Premier League
Everton vs Manchester United Preview
Manchester United begin a pivotal week in their quest to finish in the top four of the Premier League by travelling to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows that this will be a defining week with home games against Manchester City and Chelsea to come.
The Norwegian knows they have to take a minimum of seven points from those games, if they are to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
However, their recent form isn’t great. They have lost five of their last seven games in all competitions.
The opposite can be said of Everton. The Toffees have won three of their last four Premier League games.
But they will be hoping to bounce back after a disappointing defeat against Fulham last weekend.
That result was a perfect illustration of Everton’s inconsistency, having defeated both Arsenal and Chelsea a few weeks before, they somehow managed to lose to already relegated Fulham.
Marco Silva will be hoping they produce the same performance that they did against Arsenal and Chelsea than the latter.
Team News
Everton will be without Andre Gomes who is suspended. Defender Yerry Mina is also missing due to injury.
Manchester United may rotate their squad after their Champions League exit.
Nemanja Magic and Alexis Sanchez are available but full-back Luke Shaw is suspended.
Previous Encounters
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last eight meetings against Everton, winning six and drawing two.
Everton’s last victory came in April 2015 where goals from James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas helped the Toffees win 3-0.
United are unbeaten in their last three trips to Goodison Park and have conceded just one goal in those games.
Predicted Line-Ups
Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford, Coleman, Zouma, Keane, Digne; Gueye, Davies; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin
Man United (4-3-3): De Gea, Dalot, Smalling, Lindelof, Young; Fred, McTominay, Pogba; Lingard, Rashford, Lukaku
Match Prediction
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows that this is a must win game, if they are to have any chance of finishing in the top four.
With five games to go, United probably need at least 13 points from those games to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
After a terrific start under Solskjaer, the wheels have come of slightly for United.
Five defeats in their last seven games in all competitions isn’t good enough for a club the size of Manchester United.
Solskjaer has been critical of his players after the Champions League exit against Barcelona and there is no doubt that a rebuild is needed at Old Trafford.
That rebuild will becoming easier if United are playing Champions League football next season.
Failure to qualify will make it harder to attract the quality the Red Devils need to reach the top of English and European football again.
This is why it is crucial to get all three points tomorrow, especially with tough games at Old Trafford against Manchester City and Chelsea to come.
For Everton, they have improved in recent weeks under Marco Silva.
They have already defeated Arsenal and Chelsea at Goodison and will fancy their chances against United.
Also, they will be eager to make up for a dismal performance against Fulham last weekend.
However, they have struggled against Manchester United in recent seasons. You would expect United to put on a performance and bounce back after their Champions League exit.
Prediction: Everton 1-2 Manchester United
Photo credit to favoritnr1smm via Flickr
