Radamel Falcao scores his first Premier League goal as Manchester United survives Everton 2-1

Manchester United 2-1 Everton: Radamel Falcao opens his account as Louis van Gaal's men cling on against Toffees... but they have David De Gea to thank for series of world class saves

De Gea looked rather lost in English football for quite some time but at United they always recognised the talent.

They recognised the problems of physique, judgement and confidence, too, but never lost sight of the fact they had signed a goalkeeper about whom Spanish No 1 Iker Casillas famously commented ‘one day he will retire us all’.

Maybe now, three years on, that time has come. Yesterday at a relieved Old Trafford, De Gea earned his team victory with an outstanding performance. As United clung on in the face of Everton’s energy and ambition, De Gea, 23, produced two saves of the highest quality in injury-time.

More than that, he completed his own transformation from greenhorn to a goalkeeper of genuine Old Trafford stature. When you consider some of those who have gone before, that is quite something.

There was a penalty save, too, yesterday. Oddly, though, his plunging save from Leighton Baines’ poorly struck effort was rendered insignificant when compared to his contribution at the back end of the second half.

Leading from just after the hour, United had once again found themselves treading water late on. Just as they had against West Ham a week earlier, Louis van Gaal’s team were unable to keep the ball well enough to see the game through comfortably.Instead they found themselves hanging on.

Leon Osman was the first Everton player thwarted by De Gea. Making good contact with a volley after a corner had been cleared to the edge of the penalty area, De Gea not only saved Osman’s shot as the ball flew between Antonio Valencia’s legs, he also held onto it.

Certainly that was good goalkeeping. What followed in was somewhat better.

In the 92nd minute, Osman was played clear by Everton goalscorer Steven Naismith. The midfielder was not clean through but had daylight ahead of him and his right-foot shot seemed set for De Gea’s net until the goalkeeper turned it aside with a strong hand.

Better was to come. 

Moments later, a Baines delivery to the far post was headed down into the melee around the six yard line. Young Tyler Blackett’s bravery in repelling Gareth Barry’s subsequent half-volley was commendable but the save De Gea then produced to touch Bryan Oviedo’s follow-up shot into the Stretford End will rarely be bettered at this famous stadium.

Had De Gea’s gloves been a slightly tighter fit he certainly wouldn’t have saved it and Everton would have had the draw they perhaps deserved.

Afterwards, Van Gaal was honest enough to say De Gea had saved his team. The goalkeeper had not masked United’s deficiencies in terms of ball-retention but he had done enough to ensure they didn’t cost his team the points that have seen them slip almost unnoticed into the top four.

Earlier, United had seemed as though they might stroll away with the game. Van Gaal’s team began with purpose and energy and by the time they took the lead in the 27th minute Radamel Falcao had headed one clear chance straight at Tim Howard while Robin van Persie had volleyed another over the bar.

Most of the early danger had come down the left as Angel di Maria and Luke Shaw combined to terrorise Tony Hibbert. The goal arrived down the right, however, as Phil Jagielka could not clear Rafael’s cross far enough and Juan Mata set up Di Maria to finish astutely with his right instep.

Soon after, Di Maria had Howard scrambling across goal to touch over a deflected free kick and it briefly appeared that United may go on to seal the game efficiently.

That is not the United way at the moment, though, and Everton would have been back in the game sooner had Baines not made a mess of the 45th-minute penalty given for a reckless Shaw challenge on Hibbert. 

As it was, parity for Roberto Martinez’s team arrived in the 52nd minute as Baines earned some kind of redemption by planting a typically accurate cross on to the head of Naismith. He found the roof of the net from seven yards.

Jagielka then saw a header cleared from the line by Falcao as United threatened to implode. A rash Howard clearance gave United unexpected possession just after the hour and when Di Maria dragged a shot from 25 yards across goal, Falcao was alert enough to divert it past the Everton keeper for his first United goal.

Di Maria and Falcao were excellent at times on Sunday. If they remain fit, we will see more of that. How Di Maria was given the man-of-the-match award by TV was a mystery, though. This was David’s day.

Jagielka goal stunned Liverpool as Everton avoid defeat in Merseyside derby 1-1

Liverpool 1-1 Everton: Phil Jagielka stunner in injury time cancels out Steven Gerrard free-kick to clinch Merseyside derby draw
For two proud captains, this was the Redemption Derby. Steven Gerrard and Phil Jagielka have each been on the receiving end of unaccustomed criticism this season but neither Brendan Rodgers nor Roberto Martinez could have done without them yesterday.

Gerrard went first in a pulsating derby, pulling rank on Mario Balotelli to take a 65th-minute free-kick and curl it exquisitely past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Overtaken by the emotion of it all, the 34-year-old midfielder let out a joyous screech of pure adrenalin and cupped his hand to his ear — a response to the abuse Evertonians had given him all afternoon.

It looked as if it would be the latest Gerrard classic winner until Jagielka improbably stepped forward in the second minute of injury time and hit a 25-yard screamer that would still be travelling if the net had not stopped it. 

‘I have never seen a better strike live,’ said Everton boss Martinez. ‘It was incredible, though it probably it helps it was in the last minute, at Anfield and for my team.’

There was something poignant about both players hauling their team-mates up by their bootstraps for the biggest game of the season for supporters.  Gerrard has suffered a slow start to the season and found it difficult to recover from the twin blows of making a mistake that cost Liverpool the Premier League title last season and then captaining England to their World Cup failure in Brazil.

No wonder he enjoyed his brilliant set-piece goal.

‘I’ll agree with the constructive criticism and I’ve been stifled in a couple of games when people have followed me around and I haven’t been able to shake them off,’ he said.

‘But then people take it too far and say that “He’s 34 and he can’t run and he’s finished”. I can still compete with the best players around.’

After seeing Balotelli miss with a series of free-kicks in the first half, he had no hesitation in grabbing the ball when the Italian had been fouled by Leighton Baines. ‘You get a feeling for free-kicks in certain areas of the pitch and I fancied it,’ he said.  Rodgers was a bit more forthright. ‘I was screaming for Steven to take it because I know his quality in those situations. But he is so selfless he sometimes wants others to have an opportunity.’

The Liverpool boss was adamant that Gerrard’s goal should have been the winner and in terms of possession and chances he was unquestionably right. Everton could have seen Gareth Barry sent off early for a series of indiscretions, starting with a first-minute foul on Adam Lallana and were relieved when Balotelli hit the crossbar from four yards out following Raheem Sterling’s cross.

But the visitors showed tremendous character to pour bodies forward in the closing stages. Just after the stadium announcer told 45,000 fans there would be three minutes of added time, Aiden McGeady whipped a cross into a crowded penalty area.  Dejan Lovren got good distance with his clearing header but Jagielka returned it with interest with a strike that hit Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet’s top-left hand corner like a bullet. 

It was the 32-year-old defender’s seventh Premier League goal in seven years at Everton and, like Gerrard’s, followed plenty of recent criticism for his displays at the World Cup and his club shipping goals.  Martinez said: ‘There has been talk of a World Cup hangover and I think that has been really unfair. He has set high standards and cares like nobody else.

‘It would have been easy for him as a centre-half to stay in his position while we’re chasing the game. But he came forward because of his belief and sense of responsibility he has. He showed the way to face adversity. Nobody deserved to score more than him.’

Given the form of both teams going into the 223rd Merseyside derby, a goal glut was widely predicted.

Everton had conceded 17 goals in seven games and Liverpool had been beaten in three of their five Premier League outings.

The opening was as ferocious as in any previous derby.

Barry was booked for his early go at Lallana and could have been sent off either for handling Sterling’s shot inside the area or clipping Balotelli, both inside the first 11 minutes.

Neither was given by referee Martin Atkinson, who also waved away Everton appeals for a penalty when Alberto Moreno shoved Romelu Lukaku.

Everton were lucky to reach half-time on terms, with Howard making excellent stops to deny Balotelli and Lallana. 

Oliver Giroud saves a point for Arsenal versus Everton 2-2

Skysports

Arsenal scored two late goals as they came from behind in a gripping encounter at Goodison Park to hold Everton to a 2-2 draw.

Seamus Coleman opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a  header from Gareth Barry’s pass and Steven Naismith tucked away a second just before half-time following great play by Romelu Lukaku, although replays showed the goal should have been chalked off for offside.

Olivier Giroud, who only came on at half-time for Alexis Sanchez, then headed in to salvage an unlikely point for Arsenal in the 90th minute.

Arsenal had the better of the opening 15 minutes, but it quickly became apparent they were lacking a clinical edge.

Ramsey tried to carve open the home defence with a series of cutting passes, and there were plenty of fancy touches from Sanchez, who harassed the home defence with his pace, but Tim Howard remained untested in the Everton goal.

The only chance Arsenal mustered in the first half came when Coleman cleared straight to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Luckily for the hosts, the England winger side-footed wide.

Olivier Giroud, who only came on at half-time for Alexis Sanchez, then headed in to salvage an unlikely point for Arsenal in the 90th minute.

John Terry saves the day for Chelsea versus Everton 1-0

Cahill and Terry rejoicing

By Owen PhillipsBBC Sport at Stamford Bridge

John Terry grabbed a stoppage-time winner as Chelsea beat Everton to retain their advantage at the top of the Premier League.

Blues captain Terry slid in with goalkeeper Tim Howard to meet Frank Lampard's inswinging free-kick, denying Everton a fully deserved point against their lacklustre hosts. Neither side created many clear chances but the Toffees looked sharper for much of the game, only to lose out in agonising fashion.

The league leaders lacked cohesion, despite a promising opening and a marked improvement in the final stages.  But the victory, their 12th in 14 home league games this season, means they are one point clear of Arsenal and three points ahead of Manchester City, though the latter have one game in hand. Everton's hopes of ending Jose Mourinho's remarkable home league record, which now stands at 74 games unbeaten as Blues manager, were dealt a blow in the warm-up.

Lacina Traore had to be replaced in the starting line-up because of a hamstring injury, but the change seemed to unnerve the hosts more. The fit-again Terry, Gary Cahill and their defensive colleagues struggled to deal with Everton's movement and lack of an out-and-out striker. Traore's stand-in Steven Naismith, a scorer in both his past two games against the Blues - including the winner at Goodison Park in September, impressed while Leon Osman and Kevin Mirallas also caught the eye.

But for all their fine build-up play, they did not regularly test goalkeeper Petr Cech. Mirallas mis-kicked a great chance and also had a deflected effort go wide, while Phil Jagielka glanced a header off target. The closest they came before the break was when Osman forced a stunning tip-over from Cech with a fierce 20-yard strike. Chelsea, with Eden Hazard again their main threat, were disjointed and sloppy in possession for the majority of the first period, though Samuel Eto'o threatened on several occasions and Willian had a couple of tame shots easily dealt with. 

But the hosts lacked conviction and it was no surprise when a frustrated Mourinho changed things at the break. Ramires replaced the ineffective and injured Oscar, and his introduction led to a slight improvement, but still little in the way of goal threat. Branislav Ivanovic had a powerful close-range half-volley beaten away, and Hazard and Willian had attempts at goal. At the other end Cech had to make a brilliant diving reaction save to keep out an Osman shot that took a nick off Mirallas.

But just as Everton, who have not won at Stamford Bridge since 1994, seemed to have withstood a period of late pressure, Lampard's beautifully struck set-piece allowed Terry to earn his side victory.

Rivals Everton and Liverpool scores a 3-3 draw after a pulsating match

Teammates celebrate as Philippe Coutinho
scored the opening goal 

The Merseyside Derby ends in a draw after a pulsating match at the Goodison Park. 

The scoring began as early as the 5th minute after Philippe Coutinho caught Steven Gerrard's corner, and flicked it before side footing it past Tim Howard and James McCarthy who was inside the goal and give Liverpool the early lead.  Four minutes later, Everton equalised after Kevin Mirallas collected the rebound from Ross Barkley in side foot shot in front of Simon Mignolet. 

Ten minutes later, Luis Suarez brought Liverpool back in the lead after curling his free kick which slip past between Steven Pienaar and Gareth Barry and escape the outstretched hands of Tim Howard. 

Everton suffered a blow when striker Leighton Baines was substituted by Gerrard Deulofeu after limping through an injury.  The substitute never disappoints as he was sent clear by Mirallas before his attempt was quickly blocked by Mignolet. 

Everton clawed back  when Romel Lukaku side footed in the 72nd minute after a flurry of touches that found the ball to him.  Ten minutes later in the 82nd minute, Romel Lukaku again soared past Jon Flanagan to score a header and give Everton a close chance at victory.  However, that was not meant to be Liverpool striker, Daniel Sturridge, who entered as substitute headed the goal from a free kick by Steven Gerrard. 

Then, Gerrard Deulofeu's missed chances and that of Romel Lukaku's anemic pass to his team mate haunts Everton as it could have rendered a different result.  

Come from behind Everton win courtesy of Romelu Lukaku 2-3

Leighton Baines after his second free kick goal

Romel Lukaku completed a come from behind win of Everton against West Ham United in the latest round of the English Premiere League. Lukaku's bullet header in the 85th minute came just two minutes after Leighton Baines scored his second free kick shot from the same spot to secure a 2-3 victory. Lukaku's brilliant goal seems to eclipse Leighton Baines double for the night. 

Ironically, it was Lukaku who pass the ball to Kevin Mirallas on the right flank.  Mirallas, then almost out of space lay it back with lobbing cross which was perfectly timed by Lukaku to launch his bullet header that sent Everton fans in frenzy. 

Earlier, West Ham United seized the initiative in the 32nd minute when Matt Jarvis squared the ball to Ravel Morrison at the center.  Morrison's shot got a help from a deflection by Everton defender Sylvain Distin to find the ball at the back of the net.  It is only in the second half when Everton answered as Leighton Baines scored a curling free kick courtesy of a James Collin foul on Kevin Mirallas. 

West Ham United however seems determined to finish Everton as Mark Noble gave back West Ham the lead through a completed penalty shot from a foul by James MacCarthy on West Ham captain Kevin Nolan. 

Mark Noble's heroics however was overshadowed when he committed his second yellow card in the 81st minute off a foul on Kevin Mirallas.  Adding insult to injury in his sent off is that it allowed Leighton Baines to score his second goal and an equalizer sending a double whammy on West Ham United.  

Another scoreless draw for Everton

Steven Pienaar attended by medical staff after being hit by an elbow of Cardiff's Kim Bo Kyung

 Everton again failed to find the back of the net after 90 minutes of action with Cardiff City. The game is dominated by missed opportunities as both teams found some brilliant moments but always failed to finish it off. 

The best moment of the match came at the 45th minute mark as it almost broke the ice for scoring.  Everton defender Seamus Coleman fired a cross from the left flank which found Nikita Jelavic in the middle of the penalty box and heads from a point blank range.  His header however slightly touch the sidebar as Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall promptly tipped the ball to safety. It is one of the highlights in what turned out to be an agonizing night to Everton which finished scoreless again like its first game with West Bromwich Albion in the opening game. 

Leighton Baines (left) and Seamus Coleman rues some missed opportunities

 Other Everton players did not fare any better.  Leighton Baines and Kevin Mirallas both squandered opportunities late in the game.  Baines intercepts a pass for Matthew Conolly in the 75th minute and was a nice buildup.  His promising attack fizzled out as his shot went off target after Fraizer Campbell distracted the shot.  Baines again tried at the 82nd minute, this time with a wide open shot a few meters from the center of the penalty box which beat David Marshall but missed by few inches. Kevin Mirallas woeful afternoon was highlighted with his failed attempt to issue a cross late in the game.  He also later squandered a great opportunity in the 85th minute.  Mirallas received a pass from Ross Barkley and already beat his defenders but instead of taking the shot Mirallas shift the ball from his left foot to his right and allowed Matthew Conolly to steal the ball from him.  Mirallas was replaced immediately after that play. 

Fraizer Campbell 

Cardiff City could have earned three points in this game had Craig Bellamy finished it in the 62nd minute.  Gary Medel, the former Sevilla man, intercepts a pass.  Medel pass it to Kim Bo Kyung who found a streaking Craig Bellamy from the right.  Kyung then pass a through ball to Bellamy. Bellamy kick the ball to make find some space but his kick was a little stronger and rolled beyond his reach and past the goal, enabling the Everton defense to recover.  

In the ensuing play, Peter Whittingham fires a cross but it missed Gary Medel for a tap in and Cardiff City's best scoring chance is gone. 

Everton tried to awaken its offense with the introduction of Gerald Deulofeu who showed some promise but it was a little too late as time runs out for both teams.