United Cannot Afford Another Home Draw

With a full programme of mid-week fixtures in the Premier League, the games are starting to come thick and fast. Manchester United host Everton, in what is one of several games in April for the Red Devils.

With the fixtures piling up, this month has the potential to make or break Manchester United’s season and it has started on the wrong foot. The 0-0 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday was a poor result.

Jose Mourinho will point to the absence of key players but there was more than enough talent in the team to break down the visitors.  However, trends show Manchester United had drawn ten games prior to the meeting with West Brom, including home draws against Bournemouth, Hull, West Ham, Burnley and Stoke.  So, the draw with West Brom on Saturday should not have come as a huge shock.

Everton’s result at Liverpool on the weekend was also unsurprising, given their dreadful record at Anfield.  The Toffees never looked in the game, despite drawing level at 1-1 in the first half and were comfortably beaten by their rivals. Given their recent form, it was a disappointing result and performance by Ronald Koeman’s team, who will be hoping to bounce back in this game.

Trends show Manchester United are undefeated at home in their last twenty-four games in all competitions. Mourinho’s men are also undefeated in their last nineteen Premier League games. Their ability to not lose matches is unquestionable but it’s turning draws into wins which has been the problem this season, especially at Old Trafford.

Everton’s defeat at Liverpool means it is now two defeats in thirteen Premier League games for Koeman’s team. The last three matches which they have won, against Sunderland, West Brom and Hull have seen the Toffees keep clean sheets and they will want to return to that solid platform at Old Trafford.

The good news for Manchester United ahead of this game is the return from suspension of top goalscorer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede was sorely missed on the weekend and should return to the starting XI, along with Ander Herrera, who has also been suspended. Paul Pogba is working his way back to fitness but this game will probably come too early for the Frenchman.

Everton must make do without both Seamus Coleman and Ramiro Funes Mori at the back. Morgan Schneiderlin will miss out on a return to his former club and James McCarthy is also struggling to make the game. Therefore, we could see a similar starting XI to the one which lost at Anfield, with Koeman left with little room for manoeuvre.

Trends show Everton have been struggling away from home against teams in the top half of the Premier League table this season. In fact, they have won just two away matches this season against teams outside the bottom five.  Therefore, if Everton are to pick anything up from this game, it will probably be a point rather than all three.

Koeman is aiming to become the first visiting manager to win three Premier League games in a row at Old Trafford. While the win is unlikely, there is every chance Everton could go away with a draw.