Premier League Preview: Manchester United - Everton

It’s an age-old cliché but football is certainly a results business. After a creditable performance at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago, Manchester United travelled back up the M6 reflecting on what might have been following a 1-0 defeat. Chelsea, and John Terry in particular, basked in the glory of three points, safe in the knowledge that they had extended their lead at the Premier League’s summit to five points – a figure that will likely be extended to eight before United are afforded a chance to react.

David Moyes’ Everton side make the trip to Old Trafford on Saturday where anything but three points for the champions will surely raise impending doubts about the Red Devils’ title credentials. A results business indeed.

While the Toffees will know that United are hardly firing on all cylinders considering their most recent results, the vast majority of Evertonians could pick an alternative destination than the Theatre of Dreams to get their own season back on track.

Victory over West Ham United at Upton Park in their last outing will have restored a degree of optimism among the Goodison faithful but after a yo-yo start to the season blighted by injuries and inconsistency, Evertonians will surely just be glad to see their side compete with last season’s Champions League finalists over the 90 minutes.

FORM GUIDE

Manchester United

8 Nov: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United (Premier League)
03 Nov: Manchester United 3-3 CSKA Moscow (Champions League)
31 Oct: Manchester United 2-0 Blackburn Rovers (Premier League)
27 Oct: Barnsley 0-2 Manchester United (League Cup)
25 Oct: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United (Premier League)

Everton

8 Nov: West Ham 1-2 Everton (Premier League)
5 Nov: Everton 0-2 Benfica (Europa League)
31 Oct: Everton 1-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
27 Oct: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Everton (League Cup)
25 Oct: Bolton Wanderers 3-2 Everton (Premier League)

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United

United are likely to be without defender Rio Ferdinand until the New Year as he struggles to overcome a chronic back problem so Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans should renew his partnership with Nemanja Vidic at centre-back.

John O’Shea limped out of the Republic of Ireland’s controversial defeat to France in midweek with a dead leg although is hoping to be fit in time.

Former Bayern Munich anchor Owen Hargreaves is rapidly nearing a return after an injury blighted past 14-months on the sidelines and could even make the substitutes bench as he closes in on a long-awaited comeback.

Possible starting XI: Van der Sar; Evra, Evans, Vidic, O’Shea; Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Valencia; Rooney, Berbatov.

Everton

Russian international Diniyar Bilyaletdinov will definitely be unavailable for Everton as he serves the second of his three match suspension while there are doubts surrounding the fitness of Tim Cahill who is currently suffering with a groin injury.

The trip to Old Trafford appears to have come a game too early for midfield trio Phil Neville, Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar who are all expected to miss out.

Possible starting XI: Howard; Baines, Yobo, Distin, Neil; Cahill, Fellaini, Rodwell, Heitinga, Gosling; Saha.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Manchester United – Wayne Rooney

Everyone knows exactly what to expect from Rooney and few better than the fans that first witnessed his explosive entrance to the Premier League. Tenacity, desire, commitment and, at the end of the day, supreme quality all come to mind when you think of United’s No.10 although many observers will always question a perceived lack of consistency in front of goal as his overriding downfall.

With Cristiano Ronaldo now long gone, the goalscoring responsibility has certainly intensified on the England man this term and the burden has hardly been stronger at international level too. Rooney has only managed one goal in his last nine outings for club and country but he will surely be chomping at the bit to improve that record against his former club this weekend.

Everton – Tim Howard

Ever since swapping Old Trafford for Goodison Park, Tim Howard’s career has been on an upwards curve. Given Edwin van der Sar’s injury problems, the inconsistency of Ben Foster and Sir Alex Ferguson’s apparent reluctance to field Tomasz Kuszczak, who’s to say that the American wouldn’t have been pushing for a first team slot if he were still a United player.

One would expect that the 28-year-old will be in for a busy evening on Saturday and the chance to prove a point to his former employers will surely elicit a positive response and spur him on to produce a polished performance between the sticks.

PREDICTION

Whilst Everton have nothing to lose when they step out at Old Trafford on Saturday, an extensive injury list coupled with their pretty dismal recent run (comprising of just one win in eight games) and pretty woeful record at the home of the champions (where they haven’t won since 1992) really doesn’t bode well.

Moyes’ side certainly won’t lie down and accept but you’d be brave to bet against United claiming the three points from this one.

Manchester United 3-1 Everton

Stephen Darwin, Goal.com UK