Premier League: Manchester United Aims for a Big Three in Three

Manchester United vs Everton

Two weeks is a long time in football, and a great two weeks has made a huge change in the atmosphere at Old Trafford.

Red Devils fans have been down in the doldrums this season, with their team hovering around the middle of the table, but in a tight contest from fifth to 18th place, back to back wins have lifted Manchester United up into the top five in the Premier League and to within five points of the top four.

Okay, a couple of bad results and we’d hear from the doom-mongers again, but for now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team is looking in much better shape. He’s targeting a third win in a row, in arguably the easiest test of the three. But again, while a match against Everton would hold little fear a couple of weeks ago, things have also changed at Goodison Park.

Duncan Ferguson has taken over at the helm and won his first game, and that lifted the Toffees up four places to a more comfortable 14th.

The latest Manchester United vs Everton betting odds point to a home win, but Solskjaer won’t underestimate a talented Toffees side coached by a Goodison legend.

Talking Points

How good is Marcus Rashford?

Let’s be honest. Nobody really saw the Red Devils’ victory over Manchester City coming last week, but following a win over Spurs it’s certainly taken the heat off Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. It’s hard for Manchester United fans to admit, but that derby win was one of the big Premier League 2019 results of the season so far, and things look a whole lot brighter in Salford.

Marcus Rashford has found his form again, scoring against the Sky Blues to take his tally to ten for the season, matching his best return in the Premier League. And his boss has compared him to former Manchester United idol Cristiano Ronaldo.

Yes really!

His 13 goals in 14 games, for club and country, is a record the Portuguese star would be happy with, prompting Solskjaer to say: “It’s very easy to compare the two of them. Both with skills, body shape, attitude, attributes – everything. The boy has every chance in the world to become a top, top player.”

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If he gets anywhere near the heights Ronaldo has climbed to, Rashford will be an Old Trafford favourite for years to come. Solskjaer is likely to rest his young striker on Thursday for the Europa clash against AZ Alkmaar so he’ll be ready to fire again when he faces the Toffees.

Spectre of relegation lifted from Goodison Park

Few in the SBOBET Premier League team thought Everton didn’t have what it takes to rise up the table, but with over a third of the season gone the Toffees were in the relegation zone… and then the doubts start to creep in.

Marco Silva was sacked after a derby night mauling at the hands of Liverpool and former playing hero Duncan Ferguson took over as caretaker boss. As a player the big Scot was uncompromising and he frequently crossed the line, getting more than his fair share of cards and bans, but fans love that. And it was the relentless determination and commitment that characterised his playing days that Everton needed.

And the current crop of players responded.

Ferguson’s start as interim boss could not have been better as his Everton side battled, like they hadn’t for months, to beat Chelsea 3-1. Brazilian striker and top scorer Richarlison was on target while Dominic Calvert-Lewin bagged a brace.

Icelandic star Gylfi Sigurdsson is rediscovering his form, and with the pace of Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi on the wings there are goals in this Everton team. The Goodison board is looking for a managerial replacement and Carlo Ancelotti has already being mentioned, after the former Real Madrid and FC Bayern boss was sacked by Napoli, immediately after his side beat Genk 4-0 in the Champions League.

But, for now, Ferguson is in charge and that’s no problem at all for the Blues’ fans

History

The Red Devils have dominated Everton in the Premier League era, winning 37 and drawing ten of the meetings, while losing just nine.

The last time the two teams met, the Toffees hammered United 4-0, back in April, when Richarlison opened the scoring with a spectacular scissor kick before the Red Devils capitulated in the second half.

Betting Tip

	Manchester United vs Everton	2-3 goals @ 1.93
	December 15, 22:00 (GMT+8)

Manchester United is at 1.80 to win and that’s no surprise as the Red Devils are unbeaten at home in nine games. Everton is at 4.20 and the draw at 3.65, and with Everton enjoying the new manager bounce this is a difficult match to call.

Neither team is prolific in front of goal, but both have a real attacking threat, so for me it looks like a 1-1 draw, or either team winning by the odd goal in three.