, blocked by Leighton Baines.
77:24Corner taken by Wayne Rooney from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Phil Jagielka.
77:09 SubstitutionSubstitution Luis Nani goes off and Ashley Young comes on.
76:28The ball is delivered by Robin van Persie, comfortable save by Tim Howard.
74:57The ball is sent over by Luis Nani.
74:19The ball is swung over by Luis Nani, Phil Jagielka manages to make a clearance.
73:46Marouane Fellaini challenges Tom Cleverley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tom Cleverley takes the free kick.
71:53Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Luis Nani from the left by-line to the near post, Nikica Jelavic manages to make a clearance.
71:14Tom Cleverley fouled by Steven Pienaar, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Tom Cleverley.
71:03Unfair challenge on Paul Scholes by Marouane Fellaini results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Tom Cleverley.
70:48Leighton Baines crosses the ball.
69:40The ball is swung over by Patrice Evra, Headed effort from inside the area by Nemanja Vidic misses to the left of the goal.
68:59Corner taken left-footed by Robin van Persie from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Darron Gibson.
68:44Wayne Rooney crosses the ball, clearance by Sylvain Distin.
67:49Robin van Persie takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Nikica Jelavic.
67:32 SubstitutionSubstitution (Man Utd) makes a substitution, with Robin van Persie coming on for Danny Welbeck.
67:17Centre by Wayne Rooney, clearance by Phil Jagielka.
66:43Effort from 6 yards by Tom Cleverley. Phil Jagielka gets a block in.
65:51Unfair challenge on Paul Scholes by Marouane Fellaini results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nemanja Vidic.
64:03Tony Hibbert sends in a cross, clearance made by Antonio Valencia.
63:13Marouane Fellaini takes a shot. Save made by David De Gea.
62:26Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Pienaar by Antonio Valencia. Leighton Baines restarts play with the free kick.
61:56Patrice Evra delivers the ball, Sylvain Distin manages to make a clearance.
61:11Luis Nani produces a cross, clearance made by Phil Jagielka.
60:46Luis Nani takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Phil Jagielka.
58:43The ball is delivered by Luis Nani, comfortable save by Tim Howard.
56:52The assist for the goal came from Darron Gibson.
56:52 Goal scoredGoal! - Marouane Fellaini - Everton 1 - 0 Man Utd Marouane Fellaini grabs a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Everton 1-0 Man Utd.
56:32Darron Gibson takes a outswinging corner to the near post,
55:46Wayne Rooney produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that goes wide left of the target.
52:31Nikica Jelavic concedes a free kick for a foul on Nemanja Vidic. Direct free kick taken by Nemanja Vidic.
48:38Marouane Fellaini challenges Nemanja Vidic unfairly and gives away a free kick. David De Gea takes the free kick.
48:06Shot from 12 yards from Leon Osman.
47:00Effort from just outside the area by Darron Gibson goes over the bar.
45:39The ball is sent over by Wayne Rooney.
45:01The referee gets the second half started.
45:00 +2:47 Half timeHalf Time The referee calls an end to the first half.
45:00 +2:28Corner taken right-footed by Luis Nani to the near post, clearance made by Phil Jagielka.
45:00 +1:56The ball is delivered by Shinji Kagawa, Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Save by Tim Howard.
45:00 +0:40Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Patrice Evra by Tony Hibbert. David De Gea takes the free kick.
45:00 +0:18Corner taken by Darron Gibson from the right by-line, Antonio Valencia makes a clearance.
43:47Unfair challenge on Nikica Jelavic by Nemanja Vidic results in a free kick. Shot on goal comes in from Leighton Baines from the free kick, save made by David De Gea.
42:07Free kick awarded for a foul by Luis Nani on Steven Pienaar. Free kick taken by Tim Howard.
41:49Centre by Antonio Valencia, Phil Jagielka makes a clearance.
40:11Leon Osman takes a shot from 12 yards. Fantastic save by David De Gea.
38:00Shot by Danny Welbeck from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
37:23Patrice Evra delivers the ball, Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Save made by Tim Howard.
35:51Nikica Jelavic challenges Luis Nani unfairly and gives away a free kick. Antonio Valencia takes the direct free kick.
35:30Luis Nani produces a cross, clearance made by Sylvain Distin.
33:59Free kick awarded for a foul by Luis Nani on Marouane Fellaini. Free kick taken by Phil Neville.
32:37Leighton Baines takes the inswinging corner, Darron Gibson produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.
32:25Nikica Jelavic produces a cross, blocked by David De Gea.
32:07Shot by Steven Pienaar from 18 yards. Save made by David De Gea.
32:01The ball is sent over by Tony Hibbert.
30:08Steven Pienaar has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.
29:44Shinji Kagawa is ruled offside. Tim Howard takes the indirect free kick.
28:32Short corner taken by Luis Nani.
27:15Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Scholes by Steven Pienaar. Strike on goal comes in from Wayne Rooney from the free kick, save by Tim Howard.
24:48Marouane Fellaini takes a shot.
24:26Corner taken by Darron Gibson from the left by-line played to the near post.
24:13Steven Pienaar takes a shot. David De Gea makes a save.
23:37Corner taken by Darron Gibson from the left by-line to the near post, David De Gea makes a save.
22:35Luis Nani has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.
20:06Leighton Baines sends in a cross, Shot by Danny Welbeck from 12 yards. Blocked by Phil Jagielka.
16:26Steven Pienaar has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
15:35Nemanja Vidic concedes a free kick for a foul on Marouane Fellaini. Free kick crossed left-footed by Leighton Baines from right wing, save made by David De Gea.
14:39Unfair challenge on Nikica Jelavic by Tom Cleverley results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Phil Jagielka.
13:39Close range shot by Marouane Fellaini hits the post.
12:37Tim Howard takes the direct free kick.
12:37 BookingBooking Paul Scholes goes into the book.
12:29Paul Scholes concedes a free kick for a foul on Darron Gibson.
8:27Shot by Paul Scholes. Save by Tim Howard.
4:48Corner taken left-footed by Leighton Baines to the near post, Close range header by Marouane Fellaini misses to the right of the goal.
4:37Nikica Jelavic delivers the ball, blocked by Nemanja Vidic.
2:48Free kick crossed by Leighton Baines.
2:48 BookingBooking Luis Nani booked for unsporting behaviour.
2:31Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Leighton Baines by Luis Nani.
0:19Free kick awarded for a foul by Antonio Valencia on Steven Pienaar. Centre by Leighton Baines, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Leon Osman misses to the left of the goal.
0:00The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
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