United looking to improve worst ever start to season
Manchester United will be looking to improve on their worst ever start to a Premier League season when they visit Everton’s Goodison Park today. Jose Mourinho’s men have taken just 20 points from their 13 matches and have won just one of their last seven Premier League matches.
The United boss will be back in the dugout after missing the midweek victory over West Ham in the EFL Cup after a one-match ban from the FA and is expecting a tough game against the Toffees.
“I managed against Martinez’s Everton, Moyes’ Everton and it is always difficult,” Mourinho told a pre-match press conference.
“It is always beautiful with a great crowd and a great stadium. I had so many great matches there. Some I lost, some I won, but always a great match. The way United is playing, combined with the way Everton always try to play means it should be a very good match.”
Confidence could be an issue in the Everton camp considering they’ve only won one of their last nine games in all competitions. However, they are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League games at Goodison Park, winning five of those.
United captain Wayne Rooney will be suspended for Sunday’s game against his boyhood club after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the midweek EFL Cup win over West Ham.
Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini are back in contention after serving one-game bans of their own, but Luke Shaw is a doubt with an unspecified injury, while Eric Bailly (knee) and Chris Smalling (toe) remain absent.
Ronald Koeman says he will face a tough decision when it comes to choosing his team for Sunday with everyone but long-term absentee Muhamed Besic available for selection.
Besic has been absent since sustaining cruciate knee ligament damage in the pre-season friendly against Manchester United.