Everton vs Manchester United – Match preview and team news

The Football Faithful

·22 Februari 2025

Everton vs Manchester United – Match preview and team news

Everton welcome Manchester United to Goodison Park for the final time this Saturday lunchtime.

The homecoming of manager David Moyes has inspired the Toffees to an upturn in form which has seen them go unbeaten in their last five league matches. Ahead of today’s clash with the Red Devils, Everton find themselves a point above Ruben Amorim’s side.

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However, Moyes will be without up to eight senior players for the visit of his former employers. Iliman Ndiaye has been receiving injections to speed up his medial ligament injury recovery.

The likes of Orel Mangala, Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin remain sidelined. However, Abdoulaye Doucoure is back at Moyes’ disposal after serving a one-match suspension against Crystal Palace last weekend.

A depleted Manchester United squad were narrowly beaten away to Tottenham last Sunday. That 1-0 defeat leaves them in 15th position in the Premier League and the injury woes continue for Ruben Amorim.

Kobbie Mainoo is still a few weeks away from full fitness while Lisandro Martinez and Amad Diallo will not feature again this campaign. Toby Collyer is close to being available but Mason Mount and Luke Shaw are still plagued by injury.

There is some positive news for the Portuguese tactician. The 40-year-old is able to consider Christian Eriksen, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte for selection after they were absent last weekend.

Everton vs Manchester United – Match preview and team news

Form

Everton: WWLDW

Overall, it has been a successful few weeks for Everton under the stewardship of David Moyes. The experienced Scotsman has steered the Merseyside based club way clear of the relegation zone, with 13 points now separating them from Ipswich Town.

Crucial away victories over Brighton and Crystal Palace and home triumphs against Tottenham and Leicester has seen them rise up the table. Of course, the dramatic last-minute equaliser from James Tarkowski in the Merseyside Derby has imbued confidence in the team.

An FA Cup exit to Bournemouth is the only significant blemish on Moyes’ record so far in his second spell at the club.

There are only six games remaining at the hallowed turf of Goodison Park. Fortunately for Everton, it is looking increasingly likely that they will be playing Premier League football when they move into their new home at Bramley-Moore Docks next season.

Read – David Moyes celebrates ‘dream start’ to second Everton stint

Manchester United: WWLWL

A twelfth league defeat of the season last weekend left Manchester United stranded in 15th position. It is certainly unfamiliar territory for the prolific winners.

Tottenham edged Ruben Amorim’s players out in a 1-0 win in North London with James Maddison scoring the decisive goal. However, the game was a tale of missed chances for United as the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee spurned gilt-edged opportunities.

Despite languishing in the lower half of the table, the threat of relegation is relatively low. The Red Devils are 12 points clear of danger, even though they have lost three out of their last four league matches.

Only four teams have scored fewer goals in the Premier League than United’s 28 this campaign. One of those teams is Everton, with the other sides making up the current bottom three.

Amorim and his players will undoubtedly be focusing their attention and energy on the cup competitions. United are in the last-16 of the Europa League and also have a FA Cup fifth-round tie against Fulham to look forward to next weekend.

Last Meeting

Manchester United 4-0 Everton, Premier League, 1st December 2024

Ruben Amorim earned his first win in the Premier League with an emphatic victory over Everton back in December. Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee both netted a brace at Old Trafford to comfortably dispatch of the Toffees.

The hosts enjoyed the lion share of possession in the opening exchanges as Everton struggled to break out of their half. Kobbie Mainoo had the first shot on target of the game from range, but Jordan Pickford gathered it with ease. United continued to probe as Zirkzee found Amad – but the Ivorian miscued his effort and it sailed wide.

In a rare foray forward, Beto had a chance to break the deadlock against the run of play. The former Udinese striker rounded Andre Onana, but couldn’t squeeze the ball over the line from an acute angle.

A slice of fortune helped the Red Devils stamp their mark on proceedings. A corner from Bruno Fernandes found the now departed Rashford on the edge of the box whose controlled effort took a decisive deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite to fly past Pickford.

It didn’t take long for United to double their advantage at the Theatre of Dreams. Amad picked the pocket of Branthwaite before sending Fernandes through. The captain was the provider once again as he unselfishly teed up Zirkzee to tap into the net.

Amorim’s side put the game beyond doubt within 30 seconds of the restart. Rashford grabbed his second of the afternoon with a clinical finish through the legs of England teammate Pickford.

United profited off another defensive error by Everton to complete the rout. The lively Amad assisted Zirkzee, whose measured effort ensured a dominant first league win for the new gaffer.

What time is kick-off?

Kick-off at Goodison Park will be at 12:30 GMT on Saturday, 22 February, 2025.

Who is the referee?

Andy Madley will be the match official. Mat Wilkes and Craig Taylor will assist him while Anthony Taylor will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Matt Donohue and he will be assisted by Derek Eaton.

Read – Varane claims Ten Hag managed Man Utd through ‘fear’ and ‘conflict’