Chris Smalling admits that Manchester United were out of sorts "from the first whistle" in their 3-0 defeat against Everton.

Goals from James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas gave the Toffees three points at Goodison Park and dented United's quest for an automatic place in the group stages of next season's Champions League.

Smalling has conceded that the Red Devils never looked like threatening to beat Everton this afternoon.

He is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "It was very disappointing. I think that was the first time this season that we were off the pace from the first whistle. From the first moment to the last we were second best.

"I think we lacked aggression. That is what the manager emphasised to us after the game, that they seemed to want it more than us.

"Everton were very compact and we could not find the gaps and break them down. That is going to be the way that teams line up against us though after the run of results we have had."

Fourth-placed United still have a seven-point gap on Liverpool below them, but the Reds have a game in hand on their North-West rivals.