Manchester United vs Everton
This weekend pitches the Big Four of the North West together, as Manchester United host Everton, while Manchester City head to Anfield to face Liverpool.
The Saturday night offering is United vs the Toffees and it’s a game both will fancy.
The Red Devils have genuine hopes of winning a first Premier League since 2013 and they will greet Everton on the back of a 9-0 hammering of Southampton. The Toffees worked harder for a win away to Leeds United, but they have been impressive on the road recently.
So when managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Carlo Ancelotti bump elbows at the start of the game we can expect a hard fought 90 minutes.
Talking Points
United must protect Fernandes
The Red Devils put on a show of attacking prowess and clinical finishing against the nine men of Southampton, who suffered their second 9-0 drubbing in consecutive seasons, having been put to the sword by Leicester City in the 2019/20 campaign. United were already sharing the Premier League record with the Foxes, having first posted a 9-0 in 1995 when they thrashed Ipswich.
Bruno Fernandes increased his tally to 12 goals with a second half penalty against the Saints, while Edinson Cavani was also on the score sheet, making it five goals in the league for the Red Devils. Fernandes has spectacular stats at Old Trafford since he arrived in January 2020, and he has also added nine assists this campaign. But he looked a little jaded in the recent games against Burnley and Sheffield United so his team-mates need to take some of the weight off his shoulders.
Paul Pogba has looked more interested in recent weeks and has added some steel to his game, and the Red Devils are finally seeing the best of wing-back Luke Shaw, who is having his best campaign yet since his arrival at Old Trafford, seven years ago.
Following Liverpool’s shock defeat to Brighton on Wednesday night, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team has been installed as second favourites to win the league; but the Premier League 2021 betting odds are stacked heavily in favour of Manchester City.
So United fans have a tricky dilemma in terms of who to support when the Sky Blues head to Anfield in Sunday!
Don’t rule out Everton for a top four place
Carlo Ancelotti has had a big impact on Everton since his arrival, and while their Premier League 2021 results have been a little inconsistent in recent weeks, a fast start to the campaign has ensured the Toffees stay in the mix. They currently sit in sixth position on 36 points, and just four behind neighbours Liverpool with two games in hand. Victory over United and a win for Manchester City on Sunday will leave Ancelotti’s men breathing down the necks of their local rivals and that’s a huge incentive.
After a spectacular start to the campaign Dominic Calvert-Lewin has struggled to keep up with his early season pace but he was on target with a close range header in the win over Leeds to make it 12 for the season, and he will hope to receive the service he thrives on when he comes up against Harry Maguire in the United defence.
The return of wing-back Lucas Digne from injury is a major boost for Everton. He made his sixth assist of the season against Leeds, setting up Gylfi Sigurdsson for Everton’s opener.
History
Both teams are Premier League ever-presents and have played 60 matches since 1993, with the Red Devils well in charge, winning 39 to Everton’s nine, and there have been 12 draws.
Manchester United won the recent EFL Cup quarter final clash when an 88th minute screamer from Cavani broke the deadlock, before Anthony Martial scored in the 96th minute. Solskjaer’s men also won, 3-1, at Goodison Park earlier in the campaign. Both games were drawn last season, but in the 2018/19 league the Toffees stunned United with a 4-0 hammering.
When playing at home, Manchester United have not lost to Everton in seven encounters, while the Toffees are on a winning streak of four matches away from home.
Betting Tip
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Manchester United vs Everton | Everton Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 2.00 |
| February 7, 04:00 (GMT+8) |
With United at 1.53 to win and the draw at SBOTOP odds of 3.88, an Everton victory is the outside bet at odds of 5.41. But, while the Toffees stuttered last week against Newcastle they responded well against Leeds and they will be up for this match.
And while United beat the Saints 9-0, they picked up just one point from their previous two games and I expect a tight encounter here.
1-0 is the most likely score-line at odds of 7.12; with a 1-1 draw at 7.52.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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