Manchester United v Everton
The last time these two sides met, Everton won a penalty shootout to reach the FA Cup final at Manchester United's expense.
There was to be no such ecstacy this time around.
The Blues were searching for their first win at Old Trafford since August 1992 but the reigning champions demonstrated they are more than capable of securing a record-breaking 19th title this season as goals from Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia kept David Moyes' men in the bottom half.
In a further blow, midfielder Marouane Fellaini was booked in the first half and will now miss Wednesday's trip to Hull City.
David Moyes made just one change from the side which won at West Ham prior to the international break, bringing in Lucas Neill at the expense of Tony Hibbert. 
Louis Saha fends off Wes Brown
It meant Louis Saha led the line alone at the stadium he called home for four and a half years prior to moving to Merseyside.
For United, Sir Alex Ferguson opted to do what England boss Fabio Capello won't and paired Wayne Rooney with Michael Owen.
From the beginning Everton's game plan was clear - keep it tight, defend in numbers and look to the pace of Saha on the break.
For 36 minutes it worked as United were restricted to rare sights of goal, a weak shot from Giggs the only effort to trouble Howard in the opening half hour.
Saha though was having little joy going forward and himself only troubled van der Sar once. Receiving the ball just inside the box the Frenchman swivelled on the spot but failed to muster the power to trouble his former team-mate.
Everton's resiliance was finally broken nine minutes before the break. And in some style.
Patrice Evra delivered a swirling cross from the left which Valencia headed back towards the edge of the box. Waiting was Fletcher who unleashed a thunderous right-footed volley which soared high to Howard's right.
Wayne Rooney faced his former Club.
From that point an Everton comeback was always a big ask. Following this game United remain the only Premier League team this season not to have dropped points from a winning position.
In attempt to find a route back into the game Moyes replaced Dan Gosling with Yakubu at the break, switching to 4-4-2.
The move prompted a greater urgency to get forward and when Heitinga ventured towards the United box for perhaps the first time of the afternoon he found room to test van der Sar with a floated left-foot shot.
Fellaini broke through and had the ball in the net shortly afterwards but was rightly flagged offide, while at the other end Rooney saw a curling effort clip the crossbar.
Carrick's measured shot did double United's lead shortly after though and when Valencia's shot looped off Leighton Baines and past Howard 14 minutes from time a home win became inevitable.
Jack Rodwell may have added a late consolation for the Blues but saw his fierce drive turned away by van der Sar.
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Mick Askey
The first half on Saturday was very frustrating as we gave the ball away too many times particularly Cahill who appears to be struggling this season. With no real pace in the side, we do need to keep the ball much better and not give away cheap possession. Basic stuff. Utd were no great shakes but we allowed them to secure an easy win. We looked better with Yak & Saha up front but the second goal killed us again siitting too deep and allowing space on the edge of our box. We need to be more positive starting with Hull on Wednesday to warm us up nicely to inflict more pain and misery on Rafa with a win against the reds.
Monday 23rd Nov 2009 13:41
Mark Quinn
richy wood has it spot on. we only ever get adventurous when we've gone behind and are chasing the game. i love davy and i accept the limited resources he has at times but we've got to give it a go more often. even at home he's played some very negative, cautious line ups when we should be going out and clobbering these teams from the first whistle. it happens too often.
Monday 23rd Nov 2009 13:19
Craig Webb
was at the game on Saturday and from what i seen of them Jo and Fellaini really need to make a big improvement. At times Yobo and Distin were breaking further up the park than the midfield! However, thought the 1st 10 minutes of both halves were encouraging but we just looked tired and burnt out. We def need players back asap....Bily, Phil, Piennar all back for derby?
Monday 23rd Nov 2009 08:40
Zack Tan
the only moment i enjoyed was when Fellaini picking up his yellow card...
Monday 23rd Nov 2009 06:38
Pearse Dore
May not look good now but if we beat Hull and then the reds, well at least we'd be head of woeful rafa and his men. Probably not a chance of that happening with the injuries we have at the moment but lets see the lads prove me wrong.
Sunday 22nd Nov 2009 19:49
Mike Moran
the problem we have is that all of our midfield players are very similar, small, lightweight, slow and easily knocked off the ball, we need to be a little more brave in our approach to some of our easier games instead of being negative, JUST GIVE IT A GO
Sunday 22nd Nov 2009 19:37
We looked and do look ordinary and tired, we lack leadership and style wow do we need our missing players back. We really could do with Piennar and Neville now. We get little snippets telling us the pair together with Osman may be back for united game but then nothing, please tell us what is really happening with some hard fixtures coming up we could be heading for the bottom 3 without these players
Sunday 22nd Nov 2009 14:14
richy wood
loved davey moyes since day dot,however i do wish he would take the same apprach as steve bruce against the "so called" top 4,sunderland got credit for performance at old trafford they got a fantastic result yesterday and continue to raise eyebrows.Just take a risk davey PLEASE!!p.s.4.4.2.
Sunday 22nd Nov 2009 13:11
colin dolman
WELL PLAYED BOYS WE WILL GO UP THE TABLE SOON COYB
Sunday 22nd Nov 2009 11:45
Margaret Walch
It shows how much we need Arteta , Jagielka and Neville to be fit again
Sunday 22nd Nov 2009 10:50
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