Robin van
Persie's much-anticipated debut for Manchester United failed to prevent
Everton delivering an early reality check in their bid to regain the
Barclays Premier League title.
While defending
champions and near-neighbours City achieved a come-from-behind win
against Southampton the Red Devils were second best for most of the
night at Goodison Park.
Jump for joy: Marouane Fellaini gets up to head the ball past United keeper David De Gea
MATCH FACTS
Everton: Howard,
Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines,Osman (Coleman 80), Gibson, Neville,
Pienaar,Fellaini (Heitinga 90), Jelavic (Naismith 89)
Subs not used: Mucha, Gueye, Barkley, Anichebe
Booked: Gibson
Goals: Fellaini 57.
Man Utd: De Gea, Valencia, Carrick, Vidic, Evra, Nani (Young 78),
Cleverley (Anderson 85), Scholes, Kagawa, Rooney,Welbeck (van Persie 68)
Cleverley (Anderson 85), Scholes, Kagawa, Rooney,Welbeck (van Persie 68)
Subs not used: Lindegaard, Da Silva, Berbatov, Wootton
Booked: Nani, Scholes.
Att: 38,415
Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
The thorn in
their side was midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who was a constant threat
and deservedly capped an impressive performance with the only goal early
in the second half.
Van Persie, a
£24million acquisition from Arsenal, was brought in to provide the
additional firepower needed to challenge City but in a late substitute
appearance he did not register a shot on target.
His team-mates had not done much better in the previous 70 minutes , however, as the Toffees dominated.
It was the
first time United had failed to win their opening fixture since 2008 but
it was a first victory in five seasons for the Toffees, perennial slow
starters.
For once,
though, they began the campaign where they had left off as after losing
eight of their first 14 league games last season they went on a
nine-match unbeaten run up to its conclusion.
One of those
was a 4-4 draw at Old Trafford in which Fellaini played a key part,
scoring in one of his more dominant performances, to help swing the
title race in City's favour.
Sir Alex
Ferguson should have learned from that but he was hamstrung by the fact
United started the match with just two recognised defenders: Nemanja
Vidic, who had not played since December because of knee injury, and
Patrice Evra, whose future has been a matter for debate all summer.
And we're off: Fellaini sprints away to celebrate after scoring for Everton
Winger Antonio
Valencia was deployed at right-back while midfielder Michael Carrick was
positioned alongside Vidic in the absence of the injured Rio Ferdinand.
That was a telling factor in David De Gea being the busiest - and most impressive - player in the first half.
However, he was
run a close second by Fellaini, playing just behind striker Nikica
Jelavic, who was the dominant force in United's penalty area.
Fan-tastic: Marouane Fellaini celebrates his goal with Nikica Jelavic in front of the Everton supporters
The Belgium
international had already headed over Leighton Baines' corner before he
collected a throw-in and turned into the penalty area, holding off
Carrick, to hit the post from the narrowest of angles.
He was also the
creator as his aerial power and strength on the ball saw him chest one
back for Steven Pienaar to slice wide and then knock down a cross which
Leon Osman did superbly well to hit on the turn only for De Gea to bat
away the shot.
The United
goalkeeper, who arrived last season from Atletico Madrid and quickly
earned a reputation for being suspect under pressure which he took a
while to shake off, was on top form throughout.
On the ball: Robin van Persie warmed up before taking his place on the Manchester United bench
Game for a laugh: Van Persie shares a joke with new team-mate Anderson as he watches the first half
He denied
Jelavic, tipped over a long-range Pienaar header and flung himself to
his left to save the South Africa midfielder's low shot before
preventing Baines' deflected free-kick sneaking into the top corner.
But it was not all one-way traffic as United had chances of their own, though not as good or as numerous as their hosts.
Danny Welbeck,
the player with most to lose from Van Persie's arrival, had one shot
blocked by Phil Jagielka and hooked another wide under pressure from the
centre-back.
Struggle: Robin van Persie could not make his mark on the game
The only way is up: It was a disappointing start to his Manchester United career for Robin van Persie
No holding back: Everton left-back Leighton Baines and United winger Nani get stuck in
Former
Evertonian Wayne Rooney was quiet by his standards, hitting two shots
too close to Tim Howard and seeing a late first-half header punched
clear.
Fellaini's
ravaging of the United defence continued after the interval as his
header across goal was smashed against the crossbar by Leon Osman with
De Gea, for once, beaten.
And the big
Belgian was finally rewarded for his outstanding display with a goal in
the 57th minute when former Red Devil Darron Gibson swung over a corner
and he left Carrick sprawling on the turf to power home a header.
No fear: Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea clears under pressure
Welcome to the Premier League: Shinji Kagawa was named in the Manchester United starting XI
The presence of
one of United's other summer signings Shinji Kagawa in the starting
line-up had prompted a slight tweak in formation to accommodate the
advanced role favoured by the attacking midfielder.
He had plenty
of good touches around the penalty area, the best of which in the second
half teed up Welbeck who was denied by Jagielka's perfectly-judged
tackle.
The Everton
defender's timing was even better when he cleared Tom Cleverley's shot
off the line before, in the 68th minute, Van Persie was finally sent on.
Worth a try: Leon Osman has a go as United skipper Nemanja Vidic keeps a close eye on him
Rooney moved
out to the left to allow the Dutchman to slot in up front but it was
Kagawa who was next to threaten, forcing Howard to race off his line to
block his run and shot.
Everton had won
only twice at home against United in 17 years but this result proved,
if they can maintain a half-decent start, they are destined for bigger
things this season.
Another new recruit: Kevin Mirallas is introduced to the Everton supporters before the kick-off
David De Gea
had to be at his best in the first half, saving from Leon Osman and then
keeping out a free-kick from Leighton Baines.
Wayne Rooney
had a couple of chances for the visitors but it was the home side, with
Fellaini making them tick, who bossed the opening 45 minutes.
Going it alone: Marouane Fellaini hit the post from a tight angle early in the first half
Hard to handle: Everton striker Nikica Jelavic tries to get away from Patrice Evra (left) and Tom Cleverley
Osman then
smashed an effort off the crossbar shortly after the restart and Everton
kept up the pressure until Fellaini powered home a header just short of
the hour mark.
Van Persie left the bench to warm up just after the goal and was on the pitch in place of Danny Welbeck 10 minutes later.
But Everton kept him quiet and deserved the three points.
Experience: Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes tries to get Manchester United going
Star man: Marouane Fellaini caused Manchester United plenty of problems
