Howard was culpable in the goal, his poor clearance from close to the corner flag going straight to Rafael, who funnelled it inside to Antonio Valencia.
Valencia in turn found Di Maria, whose scuffed attempted shot was seized upon by Falcao, who reacted quickest to steer a first-time angled effort beyond Howard.
United were forced into a reshuffle at the back when Shaw went off with a knee injury, replaced by Tyler Blackett, with Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson also coming on to try to see out the game.
But Everton, although leaving themselves vulnerable to the counter-attack as they pushed up in search of a second equaliser, maintained their onslaught on the United goal.
Just as they had done against West Ham the previous weekend, albeit with 10 men following Wayne Rooney’s dismissal, United found themselves hanging on for the win at the end.
The game reached a crescendo in the first minute of added time, when Naismith picked out substitute Leon Osman, whose goalbound shot was turned away by a full-stretch De Gea.
That match-winning save looked to have settled matters, but De Gea saved his best until last. Gareth Barry should have found the net but saw his 93rd-minute attempt charged down by Blackett.
The ball spilled out to substitute Bryan Ovideo, who hit it first-time and so sweetly, he was surely convinced he had rescued a point for his side at the death.
But De Gea somehow managed to pick out the ball in the congested penalty area and get a fingertip to it to divert it to safety for a save that is unlikely to be bettered this season.
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