Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton side will be looking to get back to winning ways in the Premier League after their long unbeaten run was brought to an end by Arsenal last weekend. The Gunners gave the Toffees a proper test throughout the fixture, and despite some good work from the likes of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the Merseyside club were unable to secure a point.
The Merseyside club’s next test comes in the form of a visit by Manchester United, a side that has been in a good run of form themselves. Visiting Goodison Park has always proved to be one of the more trickier fixtures for the Premier League’s biggest clubs, and Ancelotti will be hoping to make life very difficult for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this weekend. A home win could be enough to hoist the Toffees back into the top half of the table, and that is sure to come as massive motivation for some of the players involved.
Team News
Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott have both been absent due to slight knocks over the course of last week. The pair of them are expected to return to the squad for the fixture. Jean-Philippe Gbamin is another big name that has missed a massive part of the season for Everton, and the Ivorian is unlikely to return until the middle of April this year.
Predicted 4-4-2 Everton Lineup Vs Manchester United
Formation: 4-4-2
Defence
English first-choice Jordan Pickford uncharacteristically conceded three goals against the Gunners last time out, and will surely be hoping to keep a clean sheet against Manchester United. In front of him, Ancelotti could be tempted to deploy the familiar centre-half pairing of Mason Holgate and Yerry Mina. While Mina’s physical prowess has been important, Holgate’s pace and dynamism have taken this Everton back-line to the next level. Djibril Sidibe should continue in the right-back slot with Lucas Digne expected to return on the left flank.
Midfield
The biggest news for Toffees fans this weekend could be the full return of former Barcelona man Andre Gomes, who has been out for an extended period after picking up a nasty injury. The creative midfielder could come into the team in place of Morgan Schneiderlin and is likely to be partnered by Fabian Delph in the middle of the park. Alex Iwobi is set to keep his place down the flank, while the returning Theo Walcott could be preferred to Bernard on the other side.
Attack
The young forward pairing of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has borne excellent results for the Toffees this season, and there’s absolutely no reason for Ancelotti to break up their momentum in this fixture. The duo has been feeding off each other for goals and assists all campaign, and they will likely be played up top together again.
