Everton v Man United preview: Team news, head-to-head, line-ups, prediction
Everton are back at Goodison Park this Saturday as they take on Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United in the Premier League.
David Moyes‘ side come into this match against the Red Devils in red-hot form, being unbeaten in their last five league matches and winning four of them, including beating Crystal Palace 2-1 last time out.
That run of wins has taken the Toffees 13 points clear of the bottom three and above Manchester United to 14th in the table, allowing Evertonians to look up rather than down for the first time in a long time.
The visitors, meanwhile, are on an absolutely dismal run of form themselves, winning just two of their last nine league matches, losing eight of their most recent 12, and dropping to an all-time low of 15th.
Everton v Manchester United Preview
Everton weren’t exactly convincing for parts of their 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park last Saturday – after a three-day turnaround following Goodison’s final Merseyside Derby – but still came away with the points.
In-form striker Beto, however, struck against the run of play late in the first half to give the Blues a 1-0 lead at the break, though Jean-Philippe Mateta equalised for the Eagles almost straight after the restart.
The Toffees weren’t to be denied, though, as they struck again to win it 10 minutes from time, as Carlos Alcaraz netted his first Everton goal since signing on loan from Flamengo on transfer Deadline Day.
Manchester United’s twelfth defeat from just 25 Premier League games came in North London last Sunday, losing 1-0 to Tottenham and failing to find the net for the tenth time already this season.
Form Guide (Premier League)
Everton: LWWWDW
Manchester United: DWLWLL
Head-To-Head
Manchester United 4-0 Everton (December 2024)
Manchester United 2-0 Everton (March 2024)
Everton 0-3 Manchester United (November 2023)
Manchester United 2-0 Everton (April 2023)
Manchester United 3-1 Everton (FA Cup, January 2023)
Team News for Everton v Manchester United
Moyes has had plenty of injury worries to deal with since re-taking the reins at Goodison last month, but the Scot has no new concerns ahead of this match, with eight players still on the sidelines.
Abdoulaye Doucoure, however, is back in contention following his red card after Everton’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Goodison Park, and he’s likely to come straight back into the Toffees’ starting XI.
The Mali international is likely to replace Jesper Lindstrom in the starting side, resulting in Carlos Alcaraz moving out onto the right flank following his winning goal at Selhurst Park last Saturday.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are missing a whopping 11 players coming into this match, with Ruben Amorim confirming on 16 February that Manuel Ugarte, Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro could all return.
Predicted lineups
Everton: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Garner, Gueye, Alcaraz, Doucoure, Harrison, Beto
Manchester United: Onana, Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro, Dalot, Dorgu, Ugarte, Fernandes, Zirkzee, Garnacho, Hojlund
Where to watch Everton v Manchester United?
The clash between two of the Premier League’s most storied clubs will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, with the game set to kick off at at 12:30 PM GMT on Saturday, 22 February.
Prediction: Everton 2-1 Manchester United
Manchester United have had something of a hoodoo over Everton of late, winning their last six straight matches against the Toffees in all competitions, including a 4-0 hammering at Old Trafford in December.
The two sides couldn’t be in more contrasting form since that one-sided thumping of Sean Dyche’s side, but with the Red Devils coming into the match wounded, Moyes will still be exercising plenty of caution.
Coming up against his former employers for the first time since returning to Goodison Park – and 40th time overall – Moyes may just have a trick up his sleeve to cast United further into the doldrums.