Everton are flying high, and host Manchester United as the Premier League campaign approaches the home stretch with the chance to create more room between them and Ruben Amorim’s lower-down side.
David Moyes has worked his magic, with Everton collecting 13 points from 18 available since the Scotsman replaced Sean Dyche.
The Red Devils, in contrast, have lost three of their past four top-flight fixtures and are dealing with a threadbare set of options.
Recent history, however, is not on the Toffees’ side. Man United have won their past six matches against Everton in all competitions and have swallowed just the one defeat at Goodison Park since the 2018/19 campaign.
To be sure, Everton have their work cut out, especially as Moyes is dealing with a host of injuries himself.
Everton team news
Everton’s depleted frontline remains just that. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti are all unavailable, as are Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye, the latter of whom isn’t expected back for several weeks yet.
The Merseysiders are boosted, however, by the return of Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was sent off in the post-match melee against Liverpool last week.
Having since beaten Crystal Palace despite the numerous absences, Moyes will be confident in his team’s chances against his former outfit, though Orel Mangala remains out until the end of the season and the right side of defence is an issue with both Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson unavailable.
Moyes was frustrated with his squad’s performance at Selhurst Park last weekend but Everton still came away with three points. One man in particular stood out and must now reprise their starting berth.
Everton's new hero
Doucoure’s return comes at a good time, and though his experience and combativeness could be a valuable asset against a Man United team lacking bite and vigour, Moyes might be inclined to play new recruit Charly Alcaraz off Beto’s shoulder once again.
In January, Alcaraz joined the Blues on loan with an obligatory £13m buy option active at the end of the season. His thrash-metal style of play, all energy and impetus, suggests that he’s got the gifts to become a superstar in English football.
Playing in Doucoure’s stead at number ten, the 22-year-old scored the winning goal to sink Palace and after such an impressive display, will hope to keep his berth. Journalist Antonio Mango hailed him as a “special” player back in 2023, and that seems to be coming true after his fast start.
Creating three key passes and making three clearances, as per Sofascore, the Argentina talent showed that he’s got the dynamic skills to succeed, with such all-action quality sure to be called into play against Bruno Fernandes tomorrow afternoon.
Fernandes has cut a dejected figure on many occasions this season but remains one of the most talented and dangerous playmakers in the Premier League, with his influence covering all angles.
Alcaraz may shape into Moyes’ own version of the Portugal international, providing similar metrics across the board over statistics collected during the past 365 days.
Goals
0.24
0.22
Assists
0.12
0.27
Touches
54.5
76.51
Shot-creating actions
4.55
5.23
Passes attempted
51.05
64.72
Progressive passes
4.67
8.80
Progressive carries
3.12
2.32
Successful take-ons
1.68
0.71
Tackles
2.40
2.32
Fernandes has five goals, five assists and eight wins from 12 matches against Everton and will be determined to turn Man United’s season around, but this new and exciting star, Alcaraz, may just hold the key to continuing the Moyes resurgence and putting the Toffees just outside the top half of the table, some four points ahead of their Manchester neighbours.
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