Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao scored either side of half time to cancel out Steven Naismith's equaliser as Manchester United overcame Everton 2-1 at Old Trafford to temporarily climb into the top four of the Premier League.

After dominating much of the early play but struggling to really test Tim Howard in the Everton goal, United took the lead through summer signing Di Maria in the 27th minute.

The Argentinian netted his third goal for his new club with a curling right-foot finish after being teed up by Juan Mata.

Everton's first shot didn't arrive until the 39th minute when Romelu Lukaku brought down a pass from Leighton Baines before swiping his effort wide of the target.

Just before the interval the visitors had the chance to equalise from the penalty spot after a reckless challenge in the area from Luke Shaw on Tony Hibbert.

Left-back Baines had never missed a Premier League penalty before but saw his perfect streak from 12 yards end at 14 when David de Gea dived low to his right to palm the ball away from goal.

Falcao, who went into this match without a goal since joining on loan from Monaco last month, could have found the net five minutes after the break but misfired from Shaw's cutback.

Soon after Everton had an equaliser when a well-worked free kick between Gareth Barry and Baines saw the latter whip over a cross that Naismith headed home from close range.

The Toffees were only level for a few minutes, though, as Falcao, not long after making a crucial goal-line clearance at the other end, poked home a mishit shot from Di Maria for his first United goal.

Everton struggled to really create any chances for an equaliser until the final moments of the game, when they bombarded the United goal.

First, De Gea denied Leon Osman with a sprawling dive to his right after the midfielder had burst into the box and fired at goal.

Then, in injury time, the Spanish keeper again produced a fingertip stop to keep out Bryan Oviedo after Tyler Blackett had thrown himself in front of Barry's close-range strike.

Victory sees United go fourth for the time being. Everton stay down in 17th and have still won just once in seven league games this season.