Manchester United never an easy game, Goodison crowd will back us – Dyche
Everton face Manchester United on Super Sunday in what is their first match since losing 10 points for breaching the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability rules. Sean Dyche says the decision from an independent commission to dock Everton points was “disproportionate” and that he was shocked when he heard the news. The Toffees are now down to 19th in the table and have work to do to get themselves out of the relegation zone.
That may not be the hardest task. There are struggling teams in the league this season and Dyche has shaped Everton into a tough team to beat as well as unlocking their attacking threat. They have only lost once, to Liverpool, in their last five league matches but face a Manchester United side in fine form.
However, that doesn’t feel like the case. United have won four of their last five matches in the league but each by just one goal. They’re sixth in the table yet have a negative goal difference of -3. If things go wrong for Erik ten Hag’s side they seem to go very wrong. With the boost of Andre Onana and Luke Shaw in the squad can the Red Devils triumph at Goodison Park?
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Erik ten Hag prepared for Everton to be ‘mad’ and urges Man Utd to match them
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag knows Everton’s players and fans will be “mad” about the 10-point penalty imposed on the club and has challenged his team to meet fire with fire on Sunday.
United make the short trip to Goodison Park this weekend to face a Toffees team fuelled by a sense of injustice after an independent commission imposed the sanction on the club a week ago for a breach of Premier League profitability and sustainability rules.
Ten Hag is expecting Goodison Park to be a bearpit on Sunday but is determined his players will not be outmuscled.
“It’s always about us, I can see the opposition and I can see they are mad, but then finally it’s about us,” he said at a press conference on Friday afternoon.
“If they are mad and that’s their fuel, we have to match those standards. When we match the standards we have a very good chance to win the game.”
Ben Fleming26 November 2023 15:15
Harry Maguire reveals how he reclaimed Manchester United place: ‘I had to be patient’
The £80m centre-back lost his spot in the side last season, was stripped of the captaincy by manager Erik ten Hag in the summer and United then accepted a £30m bid from West Ham.
But Maguire opted to stay at Old Trafford and has become Ten Hag’s first-choice central defender. After Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez were the preferred pairing last season, the England international is now keeping the World Cup winner on the bench.
The 30-year-old did not start any of United’s first seven games of the season but has now begun each of the last eight and Maguire feels he was right not to quit Old Trafford and to adopt a patient approach in difficult times.
He said: “I am really enjoying my football and I really enjoy playing for this club. I was willing to stay and fight for my place and we have four or five top international centre-backs at this club and the competition for places is really high.”
Ben Fleming26 November 2023 15:05
Everton vs Manchester United: Predicted line-ups
We should get team news in just over half an hour, but here are our predicted XI’s.
Everton: Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner, Doucoure; Harrison, Calvert-Lewin, McNeil
Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Amrabat, McTominay, Fernandes; Antony, Martial, Rashford
Ben Fleming26 November 2023 14:55
Everton vs Manchester United: early team news
Everton captain Seamus Coleman could be in contention to return after a long-term injury layoff while Amadou Onana is a doubt due to a calf problem.
Manchester United goalkeeper is expected to be fit despite picking up a knock while on Cameroon duty. Luke Shaw could make his first appearance since the second week of the season while Rasmus Hojlund faces a late fitness test. Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Jonny Evans are long-term absentees.
Ben Fleming26 November 2023 14:45
Everton vs Manchester United: all you need to know
When is Everton vs Manchester United?
The match kicks off at 4:30pm GMT on Sunday 26 November at Goodison Park.
It will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with coverage following the previous match between Tottenham and Aston Villa. If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
Ben Fleming26 November 2023 14:35
Everton vs Manchester United
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Premier League fixture between Everton and Manchester United.
Everton were building momentum before the international break, with just one league defeat in five games, but that momentum was halted by the club’s ten-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Sean Dyche claimed he was ‘shocked’ by the severity of the punishment but there is no time to lick any wounds as they prepare for the visit of United.
Erik ten Hag’s languish in eighth and still have plenty of questions of their own to answer after a less-than-impressive start to the season but can make it three league wins on the bounce with a victory today. Stay tuned for all the latest build-up and team news ahead of kick-off!
Ben Fleming26 November 2023 12:50
