Can Manchester United back up their 9-0 midweek win against Southampton with victory over Everton in the Premier League on Saturday night? Joe Rindl has the preview and best bets.
Football betting tips: Premier League
1pt Anthony Martial to score first at 5/1
1pt Richarlison to score anytime at 6/1
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Man Utd v Everton
- 20:00 GMT on Sky Sports Premier League
- Match odds: Home 1/2 | Draw 10/3 | Away 21/4
Manchester United. I still can’t work them out.
Just when I was ready to dismiss their title aspirations after poor results against Sheffield United and Arsenal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side put in a performance of immense ruthlessness and attacking quality.
United’s 9-0 win - equalling the Premier League record for highest winning margin and most goals scored by one team in a game - can’t simply be put down to good fortune alone.
You can argue that Jan Bednarek’s foul on Anthony Martial wasn’t a foul, red card and/or penalty, but United were already 6-0 up at this stage. True, United won’t see an opposition player sent off inside the first two minutes in every match they play this season, but you can only beat the team, and circumstances, in front of you.
For the first time since their 5-0 win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League earlier this campaign, Manchester United hit top gear.
If their win over the Saints is their very best, and their loss to Sheffield United a week earlier their worst, how are they likely to fare against Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton?
The Toffees were immense in December, unbeaten in the league with consecutive wins over Leicester, Arsenal and Chelsea. But since the turn of the year, their form has stalled.
Their recent 2-1 win over Leeds - in which goalkeeper Robin Olsen was instrumental in ensuring all three points returned to Goodison Park - came off the back of a 2-0 defeat to out-of-form Newcastle.
One win in four league games in January (including two defeats) is not top-half form let alone top-four-chasing.
Yet 10 points from a possible 18 against the traditional top six this season suggests Everton shouldn’t be dismissed straight away. At 1/2 (general) United are too short as outright winners, while Everton do look tasty at 6/1 with Smarkets should you want to gamble on the underdogs.
I, however, see this game going in United’s favour. The Red Devils have lost one of their last 27 home Premier League games against Everton (W20 D6), and for all of the talk of poor home form, recent results suggest they are doing just fine.
After a run of six Premier League matches without a win at Old Trafford, United have won five of their last seven home league games (D1 L1), scoring 20 goals and conceding just five.
I’d look towards Anthony Martial as first goalscorer as a potential punt.
The United forward has been directly involved in nine goals in his last 11 appearances against Everton in all competitions (6 goals, 3 assists), scoring and assisting as a substitute in their 2-0 win in the League Cup earlier this season.
He got two off the bench against Southmpton and Solskjaer’s previous rotation policy of his forwards this term suggests he’s due to start at Old Trafford. At 5/1 to score first I think the forward is overpriced. He’s also 8/5 to score anytime which I’d say is just about right.
I also expect Everton to get at least one consolation goal. West Ham are the only top 10 side to have conceded more goals than United this season.
Toffees top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin is 2/1 to score anytime at Old Trafford but I’m definitely putting my loose change on Richarlison as an anytime scorer. Everton’s second most prolific player in front of goal this term is a criminal 5/1 with Unibet in that market.
The Brazil international has found the net against the likes of Leicester, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City over the past two seasons. I'd say he's due one at Old Trafford.
And I’d also take a look at the noticeable price jump between over 3.5 goals at 13/8 and over 4.5 goals at 4/1.
One goal shouldn’t have such a difference in price, even if scorelines of 3-2 or 4-1 seem unlikely.
Everton will take the game to United which will end up favouring the hosts. High-scoring fixtures against Southampton (3-2 and 9-0) and Leeds (6-2) suggest the Red Devils are happy to go on the attack if they come up against a side that doesn’t sit back.
Personally, five goals or above feels a bit too bold, but the game after a 9-0 thrashing will always see strange unders/overs odds. It’s worth checking the market an hour before kick-off.
Score Prediction: Man Utd 3-1 Everton (Sky Bet odds: 10/1)
Opta Facts
- Manchester United have lost one of their last 27 home Premier League games against Everton (W20 D6), a 1-0 defeat in 2013/14 under David Moyes.
- Everton’s only win in their last 11 Premier League matches against Manchester United was a 4-0 victory at Goodison Park in April 2019 under Marco Silva (D4 L6).
- Since a run of six Premier League matches without a win at Old Trafford, Manchester United have won five of their last seven home games in the competition (D1 L1), scoring 20 goals and conceding just five.
- Everton are looking to win five consecutive away league games for the first time since April 1970 under Harry Catterick, a season which saw them win their seventh top-flight title.
- Only Manchester United and Leicester (8 each) have won more Premier League away games than Everton this season (7), with this the Toffees’ most wins on the road in a single league campaign since 2013-14 (8).
- This will be Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s 100th Premier League match as a manager (18 with Cardiff, 82 with Man Utd). He is the 70th different manager to take charge of 100 games, though none of the three who managed their 100th game against Everton have won: Dave Bassett in 1998 (lost 0-2), Roberto Martínez in 2012 (drew 1-1) & Paul Lambert in 2014 (lost 1-2).
Odds correct at 1530 GMT (04/02/21)
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