Predicted starting lineup: [4-2-3-1] Both Martial and Rashford must start against Everton. The form they are in may make a difference.
October 7, 2022 Walker, John Managers, First Team, Match Previews, Opinion, Starting XI Offered Comments Predicted starting lineup: [4-2-3-1] Both Martial and Rashford must start against Everton. The form they are in may make a difference.
Manchester United will travel the 33 miles to Goodison Park on Sunday evening to face Everton in the Premier League. It will be the first time this season that United kicks off at 7 p.m. on a Sunday, and hopefully not the last. Thursday and Sunday games are a chore.
On Thursday evening in Cyprus, Erik ten Hag’s side defeated Omonia Nicosia 3-2 in the UEFA Europa League, with Marcus Rashford scoring a brace and Anthony Martial scoring his third goal of the season in only 103 minutes of action. In this game, a win is critical.
Everton last played on Saturday, October 1, when they defeated Southampton 2-1, with goals from Connor Coady and Dwight McNeil. Frank Lampard’s team has been in good form this season, with more draws than wins (four to two) and only two defeats.
Predicted Manchester United’s starting lineup is 4-2-3-1.
De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez; Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
Goalkeeper: De Gea
David De Gea seems to be the best choice right now for United in goal with Tom Heaton untested in the goalkeeper position and Martin Dubravka suffering an injury before returning to the bench against Omonia Nicosia on Thursday evening.
Erik ten Hag will need someone that he can trust in goal against Everton as they will be seeking to get three points from United after seeing them concede six goals against Manchester City last weekend. Dubravka needs to start soon and Thursday’s upcoming match could be the time.
For now, I thing De Gea will continue to play in goal for United in the Premier League until his competitors in the position can be tested in a match that would not be too costly to make mistakes in, if that is what happens. De Gea knows Everton and where their threat comes from.
Defenders: Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw
The defence is a work in progress at this time. Diogo Dalot has been having a good season but against Manchester City last weekend, he did not get much from the match. Thursday was a moot point for him too. Luke Shaw should start with Dalot, completing the fullback positions.
Shaw seemed to bring more to the left-back position when he came on in Thursday’s match and it would be good to see him bring out the form he had prior to Euro 2020 in the summer of 2021. That would be good news for United, having two decent left-backs in the squad.
Raphael Varane came off injured against City last weekend and missed Thursday’s match. He will be subject to a fitness test ahead of this match and I think he might just get through it. If he is fit to start, he should play alongside Lisandro Martinez, who has been a mainstay in defence this season.
Midfield: Casemiro, Eriksen
The two-man midfield area has a few different partnerships that can be utilised this season. The best at this time could be Christian Eriksen and Casemiro. The Denmark international has been one of the best signings for the club this season, having three assists so far.
Casemiro has not played a lot of football this season for United, seemingly trying to transition from life at Real Madrid to life at United, playing a different style of football under Ten Hag. He started against Omonia on Thursday and had a good game, although he did not shine.
But he just needs to do the job he is capable of and did that when needed as the Cypriot side were not as attacking as City were days before. Everton could be different though and he and Eriksen could form a good partnership. The likes of Fred and Scott McTominay could also be involved.
Attacking Midfield: Antony, Fernandes, Rashford
This trio is responsible for eight goals and four assists so far this season. Antony has some work to do in order to turn more of his chances into goals this season. He is a talented player and his interplay will be good when he really gets going, but more is needed from him.
Bruno Fernandes has not performed to his own standards this season. He has one goal and one assist so far this season and is capable of doing a lot more. Finding that form he has when he signed for United almost three years ago is key for United to perform at a high standard
Marcus Rashford has been positive this season. He started with a goal against Liverpool then a brace against Arsenal and changed the game against Omonia on Thursday with another brace. He has to start against Everton – a team he has not yet scored against in his senior career.
Attack: Martial
Anthony Martial has played just 103 minutes of football this season, playing 45 minutes against Liverpool, 31 minutes against Manchester City and 29 minutes against Omonia Nicosia. In that time he has three goals and one assist – giving him a goal contribution every 26 minutes.
Those figures are good reading and make him a starting candidate for United against Everton, a team he has scored seven goals anded three assists against in 13 matches, winning eight, drawing four and losing just once. He could be rejuvenated this season.
This season, Martial has looked like a completely different player, shining in pre-season but suffering an injury that kept him out at the start of the season before succumbing to another injury. Now that he has returned, he must establish himself as a member of France’s World Cup squad.
Dubravka, Lindelof, Malacia, Fred, Pellistri, McTominay, Ronaldo, Sancho, Elanga are the substitutes.
Ten Hag will name just nine players on the bench in the Premier League on Sunday, with the option of using five of them throughout the game. I expect Tom Heaton to be cut from the squad, with Martin Dubravka once again on the bench, awaiting his club debut.
With Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka out, Victor Lindelof and Tyrell Malacia could be available in defense. This would leave the midfield trio of Fred, Facundo Pellistri, and Scott McTominay, with Donny van de Beek also on the bench.
In attack, Cristiano Ronaldo may return to the bench after failing to score his 700th club goal on Thursday evening despite having numerous chances. With Rashford likely to start, Jadon Sancho could also be present. Anthony Elanga may also make the bench against Everton.
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