Everton vs Manchester United: Preview

Where: Goodison Park
Day: Saturday, 17^th October 2015
Time: 3:00pm (GMT)
Previous Encounter: Everton 3-0 Manchester United

Manchester United travel to Goodison Park for the first meeting between the Red Devils and the Toffees, having suffered a 3-0 defeat the last time they made the short journey to Liverpool.

Everton will be in high spirits after going on a 5-match unbeaten run before the international break, while Manchester United will be hoping to rebound from a disappointing 3-0 loss to Arsenal.

Ahead of this important Premier League fixture, we preview both teams and give you some opinions regarding the final score.

INJURY NEWS
Everton will be welcoming Seamus Coleman back into the starting line-up, with the Irishman suffering an injury in Everton’s 3-1 victory over league champions Chelsea.

The Blues will be hoping that John Stones can pass a late fitness test and return to the starting line-up after missing England’s Euro 2016 qualifiers.

For United, they will be given a massive injury boost with the return of star players Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo and former Evertonian Wayne Rooney.

They will, however, be without defender Paddy McNair, who has been forced to remain in a Helsinki hospital with a ruptured liver from Northern Ireland’s qualifying match with Finland.

Both sides are hoping to have most of their regular starters ready to play and will hope for an exciting match against two teams with things to prove.

RECENT FORM
Everton are unbeaten in 5 Premier League matches, but have picked up the same number of points as United in that same span.

With 3 draws and 2 victories, the Toffees have earned 9 points while United have picked up two losses and 3 victories sandwiched between them, which is also 9 points.

Everton will still be feeling high after defeating Chelsea and coming close to snatching a victory against bitter rivals Liverpool, whilst United will be looking to put their 3-0 drubbing against Arsenal at the back of their minds.

Everton (Last 5 Matches): DWDWD
Manchester United (Last 5 Matches): LWWWL

KEY PLAYERS
Both teams will be hoping to come into the match with an attacking mentality and will be relying heavily on their attacking players to provide them with a spark in front of goal.

For Everton, the likes of Ross Barkley, Steven Naismith, Aaron Lennon, Gerard Deulofeu and Romelu Lukaku will be the main focus for the team’s attacking front, with Lukaku being Everton’s real key to victory.

If Lukaku can get off strong shots in front of goal, he will test David De Gea and give United’s defenders a headache.

Pllayers such as Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, Morgan Schneiderlin and Anthony Martial will be the main focus for Louis Van Gaal’s United team.

Anthony Martial, who joined the club in a highly controversial £36 million transfer deadline day deal, is arguably the player Everton must be most wary of.

He has scored 3 goals in 5 Premier League appearances and has provided United with a new attacking dimension, leading him to be touted as the next Thierry Henry due to his ability to play out on the left and cut inside to score goals.

Everton: Romelu Lukaku
Manchester United: Anthony Martial

PREDICTION
Both teams will be hoping to grab victory this Saturday, but with the way that Everton have been playing and the questions that surround LVG’s team, it is not unreasonable to expect a deadlock between the two.

Everton could easily shock United and claim a victory at home, like they did last season, but it is difficult to rule out a team such as United.

A 1-1 draw seems likely, but the result could swing either way and it will be an exciting match to watch with a lot at stake for both teams.

Score Prediction: Everton 1-1 Manchester United

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