Everton are in desperate search for a turnaround in their fortunes when they host Manchester United for Sunday’s Premier League clash. The Ronald Koeman managed side made a good start to the season with a 5 match unbeaten run. Starting with a defeat at Bournemouth on matchday 6, The Toffees are without a win in 7 of their 8 games. The slip in form have demoted them to 7th in the standings and are coming on the back of a three-match winless run.
Manchester United, on the other hand, are finding life under Jose Mourinho extremely difficult. The Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw at West Ham last weekend, which is their fourth consecutive draw at home. Their overall form is not better either as there is only 1 win in their last 7 Premier League games. However, they can draw some positives from the 4-1 thumping win against West Ham in midweek’s League Cup clash. United will be without their manager for the clash against Everton as he was sent off during the matchday 1-1 draw against West Ham on matchday 13. The Reds are 6th on the log with 20 points, a point above their matchday 14 opponent Everton.
Team News
Everton – Ronald Koeman says he will face a tough decision when it comes to choosing his team for Sunday with everyone but long-term absentee Muhamed Besic available for selection.
Besic has been absent since sustaining cruciate knee ligament damage in the pre-season friendly against Manchester United.
Manchester United – United captain Wayne Rooney will be suspended for Sunday’s game against his boyhood club after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the midweek EFL Cup win over West Ham.
Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini are back in contention after serving one-game bans of their own, but Luke Shaw is a doubt with an unspecified injury, while Eric Bailly (knee) and Chris Smalling (toe) remain absent.
Predicted Line-up
Everton (4-2-3-1): Stekelenburg; Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Baines; Gueye, Barry; Bolasie, Barkley, Lennon; Lukaku
Manchester United (4-3-2-1): De Gea; Valencia, Rojo, Jones, Darmian; Herrera, Mata, Pogba; Mkhitaryan, Martial; Ibrahimovic
Key Stats
Everton have lost four of their last five meetings with Manchester United in all competitions (W1), with the most recent of those defeats coming in the FA Cup semi-final last season.
Manchester United have won at Goodison Park on 15 occasions in the Premier League; at no other away venue have they won more often in competition history.
The Toffees have won three of their last four Premier League games against the Red Devils at Goodison Park (L1); this after winning just three of their previous 20 in the competition beforehand.
Romelu Lukaku has played for Everton on six occasions in the league against Manchester United without scoring; his most against one team without finding the net for the Toffees.
Wayne Rooney has scored just once in his last six league games against his former club, though this was in this fixture last October.
No duo has created more chances for each other in the Premier League this season than Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (16).
Everton have outrun their opponents on just one occasion this season (vs Swansea); a league-low.
Predictions
Manchester United moved the ball very quickly against West Ham and did the job well. I had been saying for a while that United would batter someone soon as they create so many chances without scoring. However, this is a hard game for them at Everton. Goodison Park will be rocking as they’ll want to get one over United.
It will be interesting to see if Jose Mourinho plays Paul Pogba. I think they moved the ball quicker without him in the team. Sometimes he slows the play down, although he’s not playing in his proper position. I’m still unsure about Pogba, especially as I’m such a big fan of Henrik Mkhitaryan – he’s their best player, by a long way. He’s different gravy.
Everton 1-1 Manchester United
Betting Odds
Everton win – 14/5
Draw – 5/2
Manchester United – 15/13