What: English Premier League
Who: Everton vs Manchester United
When: Monday, 20th August, 2012, 20:00 UK Time
Where: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
Can Notorious Slow Starters Begin with a Bang?
Everton are noted for their slow starts to seasons and they have as tough a task as they could wish for in their Premier League opener. Manchester United have a good record at Goodison Park and will be optimistic that they can start the season well, so David Moyes will be right up against it. In fact, Everton have won just one of their last 14 against Manchester United. This is probably down in part to Everton tending to be a side who are very good in the first two thirds of the pitch, and not quite as good in the final third, whereas the Red Devils are particularly adept at sitting back, soaking up pressure and striking ruthlessly on the counter-attack.
But Moyes does, for once, have some firepower going forward. The underrated creative pairing of Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar have Nikica Jelavic, who proved an accomplished goal-getter, ahead of them. Moyes then will have reason for optimism that his side can be a handful in attack. Everton are always highly competitive and have a midfield with both brawn and technical quality.
With their usual solidity in defence, Everton look better placed to make a fast start to the season than they have for a while. It is just a shame Manchester United are in town and desperate to regain their Premier League title.
Hoping Not to Come Unstuck Against Toffees
Everton dealt the decisive blow to Manchester United’s Premier League title challenge at the end of last season, when they battled back from 4-2 behind to draw 4-4. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men will have been hurt by that and should not underestimate Everton at all at Goodison Park, even with an attack bolstered by Shinji Kagawa and Robin van Persie.
Kagawa will add real skill in midfield, a combination of technical quality and creativity, as well as no little energy. He is also prolific in front of goal for a midfielder and his signing could be even better than that of Van Persie. The Dutchman seems likely to play some part here, but whether he will start the match is doubtful. With such little time to settle in with his new team-mates, Ferguson will probably opt to start with a frontline similar to that which played last season.
Manchester United know this is a tough place to play and will be looking to ensure they do not make a losing start. With a good record in this part of the world, there will be optimism in the Red Devils camp ahead of the new campaign.
Recent form
Everton:
Malaga 1-0 Everton (11/08; Friendly)
Everton 4-1 AEK Athens (08/08; Friendly)
Blackpool 2-0 Everton (05/08; Friendly)
Manchester United:
Hannover 3-4 Manchester United (11/08; Friendly)
Barcelona 0-0 Manchester United (08/08; Friendly)
Valerenga 0-0 Manchester United (05/08; Friendly)
Key absences
Everton: Marouane Fellaini (doubt); Darron Gibson (doubt)
Manchester United: Jonny Evans (doubt); Chris Smalling; Darren Fletcher
Players to watch
Everton – Steven Pienaar: Pienaar was one of the best players during the second half of last season and played an instrumental role in Everton’s run during that period. The South African clearly relishes being back at Goodison Park and is able to get the best out of Nikica Jelavic. Manchester United have shown in recent years that they can be overrun in midfield and are usually spared being punished for that by having such a solid defence. But last season the side owed much to Jonny Evans for his superb performances at the back and he is battling to recover from injury. Pienaar could take advantage of that and find gaps in the Red Devils defence.
Manchester United – Shinji Kagawa: Kagawa could have a pivotal role to play in this Manchester United team. If Ferguson chooses to play with two up front as last season, there is extra onus on Wayne Rooney to track back into midfield and counter the fact that most rivals will sometimes have more players in that area of the pitch. For Manchester United not to lose the midfield battle at Goodison Park, Kagawa will have to do his fair share of defensive work. But with his talent going forward and eye for goal, the Japanese could be the debut man making his mark here.
Match Prediction
Early season encounters can often lack a competitive edge, but this is unlikely to be one of those fixtures, particularly with Everton desperate not to lose their opening day game for the first time in five seasons, and Manchester United, looking to win back the title from Manchester City.
Much could depend on whether Fellaini is fit enough to start; if he is then Everton could enjoy useful spells of possession. Manchester United will have spells of control and with whichever combination of Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Nani start the game, the Red Devils will be a threat from wide areas. Wayne Rooney has scored in five of the last seven opening day of the season matches he has played in and throw in a game against his boyhood club and the striker should need no reminding that the campaign has begun.
Both teams have the players going forward to take advantage of each other’s weaknesses defensively and it may just be a new signing announcing his arrival in a Manchester United shirt settling this encounter. With the fanfare over the capture of Van Persie, it seems almost inevitable that it will be Kagawa stealing the headlines. He can show the kind of form that helped Borussia Dortmund to two successive league titles in Germany and in that area behind the forwards, his movement and eye for goal could be too much for an ageing Phil Neville or a not 100% fit Fellaini. Everton 1-2 Manchester United.
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