Venue: Old Trafford
Date: 17/09/2017
Kick-off: 16:00 (BST)
Match
Everton will travel to Old Trafford on Sunday to square off against Manchester United and the Toffees will surely be looking to arrest their poor form by claiming a good result during the encounter.
Ronald Koeman’s men certainly enjoyed a very positive start to their campaign but they have been brought back down to earth over the past few weeks, having suffered comprehensive defeats against the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Atalanta in the Europa League.
Worryingly, Everton have conceded eight and scored none during their defeats and the manner of the performances would surely have been very disappointing for manager Ronald Koeman.
Things will not get any easier with a clash against table toppers Manchester United up next and the Toffees will surely have to improve dramatically in order to claim anything from the encounter.
Everton Team News
Everton are still without the services of long term absentees Ross Barkley, Yannick Bolasie, Seamus Coleman and Ramiro Funes Mori, while James McCarthy also remains a doubt.
With the Toffees having performed poorly in a 4-2-3-1 system against Atalanta in midweek, Koeman is likely to revert back to 3-5-2 formation against United meaning that the likes of Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams and Michael Keane will start in a back three.
Cuco Martina and Leighton Baines will be used as the wing-backs while Morgan Schneiderlin and Idrissa Gueye will be providing the energy at the middle of the park.
Club record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson is yet to make a lasting impact for Everton so far and he will be looking to impress on Sunday. Even Sandro Ramirez has failed to impress and the Spaniard needs to put in a good performance during the encounter to prove his worth.
All eyes on the day will be on Wayne Rooney though as he will be making a return back to Old Trafford as a opposition player for the first time since 2004 and one can be sure that the ex-Red Devils’ captain will be intent on impressing against his former side.
Probable Lineups
Manchester United (Probable XI): De Gea; Darmian, Jones, Bailly, Valencia; Matic, Fellaini, Mata, Rashford, Mkhitaryan; Lukaku
Everton (Probable XI): Pickford; Keane, Williams, Jagielka; Cuco Martina, Baines; Schneiderlin, Gueye, Sigurdsson; Rooney, Ramirez
Last Meeting
04/04/2017 Manchester United 1 – 1 Everton
04/12/2016 Everton 1 – 1 Manchester United
Prediction
United and Everton played out two draws last season and the match on Sunday could prove to be a close affair. That being said, United look in good nick at the moment while Everton are struggling and an comfortable home victory is most likely to be on the cards.
In order to stop United, Everton will have to pay close attention to former Toffee Romelu Lukaku and at the same time, hope that the like of Sigurdsson and Ramirez finally prove their worth.
Manchester United 2 – 0 Everton
