Everton and Manchester United will be eager to extend their recent unbeaten runs in the Premier League when they clash at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Gameweek 13 of the 2023/24 Premier League season will continue on Sunday, with two matches on show. The action will begin on Saturday when Tottenham Hotspur will host Aston Villa before ending at Goodison Park, where Everton and Manchester United will lock horns.
Everton picked up form ahead of the international break, losing only once in five Premier League games. That run of results had lifted them to 14th on the table before a ten-point deduction brought them back into the drop zone. The sanction has left Sean Dyche displeased, but the Toffees must take it in their stride and try to produce an escape act in the coming months.
On the other hand, Manchester United have been dreadful thus far this term, losing as many games as they have won. They suffered another shock result ahead of the international break after losing to FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League. But the Red Devils have somehow stitched the best run of form in all of the Premier League, winning four of their last five matches.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Manchester United come from a goal down to beat Everton 2-1, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the winner. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
Sean Dyche provides a fitness update ahead of @ManUtd (H). 🎙@wearfigs 🔵 #EVEMUN pic.twitter.com/i8yeYvJ6n4
— Everton (@Everton) November 24, 2023
Sean Dyche has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Manchester United on Sunday, the Everton manager might only be bereft of the services of two first-team players.
Seamus Coleman (match fitness) and Amadou Onana (calf) are closing in on returning to action. The duo will face late fitness tests to determine their availability. But Sunday’s game has come too soon for the duo.
Meanwhile, Andre Gomes is back on the field after recovering from a calf injury. But Dele Alli remains on the sidelines due to his ongoing battle with a groin issue. Otherwise, Dyche has a full-strength squad to take on Manchester United this weekend.
Jordan Pickford is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Everton lining up in a 4-4-1-1 formation in front of him. The defensive unit should feature Ashley Young, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Vitaliy Mykolenko. Branthwaite reportedly features on Manchester United’s radar, and the Red Devils should get a closer look at him on Sunday.
As for the midfield unit, former Manchester United midfielder James Garner will be out to prove a point on Sunday. The Englishman will line up alongside Idrissa Gueye in the middle of the park. The duo will look to keep things tight, with Garner initiating quick transitions.
Jack Harrison will take his spot on the right flank, with Dwight McNeil featuring on the left wing. Finally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will spearhead the Everton attack against Manchester United, with Abdoulaye Doucoure playing behind him, looking to unleash ghosting runs into the box.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Garner, Gueye, McNeil; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Everton dugout, Erik ten Hag has new fitness issues hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Goodison Park. The Manchester United manager will be without at least eight first-team players on Sunday.
Mason Mount (calf) and Christian Eriksen (knee) are the latest absentees, with the duo out for the foreseeable future. Mount and Eriksen have joined Lisandro Martinez (foot), Jonny Evans (thigh), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Casemiro (hamstring), and Amad Diallo (knee) on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, ten Hag is sweating over the fitness of Rasmus Hojlund, who picked up a hamstring injury ahead of the international break against Luton Town. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Facundo Pellistri should shrug off their respective issues to be available.
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag says Andre Onana and Luke Shaw are available to play Everton on Sunday, while Rasmus Hojlund will be assessed 🔴 pic.twitter.com/OJePCToHJK
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 24, 2023
But the game might have come too soon for Luke Shaw to feature in the starting eleven, even though he has trained after recovering from a muscle injury. However, there is some good news, as Andre Onana is fit and available after recovering from an adductor strain.
Onana will take his spot between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him. Wan-Bissaka should be fit enough to start, joining Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Sergio Reguilon on the backline.
As for the midfield unit, Sofyan Amrabat and Scott McTominay should pair up in the double pivot in the absence of Casemiro and Eriksen. Bruno Fernandes will reprise his usual no. 10 role, with Alejandro Garnacho and Antony being the two wide attackers. Finally, Marcus Rashford will spearhead the attack, with Hojlund coming off the bench later in the game.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Reguilon; Amrabat, McTominay; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford
Key Stats
- Everton’s only two victories in the last 19 competitive meetings against Manchester United came at home in the Premier League: 4-0 in April 2019 and 1-0 in April 2022. The Toffees could become the first team to lose 40 Premier League games to a single opponent this weekend. They and Spurs have both suffered 39 defeats against Manchester United.
- Everton have earned 10 points from their last five games, a record only Manchester United (12) and Liverpool (11) can better. The Toffees can clinch consecutive league wins for the first time in 13 months.
- Manchester United have registered three successive Premier League away wins for the first time since a run of 10 from June to December 2020. All three victories were against teams who begin the latest round of fixtures in the bottom six of the table. All seven of their league wins this season were by a one-goal margin.
- Everton have scored an unrivalled five goals in the opening 15 minutes of Premier League games this season.
- Manchester United have lost 16 of their 56 matches in all competitions in 2023, last faring worse 22 years ago when they suffered 17 defeats in 55 games.
Player to Watch
James Garner
Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes will be the best bet for Manchester United to take anything from the game. On the other hand, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and his output can earn Everton three points. But we have gone ahead with James Garner as our pick for this section.
The 22-year-old took some time to get going after joining Everton from Manchester United. But he has finally established a foothold at Goodison Park, becoming a pivotal figure for the Toffees. The Englishman can hold the fort for Everton in the middle of the park, which will frustrate the away side and help the hosts spring a surprise.
Prediction
Everton 2-1 Manchester United
Everton will be ruing the loss of ten points following the recent sanctions. Sean Dyche has insisted that the punishment does not fit the crime. A hurting Everton will take the game to Manchester United, and Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin will trouble the away side’s defence.
Manchester United’s mounting fitness woes are a cause for concern, and that will affect them going forward. While they will still find a way past Jordan Pickford, that strike might not be enough to earn them anything from the game. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Dyche and his charges.
