EPL: Everton V Manchester United – Saturday, 11th September (LIVE GAME)

Everton V Manchester United

Saturday, 11th September – 12:45 GMT
LIVE on Sky Sports 1
Soccer-Betting Game of the Week

Everton

League Position: 17th
League Form: DLL

The Toffees find themselves in a sticky situation at present, failing to win any of their opening three league games and have only West Ham and Stoke City below them for company. It is, however, still early days and there’s plenty of time for this Everton side, one with bags of potential, to grow into the season and have a big impact just as they did in the second half of last season. Our only concern is they may leave it to late once again, and life in the Premier League doesn’t get any easier for Everton as next up is third placed and unbeaten Manchester United, although the Blues do at least have the advantage of playing on Merseyside, where the atmosphere is likely to be hostile at best as fans prepare to see an old face in Wayne Rooney – An intriguing battle in itself.

This very same fixture was one of the highlights of an otherwise patchy and inconsistent 2009/2010 season for David Moyes and his men, where Everton missed out on Europe despite a late surge. 3-1 the game ended, with the Toffees storming back from a goal down to comprehensively see off the 18-time English league champions, and that is the potential of this Everton side; they have the ability to raise their game in the big clashes, as they did against Arsenal, Chelsea and United in the latter stages of last season, and have proved on several occasions over the years that they can throw a spanner in the works for these ‘bigger clubs’.

However, while Everton may hold all the mental aces because of their 3-1 triumph last term, their form is so poor right now that it all but cancels out that slight advantage, leaving them with only a home crowd for comfort. But even the loyal and passionate support from their fans hasn’t helped them a great deal in recent fixtures with the Red Devils, with Everton’s victory last season the clubs first over the Reds since a 1-0 win back in 2005. Their cause isn’t helped on Saturday as David Moyes has plenty of injury headaches, with the fired up Scot sweating on the fitness of Phil Neville, Jack Rodwell and Louis Saha, with latter perhaps forcing David Moyes to go with Jermain Beckford up front once again seeing as Yakubu is recovering from an illness despite featuring in Jamie Carragher’s testimonial at the weekend.

The form of Jermain Beckford has been particularly eye-catching, although for all the wrong reasons. The former Leeds striker signed for the club during the summer and at the ripe of age of 26, is no longer considered a hot prospect. The magic should be happening right now out on the pitch but it’s not, which has lead to stinging criticism from some corners of the press and even in some sections of Everton fans. We haven’t been impressed with him either and with Yakubu and Saha spending more time at home nowadays than on the pitch, David Moyes may well be forced to go shopping in January if Beckford doesn’t start delivering with goals – He would be an instant hit though were he to bag the winner against fierce rivals Man Utd.

Manchester United

League Position: 3rd
League Form: WDW

Unbeaten in the league since April, Manchester United go in search of their third win of the season on Saturday, in front of the Sky Sports cameras, with revenge at the forefront of their minds against an Everton side which showed them up on their last visit to Merseyside. However, the tide has well and truly turned since then, as at the time of United’s defeat on Merseyside Everton were enjoying a decent run of form, as United are now, and the Red Devils will be mighty difficult to stop on Saturday as they keep up their relentless pace with Chelsea at the top of the table.

Despite a brief slip up down at Craven Cottage, United have made a bright start to the new season and would make further positive strides were they to exact some revenge on a side which got the better of them at Goodison Park last term. Sir Alex Ferguson would openly admit that the last time he took his troops down to Merseyside for an encounter with Everton, they were second best and beaten by the better side, something you don’t often associate with the former champs of England nor the grumpy, stubborn Scot. There is, however, a confident swagger about United following a couple of impressive wins over Newcastle United and West Ham, despite both coming at Old Trafford, and they’ll be hard to stop at this rate especially as Everton haven’t made a particularly bright start themselves.

Manchester United’s claims for all three points have been boosted by several pieces of pleasing news. The first is in the form of Wayne Rooney, who despite being shown up by all the national newspapers over private matters involving his marriage, has found himself back in the goals after scoring United’s opener against West Ham just before the break in a 3-0 rout before opening for England in their 3-1 win in Basel over Switzerland. Secondly, Rio Ferdinand is set to embark upon his first game of the season after recovering from the injury sustained while at the World Cup in South Africa. United conceded two on their last away day out, so Ferdinand’s calming presence at the back is a welcome relief for Sir Alex, who could opt to start with the feisty Paul Scholes in the centre of midfield, with the former England international in scintillating form at present and a player which trives off the feisty encounters – A short price to go into the book on Saturday as well.

It has been nearly three years since Man Utd’s last win at Goodison, but they have all the momentum heading into Saturday’s pulsating affair and justify their odds-on status. Dimitar Berbatov seems to have found a new lease of life, playing with the sort of confidence which seen him earn so many plaudits when at Tottenham. The only slight headache for Ferguson is whether to throw Rooney into the Lion’s pit, as the former Evertonian doesn’t have the best of repour with the Everton faithful and is certain to get some uncomfortable stick throughout the afternoon. But can Fergie really afford to leave his most potent weapon on the bench?

Match Prediction: Manchester United to WIN – 1.91 Bet365

I’m really looking forward to this clash between an Everton side desperate to get their season under way following three games without a win and a United team just as desperate to stay in touch with runaway leaders Chelsea. There shouldn’t be an ounce of blood spared in this typically feisty encounter, so tighten your seatbelts as this is likely to be a bumpy ride, especially if your name is Wayne Rooney.

Enough with the hype, more down to business and we’ve tipped United to come out on top as Everton’s season goes from bad to worse. The Toffees have opened with two defeats and a draw and will be deprived of any confidence right now, whereas United, on the back of an impressive start to the campaign which has seen them score eight goals and collect seven points from a possible nine, are oozing at the seem with confidence and self-belief and should really end a run of two visits to Goodison without a win.

Soccer-Betting Value Tip: Wayne Rooney To Receive a Card – 3.50 SkyBet

The former Everton starlet is going to receive a hot reception at Goodison on Saturday and it will be interesting to see how he copes with all the limelight, pressure and persistent stick from the stands. Despite a thick exterior, Rooney is a fragile sort right now following allegations about his private life and his marriage seemingly on the rocks, and United’s No. 9 may well lose his head on Merseyside. He’s 3.50 to receive a card – A steal if you ask me!

Match Odds:

Everton – 4.50 SkyBet
Draw – 3.50 Boylesports
Manchester United – 1.91 Bet365