Potential European Six-Pointer at Goodison

Last updated: February 26, 2020 by Leon Marshal

Manchester United head to Goodison Park in the big one this weekend looking for three consecutive wins. Everton, are enjoying a new awakening under Carlo Ancelotti, with just two defeats to Manchester City and Arsenal since he put pen to paper. Will, the Toffees, establish themselves as serious European competition contenders or will United’s good run continue?

The Toffees have been big spenders, splashing out close to half a billion in 3 years. They have now a high profile manager who seems to have a structure and game plan to make the best out of their investments. He has made a difference in the belief and in confidence levels to the young players. Ancelotti ‘s experience is vital as Everton are building a versatile young team with great future prospects, Calvert-Lewin (22), Richarlison (22) have been the two stand out players this campaign. If the league began when the Italian took charge, Everton would be sitting a comfortable third only Liverpool and Man City ahead of them.

Richarlison has four goals in 8 games with Calvert-Lewin boasting seven goals in 10 meaning he has reached double figures for the first time in his career, with 12 goals so far this season. His improvised bicycle kick goal in the 52nd second against Arsenal showed his attacking prowess as a potential replacement to injured Harry Kane for the national team. He is, however, more of a Jamie Vardy kind of a striker with speedy pace and a great finish.

One clean sheet in the last nine matches is a worrying imbalance in a team capable of scoring two away goals. The aerial threat at set-pieces was how they scored the two goals against Arsenal last weekend and is likely to be their main threat against the Red Devils. They were the better side at the Emirates stadium but failed to take their chances in the dying moments following acrobatic saves from Bernard Leno.

Manchester United had a great match against Watford at Old Trafford winning by three goals to nill. Bruno Fernandez gave a man of the match performance with a maiden goal, assists, winning 3/3 take-ons and creating four chances in the match. He received much praise from his manager saying he has given his side a lift and described Bruno as a combination of Paul Scholes and Veron. A firm favourite with the United fans in less than a month for the club, Pogba who?

Martial has been excellent with three goals in the last week alone, his goal in the 58th minute against Watford was special and showed the exquisite finishing skills he possesses. Luke Shaw was another performer on the left with competition by Brandon Williams bringing out the best of the England defender. Mason Greenwood bagged a fifth of the campaign and United’s third in the night.

United have a midweek Europa League fixture Club Brugge, before heading to Everton, FA Cup tie with Derby, then a tight run of Man City, Tottenham, and Sheffield United.

The European Qualification is going to be an entertaining one to watch with 7 points between tenth-placed Burnley and fourth-place Chelsea. This means it’s still open to secure Champions League Qualification over the next 11 games with 33 points to play for. The potential ban on Manchester City makes it even more exciting with the top five teams possibly securing Champions League football.

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Team News

Calvert-Lewin will be the top goal scorer in the pitch with 12 goals so far this season, a career-high.

If the league were to start when Carlo Ancelotti took charge, they would be a comfortable third place only Man City and Liverpool have been better than them over this period.

Bruno Fernandes put a man of the match performance in his last game, creating four chances, 3/3 take-ons, one goal and one assist.

Man United have a tough fixture schedule ahead with Club Brugge (Europa), Everton, Derby County (FA), Pep’s Man City, Jose’s Tottenham, and high-flying Sheffield United in that order.

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Expected Line-Ups:

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So Far This Season

• Everton and Manchester United have faced off fifty-five times so far in the League, The Red Devils winning 36 times against the Toffees just nine wins and ten draws between them.
• Martial and Bruno are kicking off a new bromance and will be the two United players to watch while Everton will be looking towards Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.
• Ancelotti suffered two defeats in nine games in charge, and it will be fascinating to see how his team responds while Solskjaer is starting to see consistency in his side.
• Everton has an average of 1.74 chances created per match compared to United’s 1.41 chances and an average of 1.33 goals per match against United’s 1.52 goals per match.

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Head to Head

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Conclusion & Betting Tips

The last time these two met in the league, Big Duncan Ferguson was in charge of the club after the Toffees sacked Marco Silva. Everton played well that game and United needed 18-year-old Greenwood to save a point.

Everton have some very interesting players. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sensational against Arsenal, scoring a goal, having five shots and a passing percentage of 50% shows his importance to the team. His two goals and an assist against Chelsea in the 3-1 win in December shows he can do it in the big games. 22-year-old Richarlison, the same age as Calvert-Lewin, is also having a great season, picking up the man-of-the-match award in a fifth of the games he has played.

For United, Bruno Fernandes is already looking like a superb signing. In his three league appearances, he has a goal and two assists with an average match rating of 8.01 and looks very comfortable in the Premier League.

We think Manchester United will steal this one, just, but we do expect a few goals. Both teams to score is priced @ 3/4, and you will get Evens for over 2.5 goals. These odds are available at 888sport.