The caretaker manager believes that, even though Everton have left Goodison Park, they will present his side with a challenge on Monday night
Head coach of Manchester United, Michael Carrick, speaks during a press conference at Carrington Training Ground on February 20. Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Head coach of Manchester United, Michael Carrick, speaks during a press conference at Carrington Training Ground on February 20. Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Michael Carrick said Goodison Park was one of the “toughest” away games he faced as a player and that he expects Manchester United’s first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium to be no different.
The former England international will bring his team to the Liverpool waterfront on Monday night in the hope of securing a return to winning ways after a draw at West Ham United ended a four-game victory streak.
The caretaker boss at Old Trafford recognised the experience of David Moyes and his own history of facing Everton as challenges his team must overcome if they are to leave Merseyside happy on Monday night.
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Speaking ahead of the game, Carrick, who played under Moyes at Man Utd, said: "There is a lot that goes into a game. David’s [Moyes] teams are hard to play against, he is such a good manager and knows what it takes to have success in this league. It is a new challenge for us. It is going to take a lot, going away, new stadium, but [this fixture] historically has always been tough, one of the toughest I have played away from home and trying to be the best we can. We have got a good base and foundation and spirit. We will have to draw on all of that Monday night."
Harry Maguire is set to return after missing the West Ham match and Carrick confirmed Mason Mount was “getting closer” to a return to the Man Utd squad, but said Matthijs de Ligt will miss the game as he continues to recover from a back injury. Patrick Dorgu is a long-term absence with a hamstring injury.
The teams drew their final match-up at Goodison Park as Man Utd fought back from two goals down before escaping with a point after VAR controversially intervened to lead to a stoppage time penalty awarded to Everton being overturned.
Everton then inflicted a major blow on former Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim as the Blues secured a remarkable win at Old Trafford in November, as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall provided the match-winner for a side that had Idrissa Gueye sent off for violent conduct against teammate Michael Keane and club captain Seamus Coleman forced off with a serious hamstring injury - both with the game goalless.
Moyes praised Carrick’s impact at Man Utd and the job he did in his former role at Middlesbrough when the Blues boss spoke to the press at Finch Farm on Friday. He said he had a full squad to pick from, with the exception of the suspended Jake O’Brien and the injured Jack Grealish, whose presence was talismanic in the win in Manchester late last year.
Reflecting on the win at Old Trafford ahead of the reverse fixture, Moyes added: “I think the big thing I’ve wanted us to do at Everton was to make sure we were competitive with the so-called bigger teams or the teams who are near the top of the league. I think we’ve tried to do that.
“We’ve not won all the games, but I think we have been competitive. On the night we were, we showed resilience.
“It was a huge win for us at the time because we were trying to keep up with everybody and we have. All season, we’ve been trying to retain our position and in the main we’ve done so with one or two blips but obviously the three points at Old Trafford was a huge boost for us.”