Manchester United will welcome Everton to Old Trafford on Saturday evening. We had bounced back after our disappointing performances against Sheffield United and Arsenal by beating Southampton 9-0. This victory equaled our own previous record home win in the Premier League when we beat Ipswich Town in 1995.

There was no better way to reignite our title contenders status as United were banging in the goals for fun on Tuesday night. We were helped by the fact that Southampton had ended the game with nine men. The Saints ultimately collapsed after the first sending off. Alexandre Jankewitz’s high challenge on Scott McTominay was deemed a red card after 78 seconds. United never let up and show no mercy as we ran out victorious.

What will have pleased manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær is that the goals we scored were shared amongst the team. United are only the second side in Premier League history to have seven different scorers in one match. Anthony Martial the only player who registered more than one goal against the Saints.

United’s victory means we are the league’s highest scorers this season but aside from that, we are keeping within distance of our rivals Manchester City, who top the table. They have to face our rivals Liverpool at the weekend and could possibly drop points giving us the chance to close the gap even further.

We had bounced back to winning ways following our surprising 2-1 defeat against Sheffield United in the previous home game at Old Trafford. The victory against the Saints means we have won the last 5 of 7 matches at home. 

If we were to claim all three points against Everton on Saturday, it would mean that we would be level on points with Manchester City until their game on Sunday. Our victory in the reverse fixture against Everton back in November sparked the good run of form, which catapulted us into title contention.

Opposition Preview

Everton’s record of late at Old Trafford has not been great as they have lost 20 and only won one of the last 27 Premier League meetings at United. This record stretches back to 1992. For their manager, Carlo Ancelotti has had more joy with victories at Old Trafford when he managed AC Milan and Chelsea. He would be the first manager since Jose Mourinho to win at Old Trafford with different clubs.

The Toffees come into this game off the back of a 2-1 victory against Leeds in the midweek fixtures. It is their fourth victory away from Goodison Park, which is the best away form in the last 35 years. The only defeat that Everton has tasted in the last month was against Newcastle United who came away with a 2-0 victory.

Currently, they are sixth in the Premier League table and are only four points away from neighbours Liverpool who are in fourth. The Toffees also have two games in hand over them as well.

Manchester United vs Everton Match Details

Teams: Manchester United vs Everton

Date: February 6th, 2020 (Saturday)

KO Time: 20:00 GMT

Competition: Premier League

Stadium: Old Trafford

Referee: Jonathan Moss

Managers: Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Carlo Ancelotti

Manchester United Team News

Ole Gunnar Solskjær was keen to alleviate fears over the fitness of both Edinson Cavani and Luke who were taken off at half time against Southampton. The withdrawal of Shaw was more precautionary than Cavani, who suffered a knock to his ankle. The Uruguayan is expected to be available if needed.

With Anthony Martial’s brace against Southampton from the bench means he will be pushing to return to the starting eleven against Everton. He has a good record against them as he has been involved in 9 goals in 11 matches. If Martial did feature, he would be making his 250th appearance for the club.

Manchester United vs Everton Pre-Match Press Conference

During the pre-match press conference, Ole was asked about being in charge of his 100th Premier League match against Everton. He responded with, “I’m a bit older and wiser hopefully, and lot more grey up top! But I really enjoyed it, of course. I didn’t know it was my 100th game. What you learn is that the game is moving so much quicker, you have got to keep up with the pace of the game. The difference between when I started in 2014 with Cardiff and where it’s come now, it’s a different ball game. Of course, players get better and better, fitter and fitter, more tactical. Of course, I’ve enjoyed, not everyone of them, you don’t enjoy the ones when you lose, but you enjoy testing yourself against good coaches and managers,”

Ole was asked about our opponents Everton and their manager Carlo Ancelotti ahead of the game on Saturday evening. He said, “He’s a manager that you really look up to and respect. He’s a winner everywhere he’s been. The influence, for example at at PSG when he started there, what he’s done at AC Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid. You can see roots of that at Everton now as well. They’ve started the season fantastically, now they’ve won their last four away games. It’s a team that you know that you’re in for a battle when you play against them.”

Everton News

Everton will be hoping that goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has recovered from his rib injury in time to make the trip to Old Trafford. However, the game has come too soon for midfielder Allan, whilst Jean-Philippe Gbamin remains on the sidelines indefinitely.

James Rodriguez who did not feature against Leeds in midweek is expected to return to the starting eleven. Josh King, who signed from Bournemouth may make his debut against his old club. King told the Everton’s club media, “I have been training for months, I feel good. It will be good to get a training session today with the lads and again tomorrow, then we have United on Saturday. I have played in the Premier League, I know a few of the players here and it shouldn’t be hard settling in.”

Form Guide

Manchester United Premier League form: WDWLDW

Manchester United form (all competitions): DWWLDW

Everton Premier League form: WLWDLW

Everton form (all competitions): WWWDLW

Interesting Facts

• United have scored 19 goals in their past five home matches.
• This will be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 100th Premier League match as a manager, 18 of which came with Cardiff.
• Anthony Martial, who could make his 250th United appearance, has scored six goals and provided three assists in his past 11 appearances against Everton in all competitions.
• Manchester United have lost one of their last 27 home Premier League games against Everton (W20 D6), a 1-0 defeat in 2013/14 under David Moyes.
• United have not kept a Premier League clean sheet against Everton since January 2018.
• The last time Manchester United did a treble over Everton was in the 2015-16 season winning 3-0, 1-0 and 2-1.

Manchester United vs Everton Predicted Lineup

De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, McTominay; Rashford, Fernandes, Pogba, and Martial.

Prediction

Everton is going to provide a much sterner test than Southampton did. Most of United’s slip-ups this season have come at Old Trafford as Everton are in good form away from home, just like us. It is going to be an intriguing battle against Toffees but confidence will be riding high after the 9-0 victory on Tuesday evening.  I expect to see another victory on Saturday but it will be a much closer game.

Predicted Score

Manchester United 2-1 Everton