Everton VS Manchester United: Everton Look To Bounce Back After Point Deduction
Sean Dyche’s Everton host Manchester United this Sunday in their first game back after receiving a 10-point deduction during the international break.
Prior to the international break, The Toffees seemed to have turned a corner; winning four out of their last six games in all competitions, they looked to be in a great position heading into the Christmas period. However, due to their off-field issues, the Merseyside club are now back in the depths of a relegation battle, thanks to an Independent Commission handing them a Ten-Point deduction for the breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability rules. Everton now sit joint bottom on four points with Vincent Kompany’s Burnley, and face a sixth placed Manchester United side on Sunday.
Erik ten Haag will have been glad to have seen the latest pause in play; having picked up a key six points in their last two games, a brief break in the season will have been a brilliant time to rally the troops and forget about what has been a shaky past couple of months. With form in the league, on paper, not looking so bad, their wins haven’t been convincing and 1-0 victories over Luton and Fulham hasn’t had the United faithful full of hope. The Red Devils also have also continued to struggle in Europe this season, with only one win so far and currently sitting bottom of their group, Ten-Haag’s men need to start with a win in their first game back.
Team News
Everton’s Amadou Onana is a potential uncertainty for this weekend’s game, having been sent home from the Belgium camp with what seems to be a calf injury, his national side’s medical team decided it would be best for him to be sent back to Everton to be assessed by their club’s physios.
Luke Shaw is set to return for Manchester United having been out since August, a relief for United fans after having to deal with a makeshift full back all season.
Andre Onana was also sent home from the Cameroon camp with a groin injury but is expected to be passed fit for their trip to Merseyside.
There is however concern for Ten-Haag as Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen both missed their recent Danish games. The United boss is hopeful of Hojlund featuring on Sunday though Eriksen has sustained a knee injury which may take a little longer than first hoped before he returns. Casemiro, Jonny Evans and Lisandro Martinez are all still unable to return.
Head To Head
Only 28 miles separate the two historic side’s and within their 145 year tenure, the teams have met 211 times. Manchester United come out on top of the form chart having won 44% of their games against each other, with Everton having won 34%.
The last time both sides met it was at Old Trafford in April, in which United rode out 2-0 winners, with McTominay and Martial on the scoresheet.
Verdict
Sunday’s game looks a tough challenge for both sides, although Everton sit in 19th place, if they can continue their form before the international break Sean Dyche’s men will provide a real testing game for United.
Ten-Haag will be delighted to see Luke Shaw back in his squad, but his injury list remains large. His side lack confidence and quality but as its been seen many times this season, United can grind out victories at tough grounds and with Goodison on Sunday set to be a white-hot atmosphere can the Red Devils snatch a victory which will see them edge closer to Aston Villa in fifth.
