Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal wants response to Arsenal loss

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has urged his players to fight back following their miserable show at Arsenal as he welcomes back Wayne Rooney for the game with Everton.

Rooney injured his ankle in a training session with England during the international break but is fit for the trip to Goodison Park on Saturday.

Midfielder Michael Carrick is available despite also missing England's European Qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania as United look to get their title challenge back on track with a positive result on Merseyside, with Van Gaal claiming the club must accept collective responsibility for the defeat at the Emirates.

"We cannot accept it. Not I, we. Not only the members of my staff but the players and we cannot accept it from each other," Van Gaal said of the 3-0 loss to Arsenal.

"We want to be the champions, so then you have to behave like a champion. You also have to improve to be like a champion in the future. You have to improve every time.

"It is not only the players, it is also the staff. Also, my cook Mike, because he has a big influence on the atmosphere in the canteen. A lot of people are always important in this."

The Dutchman stopped short of declaring such a disappointing result would not be repeated in the future, however, insisting he always held in mind the quality of the sides they face.

"It is dependent on your opponent and Arsenal was a very good opponent. I knew that already in advance," he added. "Everton is also, for us, a difficult opponent but I am confident because I have seen the training session and the reaction of my players. But you cannot be sure to get the result you want."

Rooney and Carrick may be available to Van Gaal but Ashley Young has been ruled out, while the manager faces a tough decision on whether to select Dutch duo Daley Blind and Memphis Depay.

The Netherlands internationals played the whole of their country's two midweek internationals, which included a 3-2 home defeat to Czech Republic as they failed to qualify for Euro 2016 after finishing fourth in their group.

"Ashley Young was injured in the last match against Arsenal. Ashley Young cannot play but Wayne Rooney can play, when I select him," he said.

"You know I have a philosophy and the main aspect of that philosophy is the 'total human being' principle. I have to see how they [Blind and Depay] come from that defeat in the few days that I have. I have to make a decision, it is not so easy."