Everton vs Manchester United 01/03/20

1 March 2020

Manchester United head to Goodison Park, desperate to put an end to Everton’s two-game unbeaten run in the Premier League (PL) H2Hs and remain in contention for the top-four finish.

Although they’ve lost 3-2 to Arsenal last time out, the hosts have shown they are no pushovers since Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival. Indeed, they’ve clinched five wins in nine PL outings under the Italian boss (D2, L2), with each of their results (win/loss) in that period coming via a narrow one-goal margin. Furthermore, the Toffees have racked up a six-game unbeaten home PL run (W4, D2), winning three of the last four such contests and opening the scoring in each. For Everton, it’s all about scoring first when at home. In fact, they rescued just one point from four PL home fixtures in which they’ve shipped the opener. But, if they draw first blood, as they’ve done in eight of 13 PL home games, United could be in trouble. They haven’t lost a single home match in which they’ve scored first (W7, D1).

Meanwhile, the visitors have enjoyed an upturn in results lately, putting together seven matches without a loss in all competitions (W5, D2), including a 5-0 dismantling of Club Brugge in the UEFA Europa League last time out. Notably, each of their five successes during that seven-game sequence yielded a clean sheet, with four producing a multiple-goal margin. Additionally, two straight PL victories have brought United only three points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, with both seeing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side win both halves ‘to nil.’ But, there was virtually no coming back for the Red Devils when they failed to open the scoring on the road this term. The Old Trafford outfit have lost six of seven PL away fixtures in which they’ve conceded the first goal (D1).