No sign of that grim reaper who stalked David Moyes behind the Manchester United dug-out a year ago but his spirit lurked within this place. Louis van Gaal might have the aura and the fewer defeats which insulate him against what defeat to Everton brought for Moyes: the sack, within 48 hours. But he was outdone by Roberto Martinez: outthought and unsmarted by a game of classic counter-attacking football.

It was United’s heaviest Premier League defeat under van Gaal and one which revealed that a golden Spring of which had brought six successive league wins, should not obscure the substantial flaws at the heart of this team. There will always be a risk when as untried a defender as Paddy McNair does not have a commanding partner. It was a desperate defensive display. And nowhere in the hub of midfield was there someone to drive United forward. The absence of 34-year-old Michael Carrick, who can strike a forward pass, and the presence of Daley Blind, who cannot, contributed to the lack of incision and Everton were ready to let the opposition control as much as they wanted and then see what transpired on the counter attack.

The narrative of the first half was actually remarkably similar to what happened on the April day here last year which encapsulated everything that was wrong about Moyes’ United. Martin Tyler said, as that game went into its last half hour that day, that they might as well “throw everything at it.” They are throwing everything at it, Gary Neville replied. Then as here, they were 2-0 down by the interval.

It was a reprise of last week’s evening at Chelsea for the visiting team, too: a heap of possession (62 per cent on the first half) and territory but precious little of it converted into opportunities. They certainly didn’t bank on as much help as they were given when going ahead, because Everton scored almost in spite of themselves in the fifth minute. James McCarthy - a force of nature, as he has been much of the season – gratefully accepted the chance to be the agent of the counterattack after Gareth Barry had beaten Antonio Valencia to Juan Mata’s corner. But Seamus Coleman, whom he released down the right to join in, stumbled over the ball before providing the low crossing which McNair’s weak challenge and Danny Blind’s indecision allowed McCarthy to reclaim and score through David de Gea’s legs. The goalkeeper, for all his plaudits, did not enjoy his most commanding afternoon here.

United lacked the control they require d to seize the game and Fellaini’s booking for his second foul in 60 seconds – on Ross Barkley – contributed to van Gaal’s decision to limit him to 45 minutes. There were occasional modest incursions, with United making some capital out of targeting Coleman’s flank and McNair displaying that elegance emerging out of defence. But Everton have discovered some defensive solidity during a run of five wins in six which has dispelled the relegation talk which briefly involved them. The wisdom of securing Aaron Lennon’s services were also revealed and what the expected loss of Kevin Mirallas will mean, as they showed United what attacking menace actually looks like: not something supporters here have been able to see too much this season.

They had just threatened to double their lead - Aaron Lennon sending Coleman sprinting off down the right again for a cross fractionally closer to Chris Smalling than Romelu Lukakau – when they accomplished just that. A lapse by Valencia, failing to challenge John Stones after he made a circular run at Leighton Baines’ header, allowed the 20-year-old to despatch the header which flew in off the underside of the bar. Van Gaal had seen enough. With the immobility of Wayne Rooney at the top of the team a part if his problems, he sent on Radamel Falcao for Fellaini at the start of the second half and Angel di Maria appeared for Juan Mata three minutes past the hour.

John Stones heads in for the second (GETTY IMAGES)

But with Rooney dropping behind Falcao, Di Maria struggled to find the self-confidence and self-expression on his game which are currently shot at in his game. And though there was a hint of a rare and spectacular combination between the signature buys of last summer, when Falcao got a little purchase on the Argentine’s lofted cross, the finality of things was then established. The third goal was the most desperate by any measure, Lukaku stopping his run onto Barklay’s lofted pass because he was offside, but United’s defenders halting theirs too, leaving the substitute Mirallas as the only player interested in a ball when the music stopped. He gratefully planted in the bottom left hand corner of the net. There was still time for Mirallas to cut in, 20 yards, from the left and unfurl a shot which de Gea topped over the bar, before the finish.