Manchester United will be looking to record just their third home win of the 2018-19 campaign when they welcome Everton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Red Devils are currently languishing down in 10th spot in the Premier League table and sit one point and two positions behind Everton ahead of what should be a very interesting match at Old Trafford.
United
© Reuters
Four wins, two draws and three defeats - that is United's record after nine matches of the 2018-19 campaign, with a total of 14 points leaving them down in 10th, some nine points off table-topping Manchester City at this stage.
City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are all going well in the top flight this season, and forgetting a title challenge for the moment, United have a real task on their hands to make the top four this term. The gap is currently seven points, but could be worse at the end of this weekend.
There is no question that United showed positive signs in their clash with Chelsea last weekend, and would have collected all three points from their trip to Stamford Bridge had Ross Barkley not popped up with a late equaliser.
The 3-2 victory over Newcastle United on October 6 is United's only win in their last seven matches in all competitions, however, and Jose Mourinho's side will enter this weekend's clash with Everton off the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
United were strong at home last season, but have won just two of their seven games at Old Trafford in all competitions this term, and have worryingly conceded 16 Premier League goals, which is the fifth-worst record in the division at this stage of the 2018-19 campaign.
Anthony Martial has shown signs of life in recent weeks, but Romelu Lukaku is without a goal in his last eight matches at club level. A leaky defence and a struggling centre-forward is not exactly a recipe for success, and there is serious pressure on United ahead of Sunday's clash with Everton.
The players do seem to still be with Mourinho, however, and back-to-back wins over Everton and Bournemouth in their next two matches would lead them nicely into the hugely important games with Juventus and City towards the start of next month.
Recent form: WWDLWD
Recent form (all competitions): LLDWDL
Everton
© Reuters
Everton were not without their problems in the early weeks of the 2018-19 campaign, but three straight Premier League wins have left the Toffees feeling good about themselves ahead of the trip to Manchester this weekend.
It would be fair to say that there was pressure on new head coach Marco Silva following the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on September 23. That result made it four games without a win for the Merseyside outfit, and followed the 3-1 home reverse to West Ham United one week before.
The Toffees returned to winning ways with a 3-0 success over Fulham on September 29, however, and have since beaten Leicester City and Crystal Palace in their last two to move into eighth position in the table.
There was always going to be pressure on Everton this season when considering their summer activity, and the club are entering a very interesting run of matches. Indeed, by the start of December, it should become clear just what the Everton supporters can expect from their team this season.
Everton will host Brighton & Hove Albion next weekend, before travelling to Chelsea and Liverpool either side of a home game against Cardiff City. The Toffees will feel that they can challenge for a top-six spot this season, and a win over United on Sunday afternoon would send out a strong message.
Richarlison has been the star of the show for the Merseyside outfit this season following a big-money move from Watford. The 21-year-old has four Premier League goals to his name this term, and will fancy his chances of upsetting United's leaky defence at Old Trafford.
However, Everton are winless in their last 18 matches against the established top six, suffering 13 defeats in the process. Meanwhile, the Toffees have lost 19 of their last 26 Premier League matches at Old Trafford.
Recent form: DLLWWW
Recent form (all competitions): LLWLWW
Team News
© Reuters
United are expected to welcome Jesse Lingard back into their starting XI, with the England international available once again following a month on the sidelines with a groin problem.
Scott McTominay could also be in contention to return, but Marouane Fellaini and Alexis Sanchez remain on the sidelines for the Red Devils.
Victor Lindelof had arguably his best game in a United shirt against Juventus during the week, and the Swede will again partner Chris Smalling at centre-back, with Ashley Young expected to start on the right.
Fred has struggled to make his mark at United following a summer move, and the Brazilian could again find himself on the bench, with Juan Mata impressive against Chelsea last weekend.
As for Everton, head coach Silva has no injury concerns, and could decide to hand Yerry Mina a debut in central defence.
That said, it seems more likely that Mina will be saved for the clash with Brighton next weekend, which would mean starts for Michael Keane and Kurt Zouma once again.
On-loan Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes made his debut against Crystal Palace last weekend and will keep his spot, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Cenk Tosun are expected to again start on the bench despite scoring against Palace.
United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Young, Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Pogba, Matic, Mata; Lingard, Lukaku, Martial
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Coleman, Zouma, Keane, Digne; Gueye, Gomes; Bernard, Sigurdsson, Walcott; Richarlison
Head To Head
United have won five of the last seven meetings between the two teams in all competitions, including a 4-0 success in the corresponding match last season.
Everton's last victory over the Red Devils was at Goodison Park in April 2015, although they also have a recent Old Trafford win to their name, having triumphed 1-0 at the Theatre of Dreams back in 2013.
The Toffees also held United to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in April 2017 and won four of the six Premier League matches between the two teams during August 2012 and April 2015.
We say: United 2-0 Everton
United will not exactly enter the match bursting with confidence, but Mourinho's side were impressive against Chelsea last weekend, and we fancy the Red Devils to have enough to overcome Everton.
Matt Law
