Who: Manchester United vs Everton
Content: English Premier League
Location: Old Trafford, Manchester
When: Monday 8pm (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: Get everything ready on Al Jazeera Sports from 5pm (17:00 GMT) ahead of the live text commentary stream.
Manchester United host Everton as they look to extend their five-game unbeaten run under manager Ruben Amorim, despite drawing their last two games against Nottingham Forest and Spurs.
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Brian Mbeumo’s scoring streak has been key to their recent resurgence and a win could see them move into the top four.
However, with Everton just three points below Man United in a crowded table, David Moyes will have even more motivation to achieve results at his old club.
Happy birthday to Amorim
Monday’s match at Old Trafford will mark one year since Amorim’s first match.
Amorim’s reign as United manager began with a 1-1 draw away at Ipswich, and since then the Portuguese manager has experienced many hardships at the helm of the English football giants, including finishing 15th in the table and missing out on European qualification.
However, recent results have been encouraging and Amorim said consistency was key.
“I knew right away that we were going to struggle in some ways, but the feeling was that this is the best league in the world and probably the best club,” he said.
“(Right now) I think we’re showing (consistency), but the important thing is that it doesn’t matter what we did in the recent games,” he said. “We can’t forget that we suffered a lot in that game and we play every game like it’s our last.
“(We are) more dominant, playing better football and being more competitive in every aspect.”
Cunha credits Brazil call-up with United’s revival
Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha has admitted that the club’s resurgence under Amorim has helped cement his place in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad ahead of next year’s North American World Cup.
Cunha, 26, has adapted smoothly to playing in Amorim’s system as a hybrid of attacking midfielder and forward, a trait he believes strengthens his case for a spot in the World Cup.
“It’s important to know that the coach (Amorim) trusts me to play multiple positions,” Cunha said.
“Manchester United is a club that should always be at the top,” he said. “I’m grateful to be playing for a team that is achieving results and competing well. To earn a spot in the national team, I must consistently prove my worth at club level.”
Moyes says Everton are rebuilding
Everton have received a huge boost since Moyes was appointed as manager for the second time in January and have steadily climbed the table.
Speaking ahead of the game against Man United, Moyes said his side were continuing to work to find “solid footing” but that it would take time.
“We have said many times that we aim to be on solid ground again. We achieved that last year with new owners, a new stadium and a stay-up. So we have to try to keep going steadily,” he said.
“If anyone thought we were going to completely change everything, they were completely crazy.”
Coach Moyes continued: “I’ve always looked at the real managers from the era before me, the guys I still respect, Bobby Robson, Brian Clough, Don Revie. They were all guys who were given longer terms at their clubs. When you look at the success, they tended to do better.”
What happened in Man United’s last EPL game?
On November 8, Matthijs de Ligt scored a dramatic equalizer in the sixth minute of stoppage time, helping Manchester United overcome a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
It looked like Tottenham would take all three points, but Richarlison scored a header in the first minute of stoppage time, and Spurs came back from a one-goal deficit.
De Ligt still had time to find space at the back post for a corner and send a header goalward over the line, but Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario scraped the ball away.
Tottenham took the lead through Mbeumo’s header in the 32nd minute and dominated the second half, scoring an equalizer in the 84th minute when substitute Matthijs Tell’s shot was deflected by De Ligt.
What happened in Everton’s last EPL match?
On 8 November, just before the FIFA internationals, Everton defeated Fulham 2-0 at home, ending their EPL winning streak that had started on 5 October in three games.
Everton took the lead in the first half with a goal from Idrissa Gueye, and Moyes’ team had many of their goals ruled out for offside in a resounding victory, with Michael Keane making it 2-0 in the second half.
Matchups: Last 6 games
United remain unbeaten in their last six games against Everton with four wins and two draws.
The last time the teams played in a pre-season friendly was two weeks before the start of the 2025-2026 English Premier League season.
Manchester United 2-2 Everton (4th August) Everton 2-2 Manchester United (2nd February) Manchester United 4-0 Everton (1st December) Manchester United 2-0 Everton (9th March 2024) Everton 0-3 Manchester United (26th November 2023) Manchester United 2-0 Everton (8th April 2023)
Form Guide: Last 5 Premier League matches
Manchester United: WWWDD (latest results last)
Everton: WLLDW
united team news
Amorim announced on Friday that Benjamin Sesco will be sidelined for “a few weeks” after sustaining a knee injury before the international break.
The forward, who joined United from RB Leipzig in August for 74 million pounds (about $97 million), missed Slovenia’s World Cup qualifier after sustaining the injury during the 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
United will be without Harry Maguire against Everton as he was injured in the draw with Spurs.
Midfielder Koby Mainu could be available for the match against Everton, while Lisandro Martinez is close to returning after taking part in Argentina camp during the break.
Meanwhile, Cunha was absent from the Christmas lights lighting event in Altrincham, putting his availability on Monday in doubt after organizers revealed the forward suffered a “training accident” on Saturday.
United’s predicted starting lineup
Rammen. Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw. Mazraoui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorg. Mbeumo, Diallo. jirkzee
everton team news
Moyes said on Friday that central midfielder Marlin Rohr has undergone surgery to repair a hernia and is expected to take several weeks to return.
Everton are also without Nathan Paterson and Jarrad Branthwaite due to groin and hamstring injuries respectively.
Otherwise, it looks like Moyes could choose a perfectly suited team.
Everton’s expected starting lineup
Pickford; O’Brien, Keene, Tarkowski, Mykolenko. Garner, Guyet. Ndiaye, Dewsbury Hall, Grealish. barry
