Manchester United v Everton predictions: Toffees can play part in exciting clash

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Manchester United v Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Over 2.5 goals
2pts 17-20 Betfair

Team news

Manchester United
Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo remain sidelined and Luke Shaw could also miss out with illness.

Everton
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Fabian Delph, Cenk Tosun, Richarlison, Seamus Coleman and Andre Gomes remain sidelined but Jean-Philippe Gbamin is fit. Alex Iwobi will be assessed.

Match preview

Everton boss Rafael Benitez built his reputation as a defensively-minded manager while Manchester United fans like to boast of their resilience at fortress Old Trafford.

But right now Everton are getting among the goals while United look anything but solid, and goals could be on the cards in Saturday's clash.

Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return to Old Trafford with two goals in a 4-1 win over Newcastle but things have been less straightforward for United since then.

They needed a 95th-minute strike from their Portuguese superstar to pinch a barely-deserved 2-1 Champions League win over Villarreal on Wednesday and cannot be considered home bankers against Everton.

The Toffees are level with United on 13 points, both having won four, drawn one and lost one of their first six league games. The pair have taken advantage of a soft run of early-season fixtures as neither team have yet played any of the Premier League's big six.

Everton claimed an impressive 2-0 win at Brighton but their other three victories came against sides who start the weekend in the bottom five while the Red Devils made hard work of wins at Wolves and West Ham.

Wednesday's Champions League success was a welcome result for United but Ronaldo's late rescue act failed to gloss over an underwhelming performance at home to a Villarreal side who had won only one of their previous 11 games inside 90 minutes.

Despite the victory, doubts remain over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's ability to cram star individuals Ronaldo, Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho into a cohesive system and the Norwegian is struggling to turn Old Trafford into a fortress.

His side suffered 1-0 home defeats to West Ham in the EFL Cup and Aston Villa in the league, after Fernandes missed a late penalty, and Benitez should be looking forward to his latest visit to Manchester.

This fixture is the biggest test yet for Benitez's Toffees, who have faced Southampton, Leeds, Brighton, Burnley, Villa and Norwich in the league and seen off Huddersfield and QPR in the EFL Cup.

Everton fans may be surprised but also delighted by a tally of 16 goals from those eight matches and summer signings Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray have exceeded expectations early on.

The absence of forwards Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison is a blow and Everton's only clean sheets came against Brighton and Norwich but they can play their part in an entertaining game.

Both teams have scored in five of the last six meetings between these clubs and their 2020-21 clashes produced a 3-1 United win at Goodison Park and a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford.

Key stat

Everton have scored at least twice in seven of their eight league and cup matches under Rafa Benitez.

Inside info

Manchester United

Penalty taker Bruno Fernandes/Cristiano Ronaldo
Free-kick wizard Bruno Fernandes
Set-piece aerial threat Cristiano Ronaldo
Card magnet Fred

Everton

Penalty taker Andros Townsend
Free-kick wizardLucas Digne
Set-piece aerial threatMichael Keane
Card magnetAbdoulaye Doucoure

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