Manchester United travel to Goodison Park for a crucial Premier League clash against Everton this Saturday. Both teams find themselves in unusual positions, with the Toffees sitting above United in the table, something not seen this late in a season since the 2013-14 campaign. That year, Everton finished higher than United, coinciding with David Moyes’ brief and disappointing tenure at Old Trafford. Now back in charge at Everton, Moyes is enjoying a remarkable start to his second spell, collecting more points than any other manager in the league since his appointment.
Everton were in serious relegation trouble just weeks ago, but four wins in six matches have lifted them to safety and beyond. Under previous manager Sean Dyche, they struggled to score, managing just seven open-play goals in 19 games. In just six games under Moyes, they have already surpassed that tally, scoring eight open-play goals. Their latest victory, a hard-fought 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, was another sign of their resurgence, with Carlos Alcaraz netting his first goal for the club.
With the Premier League’s top five likely to qualify for the Champions League next season, Everton find themselves closer to the race for Europe than the relegation battle. However, a nine-point gap to eighth place may still be too large to overcome unless their impressive form continues for the remainder of the campaign. This match also carries historical significance, as it will be their final league encounter against Manchester United at Goodison Park before moving to their new stadium.
Despite Everton’s strong form, their record against United has been woeful in recent years. They have lost five consecutive meetings, with the last four ending in a combined 11-0 scoreline. The last time they endured such a run of defeats without scoring against a single opponent was in the late 1950s. The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in a 4-0 win for United, though that scoreline flattered them, as they converted four goals from an xG of just 0.73.
United’s struggles since that win have been well-documented. They have lost eight of their last 12 league matches and five of their last six at home. However, their strong record against Everton at Goodison Park could provide some hope for manager Ruben Amorim, who will be desperate for a turnaround. A win here would mark their third consecutive victory at this venue, something they have not achieved since 2007. Additionally, they have not kept back-to-back clean sheets at Goodison since the mid-1990s.
A major issue for United this season has been their misfiring attack. Rasmus Hojlund is without a goal in 15 league matches, while Joshua Zirkzee has gone 12 games without scoring in the league. Their struggles in front of goal are reflected in the statistics—only Everton (12) have failed to score in as many matches as United (10) this season, which already matches the Red Devils’ worst-ever record in a single Premier League campaign.
Both teams are dealing with significant injury problems. Everton will welcome back Abdoulaye Doucoure from suspension, but Iliman Ndiaye remains sidelined with an MCL injury. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja, Youssef Chermiti, and Dwight McNeil are also unavailable, leaving Beto to lead the line once again. The striker has been in excellent form, scoring seven league goals this season at a rate of one every 114 minutes.
For United, several key players remain out. Amad Diallo is ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury, while midfielders Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount are also sidelined. However, they could see the return of Leny Yoro, Christian Eriksen, Manuel Ugarte, and Toby Collyer, providing some much-needed depth. Defensively, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, and Jonny Evans remain unavailable, but Victor Lindelof is fit and could feature.
Everton’s possible starting lineup:
Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Lindstrom, Gueye, Garner, Alcaraz, Harrison; Beto
Manchester United’s possible starting lineup:
Onana; Dalot, Mazraoui, Maguire, De Ligt, Dorgu; Fernandes, Casemiro; Zirkzee, Hojlund, Garnacho
