Manchester United's top four run could be held up by Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday. Paul Higham has the best bets for the big game.
Recommended bets
1pt Everton v Man Utd draw 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 at 3/1
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Everton v Man Utd (1330 BST - Sky Sports PL)
After their Champions League hopes were dashed emphatically at the Nou Camp, Manchester United need a positive response here to keep their chances of getting back into the competition next season alive in what is an increasingly tight race for the top four.
The Red Devils are two points behind fourth-placed Arsenal so can go above the Gunners, for a couple of hours at least on Sunday before they host Crystal Palace.
Reality has well and truly bitten Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford with even the two wins in seven his side have managed have been laboured home efforts against West Ham and Watford - an away day at Goodison is a vastly different prospect.
The Toffees may have little to play for on paper but Marco Silva knows a strong end is vital for his job security and they've still got a chance of earning European football next season if they can finish seventh and Man City win the FA Cup.
United face Man City and Chelsea in the two games immediately after this one so know they can't really afford any slip-ups so the pressure is well and truly on against a side that will not fear them after beating Arsenal and Chelsea at home recently.
Betting guide
Prediction: Everton 1-1 Man Utd (Sky Bet odds: 5/1)
This could be a really good scrap on Sunday, as long as the Everton that beat Chelsea and Arsenal turns up and not the Everton that lost at Fulham last week. There's enough in United's armoury to ensure they get a goal, but their defence has hardly impressed in recent games and if Everton and the home crowd are at it they can do enough to get a point.
Best bet: Everton v Man Utd draw 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 at 3/1
If you fancy the draw at about 12/5 why not plump for the group score market as it seems unlikely there'll be a 0-0 - Everton have only had one at home all season and United haven't been involved in a scoreless game on the road.
Goals: Gylfi Sigurdsson to score anytime at 9/4
Sigurdsson has been involved in more goals against United than any other side, and although all four of his goals have come at Old Trafford he can pop up with his first Goodison goal against them on Sunday.
RequestABet: Everton v Man Utd draw, under 2.5 goals, Sigurdsson to score anytime
Everton v Manchester United - Opta stats
- Everton have lost more Premier League matches against Manchester United than any side has against another in the history of the competition (36).
- Following a run of three straight away defeats against Everton without scoring a single goal, Manchester United have won two of their last three top-flight games at Goodison Park (D1).
- In their meeting earlier this season, Manchester United scored their 100th Premier League goal against Everton in a 2-1 victory, making them just the second side to net 100+ goals against a single opponent in the competition (also Arsenal against Everton).
- Everton’s only previous league win, and Man Utd’s only previous league defeat on Easter Sunday came in this exact fixture in the 2013-14 campaign (Everton 2-0 Man Utd).
- After a run of just one home win in eight Premier League games, Everton have won their last two at Goodison Park.
- Everton have won their last two home Premier League games against ‘big six’ sides, as many as they had in their previous 19 in the competition (W2 D7 L10). They last won three home league games in a row against such opponents in the competition in March 2012.
- Manchester United have lost their last two Premier League away games – they’ve not lost three in a row on the road since January 1996.
- Anthony Martial has scored in each of his last three Premier League games Everton – the last Man Utd player to score in four straight matches against a single opponent was Wayne Rooney vs Hull in November 2014.
- Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored seven Premier League goals as a player against Everton – against no side did he net more in the competition.
- Paul Pogba is Man Utd’s highest scorer in the Premier League this season with 13 goals. It’s the most in the competition by a French player in a season for Man Utd since Eric Cantona in 1995-96 (14), while seven of his goals have been penalties – only Ruud van Nistelrooy (8 in 2002-03) has scored in a single campaign for the Red Devils.
- Everton’s Gylfi Sigurdsson has been directly involved in seven Premier League goals against Man Utd (4 goals, 3 assists) – against no side has he been involved in more. However, all four of his goals scored against them have come at Old Trafford.
