Everton vs Manchester United – News and Probable Lineups

Everton face a Manchester United team sitting three places higher in the Premier League, with the potential of achieving their first double over the Red Devils since the 2013-14 season.

Nonetheless, the Toffees have a history of more home losses to their Manchester opponents than any other team, highlighting their challenges ahead of United’s first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium in this round 27 fixture.

Match overview

Everton’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in November marked their first league win at the Theatre of Dreams since December 2013, also remembered for Idrissa Gueye’s dismissal after striking teammate Michael Keane.

This match signifies a win for David Moyes on a ground that generally brought him few successes during his time at United in the 2013-14 season – ironically, the last time the Merseyside club triumphed in a league match in Manchester – as the Scotsman seeks to overcome his old club on Monday night.

However, these opportunities are diminished by their disappointing home form, with five losses in their last ten home outings and only managing three wins in that period.

The last five games at their home ground have not yielded any victories for Moyes’s side, who suffered defeats against Arsenal (1-0), Brentford (4-2), and Bournemouth (2-1). They are also in search of their first clean sheet at home since a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in early December.

If the Toffees secure maximum points, it would boost their hopes for European qualification, with sixth-place Merseyside rivals Liverpool only five points ahead.

Still, Everton will be cautious of dropping positions if they fail to earn points for the sixth consecutive home match, with ninth-place Bournemouth level on 37 points, and Newcastle United, Sunderland (both 36), and Fulham (34) lurking closely.

Defeating United for a second time this season will pose significant challenges for the Merseyside club due to Manchester’s determined resurgence since Michael Carrick took over from Ruben Amorim.

Manchester United remain unbeaten in nine league matches – a streak that predates Carrick’s arrival – yet they have clinched four wins in the last five, including a late equaliser through Benjamin Sesko against West Ham United for a 1-1 draw.

Sesko has scored critical late goals twice for the Manchester club, having also netted a 94th-minute winner in United’s 3-2 victory over Fulham at the start of February.

Jointly atop the form table with Chelsea over the last five matches entering round 27, the Red Devils are strong favourites to prolong their unbeaten league streak to ten.

The travelling supporters will anticipate a positive outcome during their first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium, aiming for a 20th away victory against the Toffees and a total of 43 overall wins.

Considering Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Burnley on Saturday leaves both teams vying for the top four tied on points, Carrick’s squad needs to secure a win to reclaim the fourth position, hoping history will repeat itself under the Merseyside lights.

Team News

While Jake O’Brien, who was sent off in Everton’s last Premier League game against Bournemouth, and long-term injury absentee Jack Grealish (ankle) will not feature, Moyes is pleased to welcome back Seamus Coleman for the first time since late January.

Thierno Barry and Iliman Ndiaye both have five goals this season, matching Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, with the forwards netting three at home compared to the attacking midfielder’s two, all aiming to increase their tallies on Merseyside.

Importantly, Dewsbury-Hall is in pursuit of a historic goal against United as he could become the first English Everton player since Andy King in 1978-79 to score at both home and away matches against Manchester United.

While United may have recently benefited from Sesko’s timely goals, Bruno Fernandes remains their standout player.

As United’s captain, he has scored twice and assisted eight times in his last nine away league appearances, aiming to contribute significantly in Monday’s fixture.

No Manchester United player has outscored 10-goal Bryan Mbeumo away, with Mbeumo, tied with Sesko on four away goals, looking to add to his record in these matches.

Although Carrick has all his key players available, Mason Mount, Matthijs de Ligt (back), and Patrick Dorgu (thigh) are sidelined.

Everton probable starting XI:

Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Armstrong, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry

Manchester United probable starting XI:

Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo

The momentum from a nine-match unbeaten league streak is likely to be too much for an Everton side that has suffered half of their last ten home defeats.

As a result, United is expected to capitalize on the defensive vulnerabilities of the home team in Merseyside and return to the top four.