Premier League: Will Toffees be too Sticky for Red Devils?

Everton vs Manchester United

After another week of turmoil Ole Gunnar Solskjaer takes Manchester United down the East Lancs Road to face Everton on Saturday, in a clash which no-one desperate for a win would relish.

But speaking as a passionate football fan, based in the Northwest of England, Premier League: Everton vs Manchester United is a game I always look forward to; not least because I have friends who are supporters of each side. Of course neither was happy that Liverpool won the league last season, and both Everton and Manchester United are desperate to match, or even beat, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds some time in the not too distant future.

But to do that, both need to start with a win when the meet on Saturday lunchtime, and arguably the Red Devils need it more.

Talking Points

James racing to be fit for Everton

Carlo Ancelotti guided the Toffees to the top of the table after four games, but three subsequent outings without a victory have left them in fourth place on 13 points. That represents good progress from this time last year, when they were 15^th with seven points; ironically the exact position Manchester United find themselves right now.

A 2-1 defeat away to Newcastle last time out was an unexpected setback for Ancelotti’s side, as they missed a chance to go top again. They looked short at both ends of the field without Richarlison and James Rodriguez up front and Lucas Digne and Seamus Coleman at the back. The biggest miss was probably James, who has made a good start to his Goodison career with three goals and three assists from his opening six games, and he’s struck up a fine understanding with top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin who has eight goals.

Premier League: James Rodriguez has scored 3 goals and provided 3 assists — James Rodriguez is in a race to be fit for their upcoming game against Manchester United

The Colombian has adjusted well to the relentless pace of the Premier League and Everton will hope he makes the starting 11 on Saturday.

Robin Olsen is likely to keep his place in goal having replaced the error-prone Jordan Pickford, and he offers a calm assurance to his back four.

Is Ole’s job on the line?

Six games into the season and the Premier League 2020 betting odds don’t make good reading for the Red Devils as they appear to be out of the title race already and a long shot for a top four place. At times Manchester United’s former players make the Premier League 2020 news more than the current crowd, TV pundit and Manchester United legend Roy Keane laying into the Red Devils last weekend. To be fair to Keane, his old side were second best throughout their home defeat to Arsenal, a rare away victory against a ‘Big Six’ team for the Gunners.

And the current players will be trying to avoid their ex midfield enforcer again after losing chaotically to Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League on Wednesday. It’s all hard to understand, as the very same team destroyed the then Bundesliga leaders, Red Bull Leipzig, 5-0, only a week earlier. And there have been rumours circulating around Old Trafford that the Manchester United owners are considering an approach for former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.

But the club has today said that OGS retains their support and is still seen as a long-term appointment, though as anyone in football knows, that could all change with an extended run of bad results. It’s a little difficult to see how Ole can turn things around quickly though. His defence has been shaky and his strikers mis-firing, penalty taking midfielder Bruno Fernandes is the Red Devils’ top scorer with three.

Striker Marcus Rashford looked lost against Arsenal and it is his partnership with Mason Greenwood which could potentially haul United out of their current malaise.

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Serie A

History

The head to heads should give the Red Devils some confidence. They have had plenty of success against the Toffees since the inception of the Premier League, winning 37 of the meetings between the two sides, while Everton have won just nine

More recently the Toffees have fared a little better. Both games were drawn 1-1 last season, while in the 2018/19 campaign Everton hammered the Red Devils 4-0, and with an unbeaten home record this season Ancelotti’s boys will fancy their chances.

Betting Tip

	Everton vs Manchester United	Everton Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.17
	November 7, 20:30 (GMT+8)

Our pre-match SBOTOP odds for this game gives the Red Devils a slight edge at 2.38 with their hosts at 2.71 and the draw is 3.20.

But it’s a question of which Manchester United will turn up; the swashbuckling Reds who destroyed Leipzig, or the stodgy league side which is so frustrating to their fans?

With key players, including James, possibly returning for Everton I think it’s safer to count on the hosts, with a draw no bet fallback.