Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Premier League clash between Manchester United and Everton, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
One for one in Manchester United home games so far, Ruben Amorim seeks a second straight triumph at the Theatre of Dreams in Sunday’s Premier League clash with Everton.
The Red Devils came up trumps in a 3-2 Europa League thriller with Bodo/Glimt on Thursday, while Sean Dyche‘s side could not break down a 10-man Brentford unit last weekend.
Match preview
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Quickly making a habit of scoring inside the opening two minutes under Amorim’s tutelage, Man United capitalised on a goalkeeping howler to strike inside 60 seconds in midweek, only for their Norwegian visitors to ostensibly spoil Amorim’s welcome party.
However, divine Danish intervention in the form of a Rasmus Hojlund double propelled the Red Devils to an enthralling European success in Amorim’s inaugural Old Trafford test, one which succeeded a low-key 1-1 Ipswich Town draw to commence the new Red Devils era.
Omari Hutchinson‘s deflected but delightful leveller at Portman Road denied Man United the chance to leave the bottom half of the Premier League table behind – they currently reside in an unspectacular 12th place – although the gap to Tottenham Hotspur in sixth is a mere three points at this juncture.
The beating of Bodo/Glimt also extended a bright home sequence for Sunday’s hosts, who have emerged victorious from five of their last six games at the Theatre of Dreams in all competitions, scoring multiple times in each of those successes.
Excitement is never a guarantee whenever the Red Devils step out onto the pitch, though, as with just 13 goals scored and 13 conceded in the 2024-25 Premier League season, Man United’s matches have seen the fewest goals of any top-flight team this season.
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No stranger to low-scoring affairs in the Premier League himself, Everton boss Sean Dyche arrives at Old Trafford with his toothless side on a three-game scoreless streak in the top flight, failing to breach all of Southampton, West Ham United and Brentford this month.
The Toffees were gifted a golden chance to end their attacking hoodoo against the Bees, who had Christian Norgaard sent off before the half-time whistle blew on November 23, but Dyche’s crop failed to make the most of their numerical advantage in a second straight goalless draw.
Now without victory in four top-flight contests since coincidentally besting Ipswich at Portman Road in the middle of October, Everton are treading close to danger in 15th place, only two points clear of the relegation trapdoor and four worse off than West Ham United in the position directly above.
Should Everton come away from Old Trafford with a creditable 0-0 draw to their name, it would mark the first time in their Premier League history – and just the second time in their overall history since 1982 – that they have played out a goalless stalemate in three consecutive league matches.
The last 0-0 between Man United and Everton came all the way back in a 2009 FA Cup affair, though, and the Red Devils now find themselves on a five-game winning sequence against the Toffees, whom they did the double over in 2023-24 by an aggregate scoreline of 5-0.
Manchester United Premier League form:
Manchester United form (all competitions):
Everton Premier League form:
Team News
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Man United boss Amorim has every single midfielder and attacker at his disposal for Sunday’s game, but the Red Devils are sweating over four defensive concerns in Jonny Evans (knock), Victor Lindelof (groin), Harry Maguire (calf) and Leny Yoro (foot).
Yoro is in the final stages of his rehabilitation from his summer injury, but the teenage Frenchman is still building his fitness back up and is unlikely to be considered for selection this weekend, where Noussair Mazraoui could be required as the right-sided centre-back again.
After handing Tyrell Malacia his first minutes in a Man United shirt since May 2023 on Thursday, Amorim could now opt to give Luke Shaw a long-awaited start at left wing-back, while potentially also handing Kobbie Mainoo a midfield recall.
As for Everton’s availability, ex-Man United youngster James Garner will be denied a reunion against old club on account of a back problem, while Seamus Coleman (thigh), Chermiti (ankle) and Tim Iroegbunam (foot) are also confined to the treatment room.
Only Armando Broja – who has been training fully for over a week since battling back from an Achilles injury – might be in with a slim chance of returning on Sunday, but he would not force his way into the XI over Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Beto anyway.
Calvert-Lewin’s failure to make the Brentford net bulge last weekend means that he has now gone scoreless in eight straight Premier League matches, but the 27-year-old has started every top-flight game this term and ought to keep Beto at bay once more.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Dalot, Mainoo, Casemiro, Shaw; Fernandes, Hojlund, Garnacho
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Doucoure, Gueye; Lindstrom, McNeil, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin
We say: Manchester United 1-0 Everton
As ineffective as Everton’s attacking displays were in November, Dyche’s resolute defensive unit are proving a tough nut to crack and will no doubt boast the fresher legs on the Old Trafford turf.
Two sides who are prone to low-scoring Premier League affairs may not serve up a terrific watch for the neutrals, but if there is going to be a decisive goal, it will surely go the hosts’ way.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
