Manchester United quickly returned to the Premier League winners' list with a 3-0 result over Everton on Saturday.
Louis van Gaal's Red Devils skipped away to a two-goal lead inside 25 minutes before Wayne Rooney ended an eight-year scoring drought at Goodison Park when wrapping it up for the visitors in the second half.
Morgan Schneiderlin opened the scoring in the 18th minute when he swept home unmarked in the area before Ander Herrera added a second four minutes later when heading home Marco Rojo's pinpoint left-wing cross.
On a sad day for Everton, who said goodbye to cub legend Howard Kendall who had earlier passed away, it was an Evertonian who completed the scoring when Rooney raced onto a through ball from Herrera before slotting beyond Tim Howrd with consummate ease for just his second of the season.
The win sees United remain third on the table, two points behind league leaders Manchester City, as Roberto Martinez's Everton fell to ninth.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Everton: 0
Manchester United: 3 (Morgan Schneiderlin 18', Ander Herrera 22', Wayne Rooney 62')
Goodison Park, Liverpool - 39,553
TALKING POINTS
- Can Everton quickly recoil from a loss like this after winning three of the past four against United?
- Do Man Utd have the quality to seriously challenge? Is Herrera an integral part of van Gaal's line-up?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Everton have the unenviable task of heading to Arsenal next Saturday as they look to bounce back while United will focus their attention on Wednesday's Champions League trip to Russia to face CSKA Moscow before they host City in the Manchester derby next weekend.
TWITTER INSIGHT
This is the way we have to react after a defeat,very happy!//así se reacciona tras una derrota! Muy feliz pic.twitter.com/MKY0M9HQ3M
— Ander Herrera (@AnderHerrera) October 17, 2015Great win & great performance from the team ! Buzzing after my 1st goal for @ManUtd#1stcompetitivegoalpic.twitter.com/Kg4QSiUlia
— Morgan Schneiderlin (@SchneiderlinMo4) October 17, 2015JAGIELKA: @PJags06 says Blues must focus on important fixtures ahead, rather than dwell on @ManUtd defeat: http://t.co/cjZCUqPnEo#EFC
— Everton (@Everton) October 18, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
Everton's Martinez on Kendall's death and if it affected his players:
"I wouldn't want to think so.
"It was the worst, shocking news and everyone was really sad but we wanted to change it around and make it a real celebration.
"Howard was such an iconic footballer and what he achieved as a manager will always be an inspiration."
Man Utd boss van Gaal on Rooney hitting back at his critics:
"You (the press) are always doubting him.
"He scored now. I am very happy for him. For me it is not important if he scores or not scores."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
8 - Ander Herrera has scored eight goals from just 10 shots on target in the Premier League for @ManUtd. Clinical.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 17, 201517 - Wayne Rooney has netted his first PL away goal since November 2014, ending a run of 17 games without one. Relief.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 17, 2015187 - @WayneRooney is now the joint-second top scorer in Premier League history along with @vancole9. Milestone.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 18, 2015
TEAM LEADERS
EVERTON
Goals - Romelu Lukaku 5
Assists - Ross Barkley 3
Clean sheets - Tim Howard 3
Yellow cards - James McCarthy 3
Red cards - Kevin Mirallas 1
MAN UTD
Goals - Juan Mata, Anthony Martial 3
Assists - Juan Mata 3
Clean sheets - Sergio Romero 3
Yellow cards - Matteo Darmian 4
