Man Utd host Everton at Old Trafford in the English Premier League at lunchtime on Saturday. The hosts have not been playing well in recent matches with three defeats in four matches before their last-gasp win in midweek against Villarreal. Rafa Benitez has made a great start to the season with Everton but faces an injury crisis with three starters expected to miss out.
Man Utd Form
With 13 points from their first six league matches, it has been a decent start to the Premier League season for Man Utd on paper. Performances, however, are concerning. Wolves should have beaten the Red Devils and West Ham also could have taken points. In their last match, PL brought a 1-0 home loss to Aston Villa even if they did miss an injury-time penalty.
The last five matches have seen losses to Young Boys with ten men in the Champions League, at home to West Ham in the Carabao Cup (with a rotated but very strong XI) and then the Villa loss. Against Villarreal in midweek, United burgled the win with 1.3 xG to 2.4 xG for the Spanish side. Cristiano Ronaldo got the side out of jail with a 95th-minute goal.
Man Utd Team News
United is still without the injured Marcus Rashford down the left wing but Edinson Cavani is now playing again to boost the forward options. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is expected to be without injured Harry Maguire in central defense so Victor Lindelof will start.
Luke Shaw is doubtful at left-back but could be fit to return as he was close for the Villarreal match. Fred will probably be recalled in central midfield either alongside Scott McTominay or with Paul Pogba as his partner. Jadon Sancho is likely to be dropped whilst Jesse Lingard is pushing hard for a start.
Man Utd Motivation
United comes off a stressful, must-win Champions League match against Villarreal on Wednesday night. This match has a short turnaround time and may see some fatigued players, rotation to the XI, and some who aren’t fully concentrated.
This match is a must-win as pressure is growing on Solskjaer. If the scores are level, expect him to take risks by throwing Cavani on alongside Ronaldo. He simply can’t afford to even draw so will have to risk defeat to try to win.
Everton Form
Rafa Benitez has overseen a very strong start to the season with four wins and a draw in six league matches. Everton impressively came from 1-0 behind to beat both Southampton and Burnley 3-1 at home. A strong 2-0 win at high-flying Brighton was another impressive result.
Their last away match saw a 3-0 loss at Aston Villa after three goals leaked in ten second-half minutes, right after Benitez had withdrawn his striker Rondon for an extra midfielder. Despite all their injuries, they bounced back to beat whipping boys Norwich 2-0 at home last time out.
Everton Team News
The Toffees have several injuries to deal with for this match. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is out and Richarlison is very doubtful and not expected to be fit. Alex Iwobi and Salomon Rondon will replace the duo.
Seamus Coleman is injured at right-back so Ben Godfrey will cover in that role. Central midfield options are decreased by Fabian Delph and Jean-Philippe Gbamin being out injured and Andre Gomes is a serious doubt.
Everton Motivation
The side has been quite enterprising this season and good to watch, unlike most Benitez teams. That is partly due to their attacking talent and partly due to the defence not being particularly reliable so far.
Everton would certainly take a draw in this match considering their multitude of injuries in the attack. With so little firepower on the bench, they are not really equipped to turn around a deficit so scoring first will be key.
Key Stats
United have lost 3 and drawn 2 of their last 12 home PL matches
United have scored 43 goals in their last 16 home PL matches
Man Utd have lost 3 of their last 5 matches in all competitions
Man Utd are 6 matches without a clean sheet
Everton have won 4 of their 6 PL matches this season
Everton have just 1 of their last 12 PL meetings with Man Utd (L6, D5)
Rafa Benitez has lost 7 of his 9 Premier League away matches against Man Utd
Verdict
Had Everton been at full strength, they would have really fancied themselves to win at struggling Man Utd. With their injuries, a draw would feel like a win. The hosts should have enough to take the victory in this one and with Everton’s two best attackers out, perhaps a rare clean sheet is possible.
Best Bet: Man Utd win (-1 handicap) at 2.50
Value Bet: Man Utd win to nil at 2.60
Correct Score Tip: Man Utd 2-0 Everton at 6.00
Goalscorer Tip: Ronaldo first goalscorer – ODDS TBC
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