Everton’s key to Man United win is stopping Toffees nemesis Bruno Fernandes
David Moyes’ Everton face a big challenge on Monday night, as Man United come to town.
Everton will welcome Man United to Hill Dickinson Stadium for the very first time on Monday evening, with huge European football ramifications on the line.
The Toffees endured a miserable record against United at Goodison Park, winning just eight of their 33 Premier League meetings at their old home.
As such, Moyes‘ men will be hoping to start this new chapter of this historic top flight rivalry in better style on Monday night, but that’s going to be far easier said than done.
Bruno Fernandes has made Everton fixture his own over the years
United are in superb form since Michael Carrick became interim head coach, with the 44-year-old winning four and drawing once from his first five games back in the Old Trafford dugout.
His Red Devils side have a host of players who can hurt Everton, with Bryan Mbuemo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko all in good goalscoring form coming into it.
But, it’s their midfield magician Bruno Fernandes that could be giving Toffees defenders nightmares on Monday, as the Portuguese star has a devastating record against Everton.
In the 12 times he’s faced Everton in the Premier League for United, Fernandes has scored six goals and provided five assists, with just two defeats in that time period too.
He didn’t, however, do any of those things in the reverse fixture back in November 2025, as Everton ran out 1-0 winners with 10 men at Old Trafford thanks to a 29th-minute goal from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
That was a rarity for Fernandes though, and it would take a brave soul to bet against United’s captain from getting amongst the action on Monday night.
Fernandes is in outrageous form at the moment
Despite now being 31, Fernandes is showing absolutely no sign of slowing down his remarkable production levels for Man United anytime soon.
United’s most recent 1-1 draw with West Ham snapped a streak of six-straight games in all competitions in which Fernandes had provided at least one direct goal contribution, dating back to 7 January.
In fact, he’s only failed to provide a goal contribution in five of his last 16 Premier League games, and so shutting him down really is the main key to stopping United.
He is Everton’s obvious nemesis, and with Everton’s realistic hopes of finishing in a European spot for next season potentially dependant on a win on Monday night, Moyes must formulate a plan to best him.
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