Key events
It wouldn’t be an Everton game without a word from Mary Waltz. “Greetings from California,” she says, at what must be the break of dawn over there. “This season started so well. Points taken. Moyes at the helm. Of course we will add on deadline day………. Or maybe not. Life as an Everton fan. Sigh.”
The first email comes in from Joshua Keeling. “United fan here,” he says. “Agree that all three results are possible. It’s never easy, going to Everton. Feels like United need to win today ahead of the derby next week.”
Yes … they could probably only afford one defeat in this mini-season of five matches before the long international break, and they used it up at the first opportunity.
Teams in full
Some eye-catching names on the benches. Everton have Jack Grealish and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, plus the 18-year-old Northern Irish striker Braiden Graham, the lesser-spotted Tyler Dibling and the elegant Hayden Hackney (mentored by Michael Carrick when they were both at Middlesbrough). United have Mason Mount back from injury, and he edges out Shea Lacey, so Bryan Mbeumo may have to put in a full shift on the right.
Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Röhl, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Armstrong; Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Barry.
Subs: Travers, O’Brien, Keane, Maitland-Niles, Hackney, Alcaraz, Grealish, Dibling, Graham.
Man United (4-2-3-1) Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Tielemans, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Cunha.
Subs: Darlow, Mazraoui, Yoro, Heaven, Santos, Mount, Zirkzee, Dorgu, Sesko.
Referee John Brooks.
Teams in brief: no change for Man United
Michael Carrick, who played under Moyes in his season at Old Trafford, keeps things steady too and names an unchanged team. So Matheus Cunha continues as the false 9, Marcus Rashford gets a second successive start as the 11 with a 9 on his back, and Benjamin Sesko, who scored the only goal at Everton in February, remains on the bench.
Teams in brief: one change for Everton
David Moyes had to make one change from the last XI he picked because Ilian Ndiaye has gone to Man City. Brennan Johnson takes his place, but otherwise Moyes keeps faith with the men who drew at Bournemouth.
Preamble
Afternoon everyone and welcome to the David Moyes derby. Or is it the Wayne Rooney, Michael Keane, James Garner, Morgan Schneiderlin and not quite Joshua Zirkzee derby?
The Premier League prediction posse, both human and automated, is expecting Manchester United to win today after the 5-2 win over Ipswich, their first hatful under Michael Carrick. But Everton fans, when not berating their owners for a broken transfer window, may have something to say about that.
Everton haven’t conceded at home this season while United haven’t scored on the road. Everton are unbeaten while United capsized at Hull. United may have far more depth but Everton have flair to spare in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish. In my considered opinion, all three results are perfectly plausible.
Kick-off is at 2pm and I’ll be back soon with the teams.