Manchester United will aim to continue their unbeaten run when they welcome Everton to Old Trafford on Sunday.
Sunday is packed in the Premier League as Gameweek 13 of the 2024/25 season culminates. The action on the day will kick-start with three simultaneous matches, including Manchester United vs Everton at Old Trafford, before Liverpool and Manchester City bring the curtains down on the latest round of fixtures with a blockbuster clash.
Manchester United have barely put a foot wrong since parting ways with Erik ten Hag. Ruud van Nistelrooy oversaw a four-game unbeaten streak before making way for Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese tactician began his spell with a frustrating 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town before the Red Devils beat Bodo/Glimt 3-2 in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
As for Everton, the Toffees have endured a topsy-turvy ride under the tutelage of Sean Dyche, and that has not changed this season. However, the visitors are slowly pulling away from the drop zone, losing only one of their last eight games, although Dyche’s men must start winning some games to create a wider gap.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Manchester United beat Everton 2-0, with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford scoring from the spot. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Ruben Amorim does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester United manager will be bereft of the services of four first-team players vs Everton on Sunday.
Harry Maguire (calf) is closing in on returning to action, although he remains unavailable. In addition, Jonny Evans faces a late fitness test to determine his availability. Leny Yoro (foot) and Victor Lindelof (calf) remain on the sidelines, but the duo should appear soon.
Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-3 formation in front of him vs Everton on Sunday. The central defensive unit should feature Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, and Lisandro Martinez. Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw should be the two wing-backs, with the duo providing the width in the final third.
As for the midfield unit, Casemiro might pair up with Kobbie Mainoo in the double pivot. The duo will aim to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund should lead the line for Manchester United against Everton, with Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes completing the numbers in the offensive trifecta.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Onana; Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez; Dalot, Casemiro, Mainoo, Shaw; Bruno Fernandes, Hojlund, Garnacho
Everton
Like his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Sean Dyche does not have any issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Everton manager will be without five first-team players on Sunday.
James Garner is the most notable absentee, with the former Manchester United midfielder recovering from a back injury. The Englishman accompanies Seamus Coleman (hamstring), Tim Iroegbunam (foot), Youssef Chermiti (ankle), and Armando Broja (achilles) on the sidelines.
Jordan Pickford will take his spot between the sticks, with Everton lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Sunday. The backline should feature Ashley Young, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Vitaliy Mykolenko.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye in the double pivot. Dwight McNeil will pull the strings from the advanced areas, with Jesper Lindstrom and Iliman Ndiaye being the two wide attackers. Finally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin should spearhead the Everton attack against Manchester United this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Doucoure, Gueye; Lindstrom, McNeil, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin
Key Stats
Manchester United have won 41 Premier League games vs Everton, the highest tally of any side in the competition against one opponent. Sean Dyche’s men have lost and failed to score in all three Premier League games against Manchester United, including a 2-0 away defeat in March when Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford scored penalties.
Manchester United’s tally of 16 points equals their lowest total after 12 Premier League games. Much of the issues have come through poor scoring form. The Red Devils have scored 13 strikes from an expected goals tally of 18.3 in the Premier League this term, the biggest negative differential of any team.
Everton have lost one of their last eight Premier League matches after starting the season with four straight defeats. However, the Toffees have won only two of their 12 league games thus far.
Everton have failed to score in a league-high six fixtures, although only Liverpool and Manchester United have kept more clean sheets than the Toffees’ four.
Marcus Rashford has been directly involved in five goals in his past seven Premier League games against Everton, scoring in the last two.
Player to Watch
Rasmus Hojlund
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The central striker’s berth is up for grabs after Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund scored in their first starts under Ruben Amorim. While both players have work to do before they can reach the Viktor Gyokeres levels, the early signs are promising, especially from Hojlund.
The Danish international scored a match-winning brace as Manchester United beat Bodo/Glimt 3-2 in the UEFA Europa League. Hojlund will hope to build on that performance when he takes the field against Everton this weekend. Expect another game-changing performance by the highly-rated striker.
Prediction
Manchester United 2-0 Everton
Manchester United continue to improve, even though they have many glaring issues. The players are not focused enough, while technical proficiency is lacking. So, Everton might feel the hosts are there for the taking, although the Toffees have their offensive shortcomings.
The rampant offensive moves should continue for the home side, with Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho making their mark again. However, Rasmus Hojlund will make the difference, with the Dane delivering the goods and earning a 2-0 win for Ruben Amorim on his Premier League home debut.