Preview: Amorim to help United chew up the Toffees at Old Trafford? Hojlund to continue scoring this weekend? A victory is vital!

Manchester United -v- Everton

Premier League

Old Trafford, Manchester

Sunday 1 December 2024, KO 13:30 GMT

Manchester United return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon as they welcome Everton to the Theatre of Dreams. Ruben Amorim’s side beat Bodø/Glimt 3-2 at Old Trafford on Thursday even, despite opening the scoring early on, but conceding two goals, equalising just before half time. United used their experience to win.

It is the second time United had won in the UEFA Europa League this season, drawing the opening three matches, winning the last two matches, putting them up to 12th in the league table with three matches remaining in the league stage. United need to find the same form in the Premier League this season where they are falling short.

United sit in 12th place in the league this season, having won 16 points from the opening 12 matches, winning four, drawing four and losing four. Everton sit in 15th place with just 11 points this season, sitting just two points clear of the relegation zone, which is the area Everton have been for the last few seasons.

United – Form, Goals Scored & Assists

Bodø/Glimt 3-2 W, Ipswich 1-1 D, Leicester 3-0 W, PAOK 2-0 W, Chelsea 1-1 D, Leicester 5-2 W

Goals: 8 – Alejandro Garnacho, 5 – Marcus Rashford, 4 – Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund, 3 – Amad, Casemiro, 1 – Antony, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Own Goal, Joshua Zirkzee

Assists: 7 – Bruno Fernandes, 4 – Alejandro Garnacho, 3 – Amad, Christian Eriksen, Marcus Rashford, 2 – Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee, 1 – Rasmus Hojlund, Manuel Ugarte

Everton – Form, Goals Scored & Assists

Brentford 0-0 D, West Ham 0-0 D, Southampton 1-0 L, Fulham 1-1 D, Ipswich 2-0 W, Newcastle 0-0 D

Goals: 4 – Dwight McNeil, 3 – Iliman Ndiaye, 2 – Beto, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Michael Keane, 1 – Abdoulaye Doucouré

Assists: 3 – Dwight McNeil, Ashley Young, 1 – Dominic Calvert-Lewin, James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam, Michael Keane, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Jake O’Brien

Previous Meetings & Connections

United and Everton have met 64 times in the Premier League. United have won 41 times, drawn 13 times and lost ten times. United scored 118 goals against Everton, winning eight penalties, scoring seven. Everton scored 60 goals against United, winning four penalties, scoring three. United are expected to continue their run against Everton.

United have kept 27 clean sheets in this fixtures with Everton keeping 10. This is a fiery clash over the years with discipline being an issue. United players have been shown 81 yellow cards and two red cards with Everton players shown 118 yellow cards and three red cards. I guess it must be hard being relegation quality each season!

Mark Hughes, Andrei Kanchelskis, Phil Neville, Jesper Blomqvist, Wayne Rooney, Tim Howard, Louis Saha, Darron Gibson, Marouane Fellaini, Michael Keane, Tom Cleverley, Romelu Lukaku, Morgan Schneiderlin, Donny van de Beek, James Garner and Ashley Young have played for both clubs.

Team News

United: Ruben Amorim basically has his full squad to choose from in a matter of weeks. The squad has improved since the Portuguese manager started working for the club, which was good for him as many injuries have come to an end, with more ending in the not too distant future. United seem to be in good shape at this time.

Ruled Out: Leny Yoro (ankle/foot) and Victor Lindelof (groin/hip/pelvic)

Suspended: None

Close to Returning: Harry Maguire (calf/shin/heel) and Jonny Evans (knock)

Everton: The Toffees have major injury problems ahead of the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday. Having many senior players out of the squad will result in Everton not really being able to challenge their opposition. Their form this season has been just as bad as the recent seasons which nearly saw them relegated. This time maybe?

Ruled Out: Timothy Iroegbunam (ankle/foot), Youssef Ramalho Chermiti (ankle/foot), James Garner (lower back), Armando Broja (calf/shin/heel) and Bamidele Alli (groin/hip/pelvic)

Suspended: None

Close to Returning: Seamus Coleman (thigh)

Predicted United Starting XI – 3-4-3

Onana;

Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez;

Amad, Fernandes, Ugarte, Dalot;

Mount, Hojlund, Garnacho

Predicted Everton Starting XI – 4-2-3-1

Pickford;

Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko;

Doucouré, Gueye;

Lindstrøm, McNeil, Ndiaye;

Calvert-Lewin

History, training and the lead up to the big match

United have had some great result against Everton and with the Merseyside club in this kind of form. despite United’s troubles, they really could take advantage of the Toffees. United were tested against Bodø/Glimt on Thursday evening at the Theatre of Dreams but they overcame the challenge and won.

Everton will try to test United, even in the form they have been in as over the past few seasons, United have not been great themselves. It will be important for Amorim to set up his side to weather any storm that is created by Everton, as United are susceptible to conceding a goal or two, as they have done of late.

Amorim will need to better United’s league position this season and starting now is the time with United playing the likes of Arsenal, City and Spurs this month in the Premier League, which are three matches the club should be pulling out all of the stops to win, which will add confidence to the squad, which is much needed at this time.

Manchester United 3-0 Everton

Written by Paul