There will be a lot of attention on Manchester United’s trip to Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon as Everton play for the first time since plunging into the Premier League relegation zone after being deducted ten points.
The ruling from the independent commission to sanction the Toffees for breaching the division’s profitability and sustainability rules has created an ‘us against the world’ mentality on the blue half of Merseyside and there will be a ferocious atmosphere for Erik ten Hag’s side to play through.
The matter of Everton’s points deduction is far from over, but the players will know a win here could get them out of the relegation zone by the end of the weekend if other results going their way. When you factor in Man Utd’s struggles this season, there is plenty of narrative in this game.
Here’s all you need to know about the game on Sunday afternoon.
Everton vs Manchester United H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
---|---|
United Kingdom |
Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, SKY GO Extra, Sky Ultra HD |
United States |
nbcsports.com, SiriusXM FC, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, NBC Sports App |
Canada |
fuboTV Canada |
Everton come into this game in a very angry and determined mood but are still without Dele Alli and Andre Gomes. However, Sean Dyche could welcome Amadou Onana and Seamus Coleman back into the fray.
Given the Toffees were in pretty decent form in the run-up to the international break, Dyche is expected to stick with the same players that took them away from the relegation zone before the ruling was handed down.
Everton predicted lineup vs Manchester United (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Garner, Onana, McNeil; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin.
Man Utd have been plagued by injuries so far this season and every time one player returns, another seems to get injured. The good news in the lead-up to this game is left-back Luke Shaw, a player they have seriously missed, is back in training. He is not expected to start the game, however.
There was a big scare for goalkeeper Andre Onana but he is said to be fit to start now, while Aaron Wan-Bisakka should be back after an illness. Tyrell Malacia and Jonny Evans will be out of action, with Lisandro Martinez also still recovering.
Christian Eriksen and Casemiro are sidelined while there are further doubts over Rasmus Hojlund’s fitness, so predicting an XI is not easy.
Manchester United predicted lineup vs Everton (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Reguilon; McTominay, Amrabat; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford
It’s clear the first ten to 20 minutes of this match at Goodison Park will be a storm Man Utd have to try to weather. An early goal for Ten Hag’s side would undoubtedly settle the nerves and perhaps quieten the atmosphere.
There was evidence of improvement from Man Utd before the international break and they certainly have a better starting XI than Everton. The Red Devils should have enough to get all three points on Merseyside, even with the hosts and their fans fired up beyond belief.