Everton's Home Form Causing Doubt For United Visit

Everton host Manchester United on Monday night at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with the Toffees’ home form pairing with United’s recent performances to certainly favour the away side.

Since Everton’s move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, the expectations have been high. The 52,769-seater stadium was manufactured to maintain noise, making it difficult for the opposition, but many teams clearly seem unfazed by the challenge. At home so far this campaign, the Toffees have played 13 games, coming out with just 4 wins. That’s a 31% win rate, which is not the perfect start to life at the new ground.

Fortunately, Moyes’ side, when away from home, performs completely differently. From 13 games on the road, the Blues have managed to win 6 and are undefeated across the last five.

There has been a lot of talk across social media questioning the atmosphere at the new ground, with various online users complaining about the people around them: “Am I the only person who thinks the atmosphere was poor, just very nervy and never got going? West Ham fans drowned us out,” one fan said after the 1-1 draw.

The same cannot be said for Manchester United at the moment, as the Red Devils’ run of form is highly impressive. Since Michael Carrick’s appointment as interim manager, following the departure of Ruben Amorim, Manchester United have unlocked a different level. Although Carrick has not been in charge long, the five league games he has been in the dugout have resulted in four wins and a draw, with United now sitting 5th and in possible contention for a Champions League spot come the end of the season.

The influence Carrick has enforced has now sparked debate on whether the Englishman should be on the shortlist for the permanent role, with Wayne Rooney explaining that “at least [with Carrick] this will give the foundations for the club to keep building when, in two or three years' time, the infrastructure will be back at the club."

The infrastructure Rooney mentions has been lost since Alex Ferguson left the club, with the board appointing 10 separate managers since the Scotsman’s retirement in May 2013.

In the reverse fixture, Everton won 1-0, playing the majority of the game with 10 men following a moment of madness between Everton teammates Idrissa Gana Gueye and Michael Keane, which resulted in the Senegalese midfielder being dismissed, and the Toffees will be looking to complete the league double over United for the first time since the 2013/14 season. Interestingly, David Moyes was in charge of the Manchester side for those games.

The Toffees will certainly be up for this one, as all Evertonians will be happy to hear that there are no fresh injury concerns to be reported, as confirmed by David Moyes in the pre-match press conference. Only Jake O’Brien will miss the clash following the red card against Bournemouth, with a last-man challenge resulting in a sending off for the Irish defender. "We've got everybody fit, bar Jack Grealish,” says the Everton manager.

Michael Carrick gave the Manchester United team news in the pre-match press conference too, explaining that Dorgu, de Ligt and Mount are unavailable. Carrick admitted that Patrick Dorgu is a while away from full recovery since suffering a muscle injury in the 3-2 win against Arsenal in January; Matthijs de Ligt is making progress from a back issue suffered late November last calendar year; and finally, Mason Mount is getting closer to a return: “I think we're going to be patient as well, and we have been patient with him, so we don't want to push anything. He's an important part of the group, Mason, and we want him back and fit, and he'll have a big impact for us. So, he's getting closer, which is good for us.”

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Premier League Matchweek 27:

Saturday 21st Feb:

Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds United

Brentford 0-2 Brighton

Chelsea 1-1 Burnley

West Ham 0-0 Bournemouth

Man City 2-1 Newcastle

Sunday 22nd Feb:

Crystal Palace 14:00 Wolves

Nottingham Forest 14:00 Liverpool

Sunderland 14:00 Fulham

Tottenham 16:30 Arsenal

Monday 23rd Feb:

Everton 20:00 Man United

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Thanks for reading my pre-match article!