Everton vs Manchester United: Premier League – prediction, teams, lineups | Football
Everton to Host Manchester United in Key Premier League Clash
Who: Everton vs. Manchester United
What: English Premier League Match
Where: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, United Kingdom
When: Sunday, August 6, at 2 p.m. (GMT)
How to Follow: Al Jazeera Sport will provide live coverage beginning at 10 a.m. (GMT).
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick expressed satisfaction with the recent additions to his squad despite competing Premier League clubs outspending his team during the transfer window and issues with squad depth.
In rebuilding the midfield following the departures of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte due to injury, Manchester United invested £155 million ($210 million) to secure players including Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba.
In contrast, rival clubs have made notable acquisitions, with Manchester City setting a British transfer record for Enzo Fernandez, and Liverpool reportedly spending up to £123 million ($166 million) on French winger Bradley Barcola.
Though Manchester United is set to return to the Champions League after a three-season absence, Carrick acknowledged the financial constraints the club faces.
“We went into the window wanting to come out stronger from the group that we had last season. We’ve definitely added to that,” Carrick said at a press conference before the match.
United’s defensive lineup appears thin, particularly at left-back, with injury-prone Luke Shaw as the only experienced option.
“What squad ever is the perfect squad? You’ve always got to find ways of adapting,” Carrick added. “When you’re building and trying to push to go through a period where we’re trying to get to the top—that’s the ultimate goal—you’ve got to make steps.”
Joshua Zirkzee, who has been linked with several clubs including Fiorentina and Juventus, remains part of the United squad despite limited playing time in recent seasons. Carrick emphasized the competitive environment and the importance of player development.
“Josh can do some really, really top things,” he said. “I’ve seen it myself, and I know he can do that.”
After an opening weekend defeat to newly promoted Hull City, Manchester United rebounded with a 5-2 victory over Ipswich, bolstered by a hat trick from Bruno Fernandes.
Moyes Criticizes Everton’s Transfer Window
Everton manager David Moyes acknowledged the challenges faced during a difficult transfer window that saw key players leave the club. Everton attempted to sign American striker Folarin Balogun on deadline day; however, the deal fell through due to medical concerns.
Moyes expressed frustration over not being able to strengthen the squad, particularly the loss of Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye to larger clubs.
“Disappointed we didn’t do more business and disappointed things didn’t go our way in the end,” Moyes said. “Sometimes in football you have to live with disappointment and we will move on.”
Thiago Scuro, chief executive of AS Monaco, stated that Everton raised concerns during Balogun’s medical, leading to the player’s withdrawal from the transfer.
“It wasn’t anybody’s fault. It happens in football a lot,” Moyes added, stressing the abrupt nature of the situation.
The Everton Fans’ Forum has criticized the club’s recruitment strategies, claiming supporters deserve clarity following another window characterized by limited activity and missed opportunities. Moyes confirmed that youth players may need to step into more prominent roles given the squad’s reduced size.
“Are they ready to make the step up? I’m not sure about that,” he stated. “They’re all going to have to be able to muck in as we’ve got a real small squad now.”
Recent History and Predictions
In their previous encounter, Manchester United edged out Everton with a 1-0 victory in February, marked by a goal from Benjamin Sesko. Everton’s last win against United was a 1-0 triumph at Old Trafford last season despite playing with ten men.
The Opta supercomputer predicts a 38.3 percent chance of an Everton victory, while Manchester United’s likelihood of winning stands at 33.3 percent.
Team News
For Everton, Jack Grealish is expected to debut following a loan from Manchester City, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles could feature after his recent transfer. Christian Norgaard will miss out due to injury.
Manchester United’s Carlos Baleba continues to be sidelined with an ankle injury, while other key players including Manuel Ugarte, Amad Diallo, and Matthijs de Ligt are also unavailable. Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, and Tom Heaton will undergo late fitness assessments.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Everton: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Armstrong; Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.
Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Cunha.
