Ruben Amorim blasts Man Utd's 'lack of fight' in shock Everton defeat

The United manager criticised his players' lack of intensity during a flat performance that ended their five-match unbeaten Premier League run.

United were given a major advantage when Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was sent off in the 20th minute for slapping teammate Michael Keane during a heated exchange. But instead of taking control, United were overrun, and Everton struck first when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall guided a low effort into the far corner on 29 minutes.

Amorim acknowledged that his side never recovered. "Frustration, disappointment about the way we played the game," he said. "They were the better team. With 11 they were solid, and for 70 minutes with 10 men they defended really well.

"I think we deserved to lose. We didn't play well, we didn't play with the right intensity."

United, who had been unbeaten in the league since mid-October, created little despite Amorim making three substitutions before the hour in an attempt to inject urgency. Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a smart save to deny Joshua Zirkzee late on, but the visitors survived comfortably and claimed their first league win at Old Trafford since 2013.

Amorim warned that the performance reflected deeper problems. "We are not near the point we should be to fight for the best positions in the league," he said. "We need to be perfect to win games and we were not.

"When the red card came, we needed to win that game, no matter what."

The Portuguese coach stressed that the defeat was a collective failure, not the fault of any individual. "These five weeks everyone was praising our evolution, and I am always saying the same things, we are not near," he added. "Old Trafford was there for us to make a big step, and we were not ready."

United missed the chance to climb back towards the top four, and Amorim admitted he feared a return of the inconsistency that troubled the club last season. "I feel afraid of returning this feeling of last season," he said. "That is my biggest concern. We need to work together and we need to be better."

Manchester United now prepare for a difficult trip to Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace await in their next Premier League fixture.