Manchester United will be eyeing a return to winning ways when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime.
United, who beat the Toffees 4-0 at Old Trafford at the start of December, suffered a second successive league defeat last time out, losing 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. James Maddison scored the only goal of the game to condemn the Reds to a sixth league defeat in their last nine games.
The Reds travelled to the capital with a squad decimated by injury and illness-related issues, meaning head coach Ruben Amorim was forced to name seven academy players on the bench. In such testing circumstances, United produced a resilient performance.
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Ahead of United's final visit to Goodison Park, Amorim has issued an update on the team news, confirming he expects Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte and Christian Eriksen to be back available after missing our last weekend.
As ever, Andre Onana is expected to start in goal for the Reds and maintain his 100 per cent record of starting every Premier League game since arriving from Inter Milan in July 2023. Ahead of the Cameroonian, it would be no great surprise to see Yoro thrown straight back into the back-three, if he is deemed fit enough to start. He will be determined to start earning more regular starts after a season of disruption so far.
It is possible he could line up on the right of the back-three, joining forces with Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt in defence. The latter started on the left of the defence last weekend.
Amorim has a decision to make at right wing-back after Diogo Dalot experienced a testing afternoon up against Spurs captain Son Heung-min. Noussair Mazraoui will be competing with him for the same spot, but Dalot has been a near ever-present fixture under Amorim.
Patrick Dorgu has so far produced two encouraging performances in his first two outings in United colours, meaning he should keep his place at left wing-back.
Casemiro had a testing time in the centre of midfield at Tottenham and it would be no surprise to see Ugarte recalled at his expense. Bruno Fernandes has operated in the other No.8 position recently and could start alongside him.
In attack, Joshua Zirkzee showed signs of promise in the right-sided No.10 position last time out, meaning he could retain his place. Alejandro Garnacho could start in the other No.10 berth and Rasmus Hojlund is likely to lead the line as he aims to try and end his drought in front of goal.
United predicted XI vs Everton: Onana; Yoro, Maguire, De Ligt; Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Zirkzee, Garnacho, Hojlund.
