As Manchester United head to Everton FC, Red Devils midfielder Paul Pogba has urged his team to “wake up,” and rightly so. Three weeks ago they could have still considered themselves league title contenders. Now they’re not even a lock to make top four. United have suffered three straight draws in league play, and with the League Cup defeat preceding it, United are now winless in their last four.
The last setback, yesterday at home against Southampton, was the most embarrassing, as Saints came to Old Trafford just one point above the drop zone.
What’s been the problem? Well, there are many but you can start with the final third, as United lack creativity there. They just don’t inspire compelling football or excitement in the attack, like you see with the rest of the top four contenders.
Romelu Lukaku will miss out on his first chance to play at Goodison Park as a member of the opposition since 2013, but Wayne Rooney will get his second chance to play Manchester United since 2004. Lukaku is one of the many injuries that United must deal with in this one, we chronicled the injury and fitness report in detail over at this link.
Moving on to the United starting XI prediction, here’s what we came up with.
Marcus Rashford
Anthony Martial Jesse Lingard Juan Mata
Nemanja Matic Paul Pogba
Luke Shaw Marcos Rojo Phil Jones Ashley Young
David de Gea
Odds: Everton FC- 19/4, Man Utd- 3/4, Draw- 13/5
Prediction: United 1, Everton FC 1
As always, feel free to post your own Man United and/or Leicester starting XI prediction, as well as your forecast for the final score.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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