LVG purrs as Liverpool hammer Everton

Louis Van Gaal

Paul Hyland

Louis van Gaal is growing in confidence after registering another win on a night when Liverpool romped home in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.

A Damien Delaney own goal helped van Gaal along the road to a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace and to within a point of Arsenal in the race for the Champions League qualifying slot which could save his job.

Van Gaal has now recorded five wins in six games and will face an Everton team demoralised by a bad night at Anfield in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday.

Ramiro Funes Mori was shown a straight red for a tackle on Daniel Origi early in the second-half during Jurgen Klopp's first big Mersey derby night but by then, Liverpool were already 2-0 ahead.

Origi and Mamadou Sakho did the damage in the first-half and Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho completed the rout.

West Ham cruised to a 3-1 win over Watford which keeps their outside chance of a Top Four finish and Champions League football alive.

In Scotland, Anthony Stokes was on target again for Hibs in a 3-2 win over Rangers.