Hello and welcome to our live coverage from Old Trafford as Manchester United take on Everton. A home win takes United eight points clear of Manchester City, who visit Wolves at 4pm. There will be three games left after today with the Manchester derby looming large next Monday.

Premier League / Matchday 35

Old Trafford / 22.04.2012

Manchester United

Completed

Everton

W. Rooney(41', 69')
D. Welbeck(57')
Nani(60')

N. Jelavic(33', 83')
M. Fellaini(66')
S. Pienaar(84')

Live

Live Updates

ByTom Adams

Updated 22/04/2012 at 13:26 GMT

30'

Stat from Opta: "In this season’s reverse fixture, Everton had 19 shots to United’s seven, but the Red Devils won 1-0."

28'

Rafael finds an inch of space away from Distin in an advanced position but Howard smothers his dangerous cross at the near post.

27'

Fellaini snaps into a challenge on Nani to win possession for Everton and then tries to play in Jelavic with a neat pass. Rio Ferdinand clears behind for a corner. De Gea makes a hash of the delivery but United are able to clear.

25'

United win the first corner of the game. Rooney with the delivery and although Welbeck gives Howard a bit of trouble, the keeper catches the ball with ease.

23'

Now Welbeck has a shot blocked as United go in search of the opener. Old Trafford responds by raising the volume by a few notches.

22'

Rooney fires in a cross from the left but is unable to pick out Welbeck in the centre of the box. United have started to apply more pressure after Everton's quick start.

20'

Neville floats a deep cross to the back post and Distin meets it with a header that flies wide of the post. The defender was a bit too comfortable in meeting that.

18'

Scholes and Rooney combine to release Rafael in the box but as he sneaks past his marker he uses his arm and a free kick is awarded. That was better in the build-up from United though.

17'

Stat from Infostrada: "Since Scholes made his return for the club in mid-January, they have dropped only two points – in a draw against Chelsea – in the 13 matches he has played. Scholes has started 10 of those matches and United have won all 10."

16'

Michael Carrick lays the ball off to Paul Scholes 20 yards from goal and a low effort from the midfielder fizzes just wide of the post. Everton won't want to give him any space that near to goal.

15'

A painful one for Danny Welbeck as he catches an attempted clearance in a sensitive area. Men around the country wince, but the forward soldiers on.

14'

Here is Rooney for the first time and he gets above Phil Jagielka to meet a cross from Patrice Evra from the left, only to see his header fly wide of the post.

12'

Now Nani dives away from Osman on the right wing before lashing in a firm effort that Tim Howard clasps at his near post. The Portugal international looks keen to impress this afternoon.

11'

A cross finds its way to Nani at the back post and the winger cuts inside to make space before bending a shot wide of the far post. He is more than capable from scoring from that kind of position.

10'

Sylvain Distin, at left-back in place of Baines, extends his leg and sticks out a boot to prevent Antonio Valencia from chesting the ball down and racing away down the right wing.

Jelavic tries to slip a pass in for Marouane Fellaini but Jonny Evans, who has been in exceptional form of late, makes a good interception.

Stat from Opta: "The Toffees won 3-0 at Old Trafford in their first ever Premier League away game (August 1992), but have failed to win any of their other 18 trips to Man Utd in the Premier League (D3, L15)."

It has been a bit of concerning start for United here as they have been outplayed by Everton in the early stages and have been remarkably slack.

Everton's fine start continues. Osman plays in Nikica Jelavic with a clever little pass and the Croatian forces David De Gea into a smart save. Everton then pour forward again and Osman chests down before drilling a shot wide of the post.

Stat from Infostrada: "Manchester United have scored in their last 47 Premier League home matches, the longest top flight streak of home scoring for over 25 years, since today’s opponents Everton netted in 47 successive Division One matches between 1984 and 1986."

David Moyes will have been mightily encouraged by these early minutes at Old Trafford with Everton looking the more lively side. United have been rather subdued.

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