Manchester United 4-4 Everton

Manchester United threw the door wide open in the title race after failing to close out an amazing game against spirited Everton.

United started the game in a strangely lethargic fashion, with Everton looking like the team with more motivation and ambition, and their opening goal after the half hour mark topped off a brilliant start to the game from the Toffees, Nikica Jelavic cushioning the ball past David De Gea with his head from what looked like an impossible angle. The goal seemed to jolt United into life, and Wayne Rooney scored against his old club just before half time, the striker heading past Tim Howard to breathe new life into a nervy Old Trafford. United started the second half with more ambition, and Danny Welbeck put the Red Devils into the lead with a fine finish, the Englishman curling a brilliantly composed effort into the top corner, and the home side had to wait just three more minutes before taking what looked like a comfortable lead, Nani finishing off an attacking move full of slick intricate passes with a dinked finish. Everton, though, with their never-say-die spirit, dragged themselves back into the game, Marouane Fellaini showing great technique to fire a low volley past De Gea from a Tony Hibbert cross. The away side's celebrations were, however, short-lived, as Rooney restored United's two-goal cushion after a neat one-two with strike partner Welbeck. With United leading 4-2, the home fans could almost feel the Premier League trophy, but Everton had different plans, as Jelavic grabbed his second goal of the game after pouncing on a loose ball in the box, before Steven Pienaar received a neat pass from Fellaini and slammed the ball past De Gea in the United goal. Rio Ferdinand came close to grabbing the winner in the dying seconds, but a point was the least Everton deserved against a wasteful United side, who now have to wait and see what happens over the next few weeks, knowing that a win for Manchester City later against Wolves followed by a win in the Manchester derby will put their local rivals top of the table.