Manchester United vs Everton: Preview, TV channel info, Live stream, Team News, Prediction, Betting odds
Following a dull international break, Premier League fans will be itching to see their favourite teams hit the ground running for the business end of what has been a season for the history books. Leicester and Spurs’ remarkable title challenge, Manchester’s decline, Bournemouth’s incredible story have been the talking points of the campaign so far.
Whether the final 7 gameweeks of the season will live up to the unpredictably of the season thus far will be something to look forward to.
This Sunday, the focus shifts to Old Trafford, where Manchester United welcome Merseyside club Everton in a bid to build on a morale-boosting 0-1 success on rival territory across Manchester a fortnight back.
They could well pip them to a Champions League spot should results favour Louis van Gaal’s side. In addition to the fight for Champions League qualification, they coud yet be going to Wembley – to face the same opposition – in the semi-finals of the FA Cup if they overcome West Ham next Wednesday.
With so much still at stake in what has been a highly inconsistent season for United, can they kick their ‘back-end of the season’ surge off with a victory over Roberto Martinez’s side?
Kick-Off and Live Telecast
Channel: StarSports 2, StarSports 2 HD
Live Stream: www.starsports.com
Kick-Off: Sunday, 03 April – 2030 IST (1600 BST)
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
Team News
Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger suffered yet another recurrence of his knee injury during the international break and will play no part in this fixture. Ashley Young and Ander Herrera are nearing full fitness and may be named on the bench. Wayne Rooney and Luke Shaw will return to training this week, much to the delight of the United fans.
Meanwhile, there are rumours that Marcos Rojo has fallen out with manager Louis van Gaal following an incident while he was on international duty in Argentina, making his presence doubtful. Cameron Borthwick-Jackson could replace him if he is left out of van Gaal’s plans for Sundat.
Everton have no new injury concerns. Defender John Stones is fit after recovering from the knock he suffered while playing for England over the fortnight. Bryan Oviedo is also available after overcoming a chest infection. Kevin Mirallas returns from a ban, but Gareth Barry is completing his two-game ban in this match.
Team Form
Manchester United erased their Europa League nightmares against Liverpool with a deserved 0-1 win on Manchester Derby Day to re-kindle their top four hopes. Marcus Rashford’s skill, Michael Carrick’s work-ethic and United’s defensive solidity were the positives to take out of the game.
They are also nearing a full-fitness squad, something that has been deserting them ever since Luke Shaw broke his leg that September night in Eindhoven. United will need a performance characterised with desire, urgency and willingness to put the opposition on the back foot if they have to achieve their target of a top four finish and win the FA Cup.
Will they come up trumps against an Everton defence blowing hot and cold throughout this season?
Last 5 games(All Competitions) : W-D-D-L-L (Most Recent – Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United)
Everton really don’t know what to make of their season. They’ve shown signs of brilliance on some occasions which give them the credibility of a European level side, only to balance them out with some panicking moments in the death stages of games to throw away advantages.
Losing to West Ham despite being 2 goals up with 15-odd minutes left is the first of a plethora of instances Everton’s leaky defence has cost them. As a result, they find themselves in the middle of the pack with nothing really to play for in the league.
A 0-2 defeat at Arsenal before the international break – a game in which they barely turned up – could well be indicative of the fact that they are focussing on Wembley, where they will face either their imminent opponents or the Hammers in the semi-final.
They showed what they are capable of in their convincing 2-0 victory over Chelsea in the last eight, but can Romelu Lukaku inspire his side to an upset at Old Trafford?
Last 5 games(All Competitions) : L-W-L-W-W (Most Recent – Everton 0-2 Arsenal)
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Team News
Head-to-Head
- Everton have won 4 out of the last 7 meetings against Manchester United in the league (L3).
- They have won just once in 22 attempts at Old Trafford in the Premier League – a 0-1 success in December 2013 when David Moyes was in charge.
- Romelu Lukaku is yet to score in four league appearances at Old Trafford.
Manchester United
- United’s 0-1 success over Manchester City was their first victory in 5 competitive games.
- Marcus Rashford has been involved in four out of his side’s last five league goals – scoring 3 and assisting the other.
- If United score, it will be their 1000th Old Trafford goal in the Premier League era.
Everton
- Everton have lost just once in the league on the road all season – a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal back in October. Their only other away defeat was in Manchester – a 3-1 loss to Manchester City in the second leg of the Capital One Cup.
- They have racked up 22 points away from Goodison Park, compared to just 16 when playing there.
- Romelu Lukaku has scored six goals in his last seven appearances in all competitions.
Key Battle
Chris Smalling vs Romelu Lukaku
Chris Smalling may consider himself extremely fortunate not to earn a second booking for hacking down a charging Sergio Aguero at the Etihad Stadium. It’s just as well that he wasn’t given his marching orders, as it makes him available to face the Toffees to do the all important job of keeping Romelu Lukaku quiet. Smalling was brilliant against the physically built Belgian when the sides met back in October.
But Lukaku also showed what he is worth with a world-class goal against Chelsea in the FA Cup – slaloming past 4 defenders with his pace and strength to stun the Blues’ defence. Smalling knows that he has to repeat the same task of stifling the 22-year old’s movement in and around the penalty area.
He must make sure that Lukaku neither gets the space to get a shot away nor is afforded the luxury of holding the ball up for an approaching team-mate.
Predictions
Manchester United 2-1 Everton
Everton have been highly inconsistent this season, while Manchester United’s morale will be high following their derby delight. A victory for the Red Devils at home would be a perfect start to a late season rise to top notch form.
Betting Odds (Bet 365)
Manchester United – 2.10
Draw – 3.30
Everton – 3.75