Manchester United vs Everton

Manchester United and Everton go head-to-head in a high-stake Premier League fixture, with nothing to separate the sides ahead of the kick-off.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s last-gasp heroics handed Manchester United an all-important 2-1 victory over Villarreal in the Champions League midweek, halting their two-game losing streak in all competitions. Though the ‘Red Devils’ have struggled to produce their best football this season, they can always rely on an impressive overall home H2H record in the Premier League (GP29 – W20, D7, L2). Indeed, United have suffered just one defeat in their previous 28 top-flight meetings with Everton at Old Trafford, netting an average of 2.5 goals per match in the last four. However, it’s worth noting that United’s last eight Premier League defeats have all arrived on home turf, where they have failed to keep a clean sheet in eight league fixtures on the trot. The last time they conceded in more consecutive home league matches was between September 1970 and February 1971 (10 games).

On the other hand, Everton put basement boys Norwich City to the sword last time out, claiming a comprehensive 2-0 triumph to maintain an eye-catching start to this Premier League campaign (W4, D1, L1). Trailing top-placed Liverpool by a single point, the ‘Toffees’ boast one of the fiercest attacks in the Premier League this season, with their 12-goal tally bettered by just three sides so far. Particularly prolific beyond half-time, Rafael Benitez’s men have racked up 75% of their total league goals scored thus far in the second half of play (9/12). In turn, each of their three goals in their most recent top-flight visit to Old Trafford arrived beyond half-time. Worryingly, though, the Merseysiders have conceded ten goals in their last four Premier League matches on the road, as many as they had in their previous 14 away from home.