News

Everton take the short trip down to Manchester on Saturday (8th April) to take on Manchester United at Old Trafford in the 12:30 kick off.

Both teams are sure to be desperate for 3 points from the fixture, though for very different reasons.

RECENT FORM

Everton, coming off the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Spurs, sit on 27 points at 16th place in the league. A win on Saturday would see the Blues leapfrog a few relegation rivals into 13th place, which would be an all-time high in Sean Dyche’s short tenure as manager.

It is fair to say that United will be poised for a win as they aim to retake 3rd place in the league from Newcastle who they are currently behind only on goal difference and solidify Champions League football for next season.

Manchester United will be confident in the fixture, coming off a tightly contested 1-0 home win against Brentford on Tuesday night, with the seemingly unstoppable Marcus Rashford nabbing the only goal of the game.

However, Everton too have cause for confidence. The players showed incredible spirit on Monday night to fight back a point with 10 men against Tottenham.

Evertonians can be confident that Sean Dyche and his side are unlikely to be fazed by Old Trafford and the opposition’s team, considering the Blues have taken points off ‘Big 6’ sides such as Tottenham and Chelsea in recent weeks.

TEAM NEWS

Both sides are currently suffering with suspensions and injuries that are likely to affect the landscape of the game on Saturday.

Everton Midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure will be forced to sit out the fixture after he received a straight red card earlier in the week when tensions flared with Spurs and England Captain Harry Kane. Doucoure has given Everton’s Midfield some much needed thrust in recent weeks and is sure to be missed.

United also have a big player missing due to suspension, with Midfielder Casemiro currently serving a 4-game ban after he saw red against Southampton. It is clear how important the Brazilian is to Manchester United’s Midfield presence when he is available.

Everton will be hoping to capitalise on his absence. In terms of Injuries, Everton are still of course without number 9 Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is back on the grass at finch farm, however still not up to Premier League football.

Right Back Nathan Patterson is believed to be back up to fitness but was left out of the match day squad against Spurs, it will be interesting to see whether Patterson is involved at Old Trafford.

Manchester United full back Luke Shaw was taken off on Tuesday night against Brentford with a suspected thigh problem, it is unsure whether he will be up to speed by Saturday with United Manager Erik Ten Hag insisting to ‘wait 24 hours’ before giving any verdict on the Englishman’s fitness.

KEY PLAYERS

United have one of the most in-form players on the planet at their disposal with Marcus Rashford. The wide man has scored 15 goals in 28 games so far in the Premier League this season, along with registering 3 assists.

This is already Rashford’s most prolific season to date as he seems to enter his peak. He could well be the player that influences the outcome of the fixture. Sean Dyche will need a huge performance from Sheamus Coleman on Saturday if the Blues are to keep Rashford quiet. The Irishman has shown he has the ability to keep world class players at bay in recent weeks, with a brilliant performance for his country against France in the international break in a game where Coleman kept Kylian Mbappe at bay. His battle with Rashford on Saturday is set to be an important and interesting one.

THE MATCH

Manchester United Manager Erik Ten Hag and Everton Boss Sean Dyche are similar in that you may describe both as pragmatic coaches.

With this in mind, along with the personnel available, we are likely to see a low scoring game that may hinge on who is able to net first.

Manchester United are a side who can be devastating in transition, utilising their pace in wide areas with the likes of Sancho, Garnacho and of course their main man this season Marcus Rashford.

Sean Dyche will be savvy to United’s strengths. His side are likely to keep a shape that sees United’s wingers doubled up on at all times, especially Marcus Rashford. This shape may look similar to that of the shape used against Arsenal in Dyche’s first game in charge of the Blues, in which he secured a 1-0 win.

As mentioned earlier, suspensions and Injuries are sure to have an effect on the game. Everton may struggle getting men in and around the box with the absence of Doucoure who has been one of the Blues biggest goal threats of late, netting 2 goals in his last 4 Premier League appearances. United too have looked more susceptible to attacks through the middle of the pitch without Casemiro, with new signing Sabitzer still getting used to life in the Premier League.

Everton are perhaps lucky in that they play United at a time where the Manchester club have 3 fixtures within a week. The Toffee’s will be hoping that their physical style will take advantage of any tired legs on the pitch on Saturday.

The game will Kick Off at 12:30 PM on Saturday the 8th of April and will be covered extensively on Toffee TV.

Mathew Fallon