Solskjaer says sorry to supporters after woeful United thumped 4-0 at Everton

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Manchester United’s performance was “difficult to describe because it is so bad” after his team were humiliated by a 4-0 thumping at Everton yesterday.

United fell to their sixth defeat in their last eight matches as goals from Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott handed Everton a convincing and deserved win at Goodison.

Solskjaer said: “We have got to apologise to the fans because they were absolutely fantastic and that performance is not good enough for a Man United team.

“All the way from me to the players, we know that we let the fans down, we let the club down. That performance is difficult to describe because it is so bad. We were beaten on all the things, all the ingredients you need, added to the talent. There is no place you can hide on the pitch.”

Asked whether his players were hurting after a heavy loss, which keeps them sixth in the Premier League, Solskjaer responded: “I don’t know.

“You have got to ask them. I have asked them, you’re not going to get the answer from me.”

United have now conceded 48 goals in the Premier League this term, their most in a topflight campaign since 1979.

Everton’s first yesterday came on 13 minutes. Lucas Digne launched a long throw into the area and Dominic Calvert-lewin flicked on. Richarlison, pictured, met it with an acrobatic volley that flew into the net.

Sigurdsson doubled the lead from a quick counter-attack in the 28th minute. Nemanja Matic backed off enough to allow Sigurdsson to cut inside and unleash a fierce low drive from 30 yards. De Gea was slow to react and the ball shot into the bottom corner.

The interval failed to reenergise United and they conceded again 11 minutes after the restart when Digne lashed in a long-range shot. Walcott coolly slotted home the fourth after being released by Sigurdsson. Arsenal’s hopes of a top-four finish also took a hit yesterday as they were beaten 3-2 by Crystal Palace.

Christian Benteke scored his first goal in 20 games to give Palace a deserved half-time lead, before Mesut Ozil levelled things shortly after the break with a smart finish.

But Roy Hodgson’s men restored their lead when Benteke set up Wilfried Zaha, and the Emirates was then stunned when Scottish midfielder James Mcarthur’s header made it 3-1. Pierreemerick Aubameyang struck again for Arsenal but it was too little, too late and Palace – now safe – held on to move 11 points clear of the relegation zone.

“It’s nice to get over the 40-point marker,” said Hodgson. “It’s nice to have safety mathematically confirmed.”