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Not long now: Referee Andy Madley and his team of match officials lead both sets of players out of the tight tunnel and on to the vast expanse of the Goodison Park pitch on a sunny Merseyside afternoon. Kick-off is just a couple of minutes and some pre-match formalities away.
Manchester United: Ruben Amorim’s succinct explanation for why Everton have enjoyed the kind of new manager bounce which has eluded him at Manchester United was that “David Moyes is doing a better job” than him. Dominic Booth reports …
The pragmatist meets the ideologue
David Moyes v Ruben Amorim: Everton’s decision to change managers midway through the season is working out a lot better than Manchester United’s, writes Ben McAleer.
Today’s match officials
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Referee: Andy Madley
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Assistants: Mat Wilkes and Craig Taylor.
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Fourth official: Anthony Taylor.
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VAR: Matt Donohue.
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Assistant VAR: Derek Eaton.
Everton: David Moyes has said he wanted to “fight the world” when he first joined Everton and Manchester United but his calmer demeanour today should not be mistaken for a drop in passion, writes Andy Hunter …
An email: “Another dismal team selection,” writes Martin Coult, a Manchester United fan who is mad as hell and isn’t going to take this any more. “Even Garnacho doesn’t get a look-in. I wonder why Amorim hates wingers so much. Is it because they provide excitement, entertainment and goals? Because Amorim’s system seems designed to squeeze all the joy and life out of the game.
“I am surprised that so many people seem willing to subscribe to the view that Amorim is bringing about necessary ‘culture-change’ and he should be given time to do it. I have supported United since 1963, and while results over the last couple of years have been disappointing, I have seen nothing to convince me that playing with seven defensive players is a strategy for either a) winning things or b) pleasing or entertaining the fans.
“I simply don’t want to watch a team that plays like this. Indeed, I haven’t watched any football since the Forest game back on 7 December, when it became apparent to me that United have made a very bad error in appointing this naive, inexperienced, yet arrogant coach. I spend my time hoping United will lose and the clowns in charge will realize their mistake.
“I won’t be watching today either, think I’ll go over to Soho and buy some vinyl. Come on You Blues!”
Everton’s new stadium: The 52,888-seat ground in Bramley-Moore dock impressed the 10,000 fans lucky enough to be invited to a midweek test event, a match between Everton U18s and their Wigan Athletic counterparts.
Like any football correspondent worth his salt on the Merseyside beat, Andy Hunter went along to test the Wi-Fi and discovered it was more than adequate enough to file this interesting and informative getting-to-know-you primer on Everton’s new home.
Interview: Carlos Alcaraz wants to settle down at his fourth club in three years and has begun like a house on fire at ‘loco’ Goodison. Words: Andy Hunter.
Those teams: Everton make one change to the side that was a little fortunate to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last weekend, with Abdoulaye Doucoure returning to the starting line-up on his return from suspension. Carlos Alcaraz, who scored Everton’s winning goal in South London, can consider himself unlucky to be dropped to the bench.
Following his team’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, Ruben Amorim has decided to beef up Manchester United’s midfield by bringing in Manuel Ugarte to play alongside Casemiro. Alejandro Garnacho makes way and drops to the bench. Back from injury, Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro are also among the United substitutes.
Everton v Manchester United line-ups
Everton: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Lindstrom, Harrison, Beto.
Subs: Virginia, Begovic, Keane, Young, Alcaraz, Iroegbunam, Sherif, Dixon, Heath.
Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire, Dorgu, Casemiro, Ugarte, Fernandes, Hojlund, Zirkzee.
Subs: Graczyk, Harrison, Heaven, Lindelof, Yoro, Eriksen, Kone, Garnacho, Obi.
Early team news
Both teams have plenty of absentees to not choose from, although Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure is available for selection after serving a one-match ban for the red card brandished his way following the stramash that followed Everton’s recent draw with Liverpool.
Dwight McNeil, Orel Mangala, Seamus Coleman, Nathan Patterson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti all remain sidelined for the hosts.
Forced to name a bench with Victor Lindelof and eight untried teenagers on it last weekend, Manchester United number Amad Diallo, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Toby Collier and Johnny Evans among the lame and halt clogging up their physio room, but should have Christian Eriksen, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte available after spells out.
Premier League: Everton v Manchester United
At a time when being a season ticket-holder at Goodison Park finally seems like fun again, Everton welcome a Manchester United side whose supporters have increasingly little to be enthused about to their stadium for the final time.
Since bringing David Moyes back to Merseyside six weeks ago, Everton have won four and drawn one of the six top flight games they’ve played and will fancy their chances of beating a team who have beaten them in each of their past five meetings.
United have lost eight of the 12 league games they’ve played since beating Everton in the corresponding fixture at Old Trafford and will be hoping to make it three wins on the spin at Goodison Park. Kick-off on Merseyside is at 12.30pm (GMT) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.
