Everton host Manchester United at Goodison Park in the Premier League this Sunday, in their first match since receiving a 10-point deduction for breaching financial rules.
The immediate deduction has meant the Toffees have plummeted to 19th in the Premier League table, but things are looking up for Erik ten Hag’s visitors as they come into the game as the division’s form side.
Here’s all you need to know about this weekends’ clash.
Everton v Manchester United – Match Preview:
Form
Everton: LWWDW
On the field, Sean Dyche’s men have enjoyed a bright start to the season. Their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in last month’s Merseyside Derby remains their only loss in their last six games across all competitions.
Their opponents Manchester United and Liverpool are the only clubs to have picked up more points in their last five games than Everton’s 10.
Only Manchester City and Tottenham have picked up more points on the road than Everton’s 10, a stat helped by their 3-2 win at Crystal Palace last time out.
In a back-and-forth game that saw the Merseyside outfit lead three times, Vitaly Mykolenko scored the opener inside a minute. Eberechi Eze’s penalty levelled for Palcace, but Abdoulaye Doucoure scored to make it 2-1 as he continues to enjoy his time in a new advanced role.
The Mali international has four Premier League goals to his name this season, which makes him Everton’s top scorer.
Gana seals it 🐍🤩@IGanaGueye #CRYEVE pic.twitter.com/1yiBR1CtOH
— Everton (@Everton) November 11, 2023
Odsonne Edouard equalised for the hosts a second time, but in the 86th minute substitute Idrissa Gueye stepped up to score the winner. The goal was Gueye’s first in club football since he netted for PSG in a 2-0 Champions League win over Manchester City in 2021.
The Premier League mainstays have struggled for form at home this season however, only winning one of their six games, 3-0 against Bournemouth.
Everton will be without Dele Alli, Amadou Onana, Andre Gomes and Seamus Coleman for the fixture.
Manchester United: LLWLW
Despite being sat bottom of their Champions League group after four games and out of the EFL Cup, the Red Devils are the Premier League’s form side having picked up four wins from their last five league games.
Erik ten Hag’s men have been able to pick up narrow wins while not being at their best in the league as of late, beating Brentford, Sheffield United, Fulham and Luton by one-goal margins to sit sixth in the table.
Striker Rasmus Hojlund went off injured against Luton last time out, as Victor Lindelof scored the only goal against the Hatters at Old Trafford.
Powering home to secure three points 💪
🥶 @VLindelof#MUFC || #MUNLUT
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 11, 2023
Ten Hag has been faced with problems all over the pitch this season but one of his main concerns will be his frontline’s goal output. Marcus Rashford, Hojlund and Antony have scored just one Premier League goal between them this season..
The 13-time Premier League winners have also been plagued with injuries to the backline. Full-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia remain out, but there is a chance Aaron Wan-Bissaka recovers from illness in time for the game.
South American duo Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro are out until the new year, Jonny Evans didn’t join up with the Northern Ireland squad due to a thigh problem, and there are doubts over Andre Onana’s availability as the goalkeeper picked up an adductor strain. Christian Eriksen is also out for a month with a knee injury.
Last Meeting
Manchester United 2-0 Everton, April 8th 2023
The two teams have played out many classics over their 211 meetings, with multiple 3-3 draws, even a 4-4 back in 2012 and who could forget Everton’s 4-0 win over their opponents in 2019?
The last meeting between the two, back in April, was a little more straightforward for the Red Devils.
Everton keeper Jordan Pickford was on fine form as Manchester United produced a record-breaking 21-first-half shots, their most in the opening 45 minutes since 2003-04.
Scott McTominay was finally the man to breach the Toffees’ defences in the 37th minute, as his well-struck effort fired inside Pickford’s near post to open the scoring.
Marcus Rashford then pounced on a mistake from veteran fullback Seamus Coleman and slotted the ball into the path of Anthony Martial, who finished past Pickford to score his first goal since December.
The result left the home side in fourth place, three points ahead of Champions League rivals Tottenham with a game in hand.
At the other end of the table, Everton sat nervously above the bottom three on goal difference in 17th, with the bottom eight clubs separated by just seven points.
Predicted lineups
Everton: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; McNeil, Gueye, Garner, Harrison; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin.
Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Reguilon; McTominay, Mount, Fernandes; Antony, Rashford, Garnacho.
Who is the referee?
John Brooks.
Is Everton v Manchester United on TV?
UK and Ireland: Sky Sports Main Event.
USA: USA Network.
What time is kick off?
Sunday 26th November, 16:30 GMT.
Odds
Everton – 9/5
Draw – 12/5
Manchester United – 29/20
