Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes apology to Man Utd fans with Everton defeat 'not worthy of a United team'

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has apologised to Manchester United's fans after a shock 4-0 defeat at Everton left the club's hopes of a Premier League top-four finish in doubt.

United were given a boost on Saturday as Manchester City beat top-four rivals Tottenham 1-0 - but if Solskjaer was looking for a reaction from his players at Goodison Park, he didn't get one.

Fresh off the back of exiting the Champions League to Barcelona with a 3-0 Camp Nou defeat in midweek, United were abject on Merseyside as Everton made light work of Solskjaer's side.

First-half goals from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson stunned Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's lethargic side before Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott piled on the misery at Goodison Park.

The loss was United's sixth in eight games in all competitions and turned up the heat on Solskjaer and his misfiring players, whose fortunes have slumped since the Norwegian was made permanent manager last month.

United, who remain sixth in the table, have now conceded 48 goals in the Premier League this term, their most in a top-flight campaign since 1979.

Solskjaer apologised to United's travelling supporters at full-time on the pitch, and again during his post-match interview with Sky Sports.

"From the first whistle everything went wrong," Solskjaer said. "I just want to apologise to the fans.

"They’re the only people with the badge on today who can hold their head high, because we can't.

"Everton were better than us at all the basics. There are so many things that we need to do better to get a result. Talent has never been enough.

"We just didn’t perform. That was not worthy of a Manchester United team.

"We hold our hands up and apologise to everyone associated with the club. We have a perfect chance to make amends on Wednesday [against Manchester City]."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.