Man Utd brace for in-form Toffees
LONDON: Another meek performance in losing for the fifth time this season in midweek to Juventus has put Jose Mourinho’s position as Manchester United manager back in peril ahead of inform Everton’s visit to Old Trafford on Sunday.
On a run of just one win in seven games in all competitions, United already look out of the title race, nine points adrift of Manchester City and Liverpool, but are also in danger of missing out on the top four with Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham also just two points off the top.
There is the chance for United to make up some ground as Tottenham host City on Monday, but Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal will be confident of maintaining their strong starts to the season against struggling Cardiff, Burnley and Crystal Palace respectively.
Here, looks at what to watch out for in the Premier League this weekend:
After being outclassed by the Italian champions, Mourinho’s men have now won just two of their seven games at Old Trafford and only edged past Leicester and Newcastle by the odd goal in their two victories.
Everton have moved above United in the table with three straight wins after a slow start in adapting to life under Marco Silva.
City boss Pep Guardiola revealed his love of music in a wide-ranging interview with the BBC on Thursday and will be hoping his side hit the right notes again at Wembley on Monday.
The two sides had drastically different weeks in the Champions League with a draw at PSV virtually ending Spurs’ hopes of making the last 16, while City produced what Guardiola described as the best first-half performance of his reign in easing past Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0.
Spurs have held onto City and Liverpool’s coat tails in recent weeks despite not hitting top form in narrow wins over Brighton, Huddersfield, Cardiff and West Ham to make their best ever start to a Premier League season.
After Mourinho, Newcastle’s Rafael Benitez and Southampton boss Mark Hughes lead the betting as the two Premier League managers who should most fear the sack.
Rooted to the bottom of the table with just two points from their opening nine games, time is running out for Benitez, even if the Newcastle support remains largely behind the Spaniard with their ire aimed at frugal owner Mike Ashley.
If anything should give the Magpies hope, it is Southampton’s awful home record.
The Saints have won just once in the league at St Mary’s since November last year and, like their opponents this weekend, are desperately short on goals with both sides scoring just six times in nine games.