Manchester United look to continue momentum against Everton | OneFootball

Manchester United went into November’s international break on a five-game unbeaten streak. Looking to maintain that run and turn a corner this season, they face Everton, who haven’t won a game at Old Trafford since 2013.

Manchester United’s last 10 games. Source: Sofascore

The last time these two sides met in Manchester, United romped to a 4-0 victory. But after a disastrous first year in charge, Ruben Amorim will hope to mark his one year anniversary at Old Trafford with a similarly convincing scoreline.

The Toffees, however, will be aiming to capitalise on United’s defensive inconsistencies that have seen them throw away leads against Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, and jump the three-point gap that separates the two sides.

Turning point for Man Utd?

Before the international break, it looked like United were finally showing some signs of progress under Amorim. With three wins and two draws in their last five games and registering 19 goals already – the most outside the top four – they look very different up front to the side that languished into a 15th-place finish last season.

Their issues lie in following up those goals with consistent defensive performances. Their goal difference sits at just +1, after consecutive draws on the road where they have surrendered leads and snatched points from the jaws of defeat.

“The three points were there,” Amorim lamented after the Tottenham match. “We controlled the game well, but we need to do better, because that game was there for the taking.”

United suffered against Spurs after Harry Maguire and Casemiro were taken off with injuries. Maguire will be unavailable for Monday night’s game and Casemiro seems unable to complete a full 90 minutes this season, so Amorim will need reliable deputies to try and stop his side leaking goals.

Everton need to defy the narrative

David Moyes’ side travel to Manchester as underdogs with everything to gain, as a win would see them jump to join United on 18 points, just outside the top four. The manager will be keen to take something from a visit to his former club, especially as Everton have not won a league game at Old Trafford since his tenure there as the first manager of the post-Alex Ferguson era.

Like their hosts, Everton went into the international break on a high thanks to a comfortable 2-0 win against Fulham, as well as taking a point the week before from a tough visit to in-form Sunderland, at the Stadium of Light.

Coming back from the break with no new injury concerns, though Jarred Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson remain sidelined, the Toffees will look stay disciplined in defence to challenge their hosts.

They could also pose a threat to a shaky United defence on the wings with newly invigorated Jack Grealish on the left and Iliman Ndiaye on the right, each with five goal contributions this season so far.

Everton’s record away this season is dire, however, as they have not won a league game away since August, and those three points came against bottom-placed Wolves, who beat them soon after in the League Cup.

Take away

In recent seasons, United have lost to worse teams at home than Everton, but now the pressure will be on to maintain their progress under Amorim, especially as they begin a run of games against opponents outside the ‘big six’.