Fresh from grinding out a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane and falling nine points adrift of runaway Leaders, Arsenal, Manchester United have nowhere to hide as Everton come to town. It is a must win game for the red army even though it is just 13 matches into a long and predictably difficult campaign for everyone. Anything other than a convincing win will spell doom for the red army, considering that Arsenal play host to Hull City Tigers, who with all due respect, cannot dream of scoring a goal, talk more of securing any result.
Everton on the other hand, are flying high. Higher than Manchester United in the League at least. Roberto Martinez has done much better in three months than people expected him to do for the whole season. He has made the team compact, fearless and deservedly ambitious. Despite the loss of Moyes and Fellaini, the Blue half of Merseyside has done really well up till this point. The appalling record v Manchester United at Old Trafford matters little to a team high on confidence. On Saturday, the toffees ran out 4-0 winners at Goodison's much to the delight of the delight of the home fans and their Spanish manager. Wednesday's game at the Theatre is another great opportunity to show the other title contenders that they are for real.
Roberto Martinez is well aware of how daunting the task that lies ahead is. Everton have not won an away game at Old Trafford in any of its last 20 visits and that might be very difficult to end when both sides square up on Wednesday. As for Manchester United, they will be quite chuffed that Wayne Rooney is in great form and has virtually carried the club all on his own since August. The absence of strike partner, RVP has further added weight on the Englishman's shoulders. Something that he has taken with courage and determination. His 10 goals in 16 games this season best explains the simple fact that he is hungry and raring to go. Romelu Lukaku Bolingoli has torn many a defence apart since he came off age last season under the tutelage of Steve Clarke at the Hawthorns. Now wearing the blue and white of Everton, he has continued to defy belief and astound a lot of us who thought he wouldn't be as exceptional as he was last term. 8 goals in 10 games already means he might even beat the 17 he posted last time and that is staggeringly phenomenal for the young forward who is on loan from Chelsea.
When both teams come out of the tunnel tomorrow, David Moyes will be feeling very funny and uneasy, facing a team he led for 11 glorious years for the first time since he bade farewell to them at the end of last season. He remains a cult hero at the club but tomorrow, they are not willing to offer him any gifts on the pitch. Roberto Martinez has been fantastic in his first 13 League games and his team have only lost one game since the start of the season. However, they will be aware that it was not far away from OT that they fell to neighbours, Manchester City. The other twelve games have brought 6 wins and 6 draws and they have shut out their opponents in four of their last five games, thanks largely to Tim Howard and his capable rearguard.
PREDICTED LINEUPS-
MANCHESTER UNITED-
DDG, Rafa, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Fellaini, GIggs, Januzaj, Nani, ROONEY, Chicharito
With games coming in thick and fast and the need for the players to remain injury free, Moyes will know better than to start majority of the team which fought hard for 90 gruelling minutes against a Spurs who had everything to prove after being overrun by Manchester City the previous week. Ryan Giggs is expected to feature in his 1st game since turning 40 and rightly become only the 7th man in history to play a top flight domestic game in England. Luis Nani was unlucky to only be a late substitute on Sunday and will likely feature from the start. Recently nominated BBC young sports personality of the year, Adnan Januzaj will not like to repeat the lacklustre display in Wales. He must continue to improve to remain in Moyes' plans. He might also get a look in. Kagawa was lost in the shadow at the Lane and must have to make do with a place on the subs bench. Rafa may also come in for Chris Smalling who has been exerted a lot since the Brazilian got injured. He doesn't mind but for his fitness to remain intact especially as this is traditionally the busiest month in every Premier League season. Wayne Rooney is an automatic choice anytime, any day, more so now that he is getting on very well with football. He should not rest until May. Chicharito has managed only one league goal-albeit an important one, this season. He must start taking his chances as they come.
EVERTON-
Howard, Coleman, Distin, Jags, Oviedo, Barry, McCarthy, Barkley, Mirallas, Pienaar, LUKAKU
When you are on a superb run like Everton are currently, no need to start changing personnel too much. The toffees will line up almost exactly the same way it has been all season. With Kev Mirallas delivering crucial crosses and posting workmanlike performances week in, week out, everything seems to be going on well for Evertonians. It is a dream season for them are they are loving every bit of it. As explained earlier, Romelu Lukaku needs no introduction no more. Only Kun Aguero, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez have scored more goals than the Belgian and he is on the same number with Remy, Ramsey and Rooney. Four Rs all on 8 EPL goals. Coincidence? James McCarthy has settled in well at GP since his 14 million pound move from the DW stadium. Ross Barkley, Leon Osman and Gareth Barry make Everton so dominant in midfield which is a big worry for Manchester United. Bryan Oviedo is set to play at left back again after a great show v the Potters at the weekend where he capped his performance with a fine goal. At this rate, Leighton Baines might regret ever getting injured.
A somewhat epic match made even fiercer and eagerly awaited because of the likes of Moyes and Fellaini who face their former club and admittedly, they must still love and cherish. Well, allegiances have switched now and there will be no mercy for Everton if the opportunities present themselves. The red army MUST WIN the battle between 8th and 5th. Whoever emerges victorious has a great chance of ending the day in 4th place if results go their way in other matches.
Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990
