Author: Soorya G
A fighting Everton will face an optimistic Manchester United, who will be looking to regain third place in the Premier League table. The 20-time Premier League champions occupied third place for some time this season and, at one point, seemed to have a remote chance of being involved in a title race. However, a heavy defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool at Anfield, followed by a disappointing draw against Southampton and a loss to Newcastle United put the English titans back in the battle for the top four, which was blown wide open by the results that were produced. in the league in recent weeks.
Newcastle themselves are now in pole position to claim third place in what has been an impressive season for them under manager Eddie Howe. Their superior goal difference means that a win for Manchester United will only put them ahead momentarily, with the result being the deciding factor. However, Erik Ten Hag will be happy with his side’s performance against Brentford, as anything less than a win would have been detrimental to their season, while a place in the top four could have been a realistic dream for Thomas Frank’s men.
The Dutch coach finds himself dealing with fitness problems with some first-team players, with Luke Shaw leaving the field against Brentford being the latest addition to that list. Shaw suffered a muscle injury on the pitch during United’s previous game and is expected to be out for three weeks. The great Brazilian midfielder Casemiro will serve the last game of his four-match suspension and, although his unavailability is a blow to United’s midfield, the team can take some positives from the return of Christian Eriksen, who has returned to training. The United manager, who is believed to have Anthony Martial fit for the game with Brentford, explained to the press why the Frenchman didn’t take a more active part in the match.
“He was an option, but I don’t think he’s fit enough to start at the moment. And there’s also prevention. Obviously, when you see Anthony Martial’s record in recent years, you have to be very careful to plan for it. So I don’t want to take that risk because I know that when he’s on the pitch he has a big impact on our performance” said the Dutchman.
Meanwhile, Everton have seemingly taken baby steps in the relegation battle, staying out of the drop zone for now with 27 points, tied with Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth in 17th and 18th place respectively, but above them in terms of goal difference. Sean Dyche’s men have done well in recent games, having gone unbeaten in their last four matches. The four-match winning streak includes a victory over European rivals Brentford.
Team news
Taking into account all the injured players, which include the likes of Andros Townsend and Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Everton, there aren’t many significant changes expected for Saturday’s clash. Tyrell Malacia will probably start in place of Luke Shaw for the hosts.
Key players
Portuguese star Bruno Fernandes has been at the heart of United for some time. The former Sporting player has been fabulous once again this season and hopes to make a decisive impact on Saturday.
Despite playing for a lower-level team, Jordan Pickford made a name for himself as one of the Premier League’s most appreciated goalkeepers. Pickford, an excellent goalkeeper, has been one of the pillars of the England team for years. He expects a challenge defending his net against an explosive United forward line, and he will play a significant role in the outcome of the game.
Forecasts:
Manchester United win:
The record champions of the English top flight will be on a mission for the rest of the season to collect as many points as possible. Although a third place finish is definitely on the cards, they’ll be looking to win generously, and that could start against Everton.
Rashford to score:
The Englishman has been in excellent form this season, scoring 28 goals in all competitions for his team. He will be eager to attack Everton’s fragile defense, which will also have to deal with the noisy atmosphere at Old Trafford.
Iwobi to impress
The former Arsenal star has rediscovered his form this season and has been one of Everton’s stars. He hopes to make his appearance count in such a crucial game.