| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
EVERTON  Howard Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines Rodwell, Fellaini Coleman, Cahill, Bilyaletdinov Saha | MANCHESTER UNITED  De Gea Smalling, Jones, Vidic, EvraNani, Fletcher, Carrick, YoungRooney, Hernandez |
Everton's squad will be tested strongly after their marathon League Cup defeat against Chelsea on Wednesday, and will be without influential loanee Royston Drenthe - who has looked the Toffees' most dangerous player in recent weeks - following his red card in extra time.
David Moyes is more than likely to adopt a 4-5-1 formation, which the Goodison Park boss favours due to a shortage of strikers at the club, following the sale of Jermaine Beckford and injury to Victor Anichebe. Louis Saha looks set to lead the line against his former team, with ex-Red Devil Phil Neville and midfielder Tim Cahill both possible doubts after picking up knocks midweek.
Sir Alex Ferguson has a number of options to choose from following Manchester United's 3-0 victory over Aldershot, which essentially featured a side of reserve players. Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov are likely to miss out on a place in the starting XI despite their strong showing on Tuesday.
Expect Sir Alex to revert to the pairing of Chicharito and former Everton striker Wayne Rooney, with the latter set for an acrimonious welcome, as per usual at Goodison Park.
In central midfield, Sir Alex may favour changing things up after last week's debacle against Manchester City, with Michael Carrick likely to replace Anderson, although Darren Fletcher is set to start with Tom Cleverley still only just returning from injury.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Everton have only beaten Manchester United three times at Goodison Park since the formation of the Premier League in 1992.
- The Toffees have only scored 10 goals in the Premier League this season, with six of those scored in the final 10 minutes of the game.
- United's 6-1 defeat to neighbours Manchester City was their heaviest ever loss in the Premier League.
- Wayne Rooney is United's top scorer so far this season with nine in the league and 13 overall, but has not scored in his previous three appearances in the competition.
- Everton have not kept a clean sheet in the past eight league and cup matches, whilst Manchester United have scored in their past 19 games.
- Sir Alex Ferguson's side have not suffered back-to-back defeats in 31 games in all competitions.
Everton often seem to raise their game in this fixture against such fearsome opposition, and the crowd at Goodison Park always plays their part in creating a hostile atmosphere. However, after such an embarrassing defeat last week, I cannot see United taking a second beating in a row against what is likely to be tired opposition.
Editor's Prediction
Everton 1-3 Man Utd. 
