MANCHESTER UNITED suffered a humiliating defeat to relegation-threatened Everton on Saturday.
The Toffees managed to hold onto a marginal 1-0 lead which has set United further back in their hopes for a top four finish.
Following the loss, Cristiano Ronaldo displayed a furious outburst where it appeared that the Portuguese icon slapped an object down to the ground before entering the tunnel.
Since then, Ronaldo has apologised but the club confirmed that they were "looking into" the incident.
And Erik Ten Hag has made one request to the Manchester United hierarchy amid his potential switch in the summer.
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- Alex Cole
United down and out?
The full-time result yesterday was blasted by players and pundits alike, with Red Devils stopper David De Gea labelling the performance as "disgraceful".
Elsewhere club legend turned pundit Gary Neville slammed Ralf Rangnick's side as "a joke".
United have now lost three of their last five games, with Rangnick picking up just eight league victories from 17 games.
That's a win percentage of 47 per cent, worse than any other United manager in Premier League history.
- Alex Cole
Ronaldo says sorry
Cristiano Ronaldo has apologised for his furious outburst at Goodison Park, writes JOSHUA JONES.
The Manchester United forward appeared to slap an object – said by eyewitnesses to be a mobile phone – out of a supporter's hand as he trudged down the tunnel.
His club confirmed they were "looking into" the incident, which was circulated on social media with suggestions the phone was allegedly smashed.
And tonight he posted on Instagram to say sorry – then offered the unfortunate Everton fan the chance to come and watch another United game.
Ronaldo, 37, said: "It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing.
"Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game."
As we said in our good morning post below, Ronaldo then invited the supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a "sign of fair-play and sportsmanship".
- Kealan Hughes
Jose eyeing a Lingard reunion
Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard is tempted to pursue a free transfer to Italy this summer, with three Serie A clubs linked.
One suitor is AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho, eyeing a reunion with the 29-year-old years on from their fruitful relationship at Old Trafford, according to The Mirror.
Lingard is set to leave when his contract expires in the summer but he could still stay in the Premier League.
West Ham are long-term admirers while Newcastle also wanted the midfielder in January, so could move back in for him.
- Kealan Hughes
Morning, United fans
Erik ten Hag wants '100% control' over transfers – and you can see why after yesterday's 1-0 defeat at Everton.
Anthony Gordon's deflected drive on 27 minutes left United seventh, three points off the top four, after another sub-standard display.
It comes amid claims Ten Hag would demand overseeing the Red Devils' overall transfer policy, as well as individual ins-and-outs.
The Ajax chief last night refused to discuss 'rumours' of him becoming permanent Old Trafford boss.
But his arrival this summer is commonly regarded as a done deal.
And judging by yesterday's lack of craft United might need a bigger squad overhaul than previously hoped.
Interim chief Ralf Rangnick said: “We should have created more chances out of that domination in the first 25 minutes.
“Then we conceded a deflected shot, a goal after a deflected shot, and after that lost a little bit of our composure and stride.
“Second half we tried to add more creativity… but didn’t always take the right decisions.”
Meanwhile, fit-again striker Cristiano Ronaldo apologised for his ‘outburst’ at a fan as he showed his frustration at Goodison Park.
The legend seemed to knock a supporter’s phone away but later posted: “It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments…
“Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game.
“I would like to apologize for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair-play and sportsmanship.”
Finally, former Old Trafford assistant boss Rene Meulensteen claims Paul Pogba has failed to live up to expectations at United.
- Ian Tuckey
Ron rage hurt my autistic son
A mum claims Cristiano Ronaldo left her autistic son battered and bruised when he slapped an iPhone out of his hand in a fit of rage after losing to Everton, writes SARAH GREALISH.
Sarah Kelly had taken her 14-year-old son to cheer on his beloved Blues for the first time when the day turned sour.
Video circulating on social media after today’s match showed a visibly angry Ronaldo knocking a mobile phone out of a supporter's hand as he made his way of the Goodison Park turf.
Now Sarah has claimed it is her son who was “assaulted” by the United superstar as he headed back to the away team dressing room.
She told The Liverpool Echo: "At full-time the Man United players started walking off. We were in the Park End so we were right by the tunnel where they came walking past – my son was there videoing them all.
"He filmed all the United players walking through. And then he lowered his phone because Ronaldo had pulled down his sock and his leg was bleeding. He lowered his phone to see what it was – he didn’t even speak.
"Ronaldo then just walked past, with a terrible, terrible temper and smashed the phone out of my son’s hand and carried on walking."
- Ian Tuckey
Ronaldo 'sorry' for fan clash
Cristiano Ronaldo has apologised for his 'outburst' at a fan in Manchester United's 1-0 loss at Everton today and invited them to be his guest at a game.
The legend seemed to knock a supporter's phone away in frustration as United's top-four hopes faded with another sub-standard display..
But Ron, 37, later posted on Instagram: “It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing.
“Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game.
“I would like to apologize for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair-play and sportsmanship.”
- Ian Tuckey
Steen on his character
Rene Meulensteen has blasted Paul Pogba for not living up to expectations since his big money move from Juventus in 2016.
The comments come just days after Meulensteen was linked with the Manchester United assistant manager job.
The 58-year-old already has Old Trafford experience, having served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s No2 between 2007 and 2013, and is a potential deputy to the incoming Erik ten Hag.
And despite the links, Meulensteen has taken aim at Pogba after the 29-year-old put in another mediocre performance off the bench in United’s 1-0 defeat to Everton.
He questioned whether Pogba was actually suited to the Premier League at all, with the midfielder failing to lead United to a league title in his six-year spell at the club.
Meulensteen told Stadium Astro: “Failure is a big word but has Pogba lived up to the expectations? I don’t think so.
“He knew what the expectations were when he came back, to compete for the Premier League and the Champions League.
“Not everything has clicked with the players around him or the system, does he actually suit the Premier League?”
- Ian Tuckey
Spurs 'feel the blood' of Arsenal and Man Utd
Antonio Conte admits Tottenham were able to “feel the blood” of wobbling Champions League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United.
Son Heung-Min grabbed a hat-trick and Dejan Kulusevski as Conte’s team grabbed a fourth successive win in their Champions League bid.
Italian coach Conte said: “It was a great win for us and it wasn't easy. But a great win, especially when you play a game after the games of your rivals, who lost. You have to show in this very moment that you start to feel the blood of your opponent. It is important not to fail.
“For sure Arsenal, United and West Ham are with us in the same place for a Champions League place and to know your opponent lost their games gives you the will to get the three points. Our rivals lose games but if we lose there is no advantage.
“We looked at our rivals and knew we had to exploit the situation and we did this despite the difficulty of the game.”
- Ian Tuckey
Ralf has worst win rate for Man Utd bosses
Ralf Rangnick will be thankful he's only the interim boss of Manchester United.
The German, 63, boasts the unwanted record of the LOWEST win percentage as United manager in Premier League history.
Unsurprisingly, it's Sir Alex Ferguson who tops the list, way ahead of the rest with a staggering 65 percent winning percentage as boss.
But out of eight Red Devils managers in the Premier League era, including interim and caretakers, Rangnick is statistically the worst.
Saturday's dire 1-0 defeat to struggling Everton means in 17 Premier League games at the helm, Rangnick has led the club to just eight victories.
That's a win percentage of just 47 percent, with the Red Devils picking up three points in less than half of the league games he has taken charge of.
Rangick in fact is the only man to have NOT won at least half of his games in charge.
- Ian Tuckey
Lineker: Everton win was 'only against Man Utd'
Gary Lineker trolled Ralf Rangnick's flops Man Utd's demise as he praised his struggling old club Everton for their 1-0 home victory.
The ex-England striker posted: Massive win for @everton. I know it’s only against @ManUtd but it’s huge nevertheless."
Lineker's joshing split social media – some fans accusing him of 'hating United, others replying with messages such as 'He's winding you up, Looks like it worked'.
-0 Goodison Park win today
- Ian Tuckey
Meul moan over Pogba
Rene Meulensteen has blasted Paul Pogba for not living up to expectations since his big money move from Juventus in 2016.
The comments come just days after Meulensteen was linked with the Manchester United assistant manager job.
The 58-year-old already has Old Trafford experience, having served as Sir Alex Ferguson's No2 between 2007 and 2013, and is a potential deputy to the incoming Erik ten Hag.
And despite the links, Meulensteen has taken aim at Pogba after the 29-year-old put in another mediocre performance off the bench in United's 1-0 defeat to Everton.
He questioned whether Pogba was actually suited to the Premier League at all, with the midfielder failing to lead United to a league title in his six-year spell at the club.
Meulensteen told Stadium Astro: "Failure is a big word but has Pogba lived up to the expectations? I don’t think so.
"He knew what the expectations were when he came back, to compete for the Premier League and the Champions League.
"Not everything has clicked with the players around him or the system, does he actually suit the Premier League?"
- Ian Tuckey
Man Utd investigate Ronaldo clash with fan
Manchester United are reportedly "looking into" an incident involving Cristiano Ronaldo following the Red Devils' 1-0 defeat to Everton.
Eyewitnesses claim a supporter's mobile phone was sent flying to the ground as Ronaldo stormed off the Goodison Park pitch.
Footage of the incident was posted to Twitter, in which the 37-year-old appeared to knock something out of a fan's hands.
And Sky Sports claim the club are now investigating into exactly what happened.
Ronaldo was visibly angry as he made his way of the Goodison Park turf following the Red Devils' dismal loss at the hands of struggling Everton.
And the United superstar appeared to lash out as he headed back to the away team dressing room.
The Portuguese star hobbled off with his left sock rolled down, revealing two nasty cuts to his leg. Footage of the tunnel clash shows Ronaldo carrying his shin pad in his left hand, but his right hand is just out of view as he saunters past the camera.
The striker struggled throughout the lifeless defeat as his United team-mates failed to provide any service. He did eventually have a chance to level things up late on but was denied from close-range by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
- Ian Tuckey
Lampard warning for showboating Richarlison
Richarlison narrowly dodged an 'old school' telling-off from manager Frank Lampard, after Everton beat Manchester United 1-0 at Goodison Park.
As Everton were closing out a slender one goal advantage late on, the Brazilian striker entertained his home crowd by skilfully controlling the ball with his head.
During his post-match interview with BT Sport, Lampard was unimpressed by Richarlison's decision to showboat, stating that he only escaped punishment because of his work ethic.
The Toffees boss said: "I was ready to go all old school on him and tell him off for that – but I’m not going to because he ran his socks off.
"The fans love him because he runs and gives everything.
"Five little keepy-uppy headers are not for me if he gives it away after that, but he had a good day."
- Ian Tuckey
Fans armazed by Harry's handball appeal
Footy fans were left gobsmacked after Manchester United skipper Harry Maguire appeared to appeal for a handball against his own team-mate.
The bizarre incident took place in the first half of the Red Devils' fateful trip to Goodison Park on Saturday to take on Everton.
After a header from Toffees ace Anthony Gordon hit Nemanja Matic just under the arm-pit, Maguire raised his arm in the air and shouted in protest.
The baffling appeal – which can only be explained by Maguire believing Matic's arm belonged to an Everton player – quickly became the talk of social media.
One fan watching the game tweeted: "TF is this guy doin'?!?"
Another said: "Absolute comedy."
And another said: "Walking disaster."
One remarked: "Did he just call a foul on Matic? Good thing I didn’t waste my time on this game LMFAO."
Another chimed in: "He's claiming a handball against his own player!"
United's inconsistent form continued at Goodison as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Frank Lampard's relegation battlers.
- Ian Tuckey
Rio worried about Rashford
Rio Ferdinand is worried about what's going on behind the scenes at Manchester United – in particular with Marcus Rashford.
The England international has fallen down the pecking order in recent weeks and has had to make do with a spot on the bench – although he did start in the Red Devils' 1-0 defeat to Everton on Saturday afternoon.
Rashford has cut a dejected figure when he has taken to the pitch and his body language hasn't gone unnoticed by club legend Ferdinand.
Speaking ahead of United's Premier League clash with Everton, Ferdinand told BT Sport: "He’s left me worried and I’m asking a lot of questions about what is going on behind the scenes.
"Slumped shoulders, not as confident.
"When he burst onto the scene you thought, ‘Oh my god this kid is a player’. I think it stems from the uncertainty of the football club.
"He’s a local boy, who is desperate for this football club to do well.
"He grew up on success, it’s all he saw. It’s deception as a football player that you hide what you’re really feeling.
"I don’t think he can hide it through his body language. He wants some success back at the club. The uncertainty with the manager and his contract.
"When he’s played he’s been out of position and not played as much as he wants under this manager.
"All those things mean you can understand why he’s like that, but as a player with experience, sometimes you need to put on a show for people that might not reflect how you feel at that time."
- Ian Tuckey
Why Mata came on
Ralf Rangnick explained why he handed a rare outing to sub Juan Mata in the 1-0 loss at Everton.
And the interim chief pretty much admitted it was because the Red Devils had ran out of ideas.
He said: Rangnick said: "We had to do something because we needed a goal.
"I decided to bring more creativity with him in midfield and more verticality with Anthony Elanga, but they were defending with all their players in the last 35 minutes.
"We didn't find the right player at the right moment, not always enough players in the box when we played crosses into the box."
- Ian Tuckey
Ten Hag wants '100% transfer control'
Incoming Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reportedly plans to be "100 percent" involved in the club's transfer business.
The Ajax gaffer, 52, is inching ever closer to being named the next permanent manager of Manchester United.
And when he does arrive at Old Trafford, he wants to do things his own way. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claims Ten Hag is determined to oversee all matters transfer related if he is appointed as boss.
He has personally requested from United chiefs to be "100 percent involved in present and future transfers", and therefore the overall policy at the club.
Ten Hag has insisted on overseeing all incomings and outgoings, as well as contract renewals. And one early item for the agenda could be the future of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 37-year-old has just over 12 months remaining on the two-year deal he penned last summer, but could leave at the end of the current campaign if Champions League qualification isn't secured.
Ten Hag is understood to consider control over transfers a "key point" to his Manchester United vision, and wishes to identify players to bring to the club who match his philosophy and style of play.
- Ian Tuckey
Rangnick blasts Utd's lack of creativity
Ralf Rangnick reckons Man Utd paid for not turning domination into chances before Anthony Gordon's Everton winner.
The Old Trafford chief told BT Sport: "If you don't score a single goal in 95 minutes we have to be disappointed.
"We made a good start to the game, had control over the game in the first 25 minutes.
"We should have created more chances out of that domination in the first 25 minutes.
"Then we conceded a deflected shot, a goal after a deflected shot, and after that lost a little bit of our composure and stride.
"Second half we tried to add more creativity and verticality with our substitutions, but didn't always take the right decisions."
- Ian Tuckey
Ralf: We're relying on others
Old Trafford chief Ralf Rangnick said after the 1-0 loss at Everton: "We've spoken about that a few times, we're dependent on other results, but if we don't win our games we'll never have good results from other teams.
"The only thing we can do is stick together.
"Now we have Fred injured as well as Scott McTominay, so that's two midfield sixes injured, hopefully not for too long."
- Ian Tuckey
Top 4 difficult now – Rangnick
Boss Ralf Rangnick admits Man Utd will struggle to get back into the top four after today's below-par 1-0 loss at Everton.
The Red Devils are seventh, three points off the Champions League spots.
- Alex Cole
Substitute ratings
Pogba (for Fred, 36') – 6
United needed some inspiration when he came on and although he linked play well he failed to provide that killer pass his team needed.
Juan Mata (for Matic, 64') – 4
Came on for his first Premier League minutes of the season which showed United's desperation.
Unsurprisingly he looked rusty and struggled to adapt to the pace of the match with Fabian Delph and Allan getting the better of him.
Anthony Elanga (for Rashford, 64') – 5
Had a decent shooting opportunity from just outside the box but blazed over.
- Alex Cole
Forward ratings
Marcus Rashford – 6
Was much more involved in the opening minutes forcing Jordan Pickford into a good save with a header.
But he faded after that with United struggling to get their rhythm going. Could have scored if he got onto the end of Fernandes' clever ball.
Jadon Sancho – 3
Anonymous throughout and should have been substituted instead of Rashford.
Even a switch to the left flank after Rashford came off did not help – his struggling season continues.
Cristiano Ronaldo – 4
Looked lively early on but the service to him stopped after around 15 minutes.
Did not do enough to grab the game by the scruff of the neck like he often does with one or two sloppy touches letting him down when he did venture into dangerous positions.
- Alex Cole
Midfield ratings
Nemanja Matic – 4
Careless in possession and far too lax which resulted in Gordon pinching the ball off him in the build-up to the opening goal.
Failed to get United going and was rightly brought off midway through the second half.
Fred – 5
Provided energy and a sense of urgency compared to Matic when he was on.
But he lasted just 35 minutes as injury forced him to be substituted
Bruno Fernandes – 6
United's creative spark as he so often is. Played a sublime ball to Marcus Rashford early in the second half that the England star should have scored from.
Found it difficult with Everton playing narrowly and occupying the middle of the pitch with plenty of bodies.
- Alex Cole
Goalkeeper and defence ratings
David De Gea – 7
Brilliant save to deny Richarlison to keep United in the game at 1-0 and could do nothing about the goal as the ball deflected past him.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 7
Solid defensive display on his return to the side up against the tricky Richarlison and one brilliant clearance to prevent Everton doubling the lead.
Got forward when he could too with United pushing for an equaliser. Should keep his place against Norwich next week.
Victor Lindelof – 5
One superb block to deny Gordon early in the second half.
Failed to clear properly in the lead up to the Toffees' winner as his attempted fell nicely to Gordon to fire a shot in.
Harry Maguire – 6
Deflected Anthony Gordon's strike into his own net, leaving De Gea helpless.
Defended brilliantly at set-pieces amid the aerial threat from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and nearly assisted Cristiano Ronaldo for a last-gasp equaliser.
Alex Telles – 4
His delivery into the box was not good enough when United needed a bit of quality from out wide to provide a goal.
Clashed with Gordon inside the penalty box but was deemed not to have made a foul, much to the anger of the Everton faithful.
- Alex Cole
Man Utd – player ratings vs Everton
Manchester United fell to their third defeat in five matches against Everton and there were several wretched displays at Goodison Park.
The Red Devils started brightly with Marcus Rashford looking rejuvenated – he had a shot and a header well saved by Jordan Pickford.
But Everton's goal killed any momentum Ralf Rangnick's side had built up and after that United struggled to find their rhythm.
Everton looked more up for it and perhaps would have won by more if not for David De Gea and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Bruno Fernandes tried to get his side going but a lack of creativity from Jadon Sancho and Paul Pogba meant Cristiano Ronaldo was feeding off scraps.
Here is how SunSport's KEALAN HUGHES rated United's performance at Goodison Park.
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