MY ACCOUNT
– Fewer than three goals have been scored in Man Utd’s last three games
– Fewer than three goals have been scored in six of Everton’s nine games since Dyche took over
– Recommended Bet: Back Under 2.5 goals
After returning to the top four on Wednesday, Man Utd will aim to consolidate their place when they host relegation-threatened Everton in Saturday’s early Premier League fixture.
Erik ten Hag’s men ground out a 1-0 win over Brentford thanks to another winning strike from star man Marcus Rashford to end a three-game goalless run in the top flight.
Their reliance on Rashford is becoming more pronounced, with the Englishman responsible for seven of the Reds’ last 12 league goals.
Meanwhile, Everton will arrive at Old Trafford in good heart after their ten men rescued a point against Tottenham through Michael Keane’s terrific late hit, which left Sean Dyche praising his side’s mentality.
Team news
This will be the final game of Casemiro’s four-match suspension, and it may also be the last game Christian Eriksen is forced to miss before he makes his long-awaited comeback from injury.
Luke Shaw was forced off in the first half against Brentford due to some muscle discomfort and looks unlikely to be able to start, with Tyrell Malacia likely to step into the starting line-up at left-back.
Ten Hag stated Anthony Martial, who came off the bench for the second game in a row on Wednesday, is not yet fit to start as he continues to recuperate from a hip injury.
Wout Weghorst was dropped from the side that lost at Newcastle, and he may miss out again after Marcel Sabitzer set up Rashford’s winner against Brentford after being pushed into a more attacking role.
As for Everton, Dyche did not indicate Dominic Calvert-Lewin would be available to play this weekend as the striker battles to recover full fitness.
Andros Townsend is out for the trip to Old Trafford, while Abdoulaye Doucoure is suspended after being sent off in the 1-1 home draw with Spurs.
Tom Davies is the favourite to replace the Mali international, just ahead of James Garner and Mason Holgate.
The stats
Only Napoli’s Victor Osimhen has more league goals in Europe’s top five leagues since the World Cup than Rashford.
The Englishman has scored 10 winners in the Premier League this season, the most by a Man Utd player in a campaign since Wayne Rooney in 2009-10.
But Rashford has scored only once in 15 previous matches when facing the Toffees, which represents his worst goal ratio against any current Premier League club.
Meanwhile, Dyche has taken three points from only one of his 14 previous encounters with the Red Devils, losing eight. Still, the solitary victory did come at Old Trafford when Burnley won 2-0 in January 2020.
Prediction
Man Utd must utilise their home advantage given they have shown split personalities when playing at Old Trafford or in front of an away crowd.
‘Jekyll and Hyde’ United have the third-best home record in the Premier League, in terms of points per game, but have lost as many matches as they have won on the road.
Defensively, no team can match their record of conceding only eight times in 14 games.
David de Gea will look to boost his Golden Glove chances with a clean sheet against an Everton side that have the joint-second fewest away goals in the top flight.
The Toffees have enjoyed a sweet spot in goalscoring terms with two strikes apiece in road draws against Nottingham Forest and Chelsea.
But Sean Dyche’s men still seem reliant on defenders for their goals and may not get many opportunities to push them into the United box this weekend.
Back Under 2.5 goals in the game at 1/1 with LiveScore Bet.
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