Matt Jones
BBC Sport journalist
A resurgent Manchester United have the chance to add to Everton’s poor recent home form in the final fixture of the Premier League weekend on Monday at Hill Dickinson Stadium (20:00 GMT).
Having been eliminated from the FA Cup in the third round, both sides have had nearly a fortnight to reflect on their previous results in the top flight.
Everton were undone by eight minutes of chaos at home to Bournemouth to lose 2-1, while United salvaged a point at West Ham United in stoppage time.
No Mersey paradise for Moyes
Everton are in a curious position at the moment. After numerous seasons of flirting with relegation, the table looks a lot rosier – they started the weekend in eighth position – yet there is still some frustration around recent performances at home.
The calamitous manner in which they threw away a winning position against Bournemouth left supporters angry, as a chance to consolidate a spot in the European positions was tossed away.
It’s now six games without a win at Hill Dickinson Stadium in all competitions; they have lost five of their last nine Premier League home games, as many as they had in their previous 28.
That run is in stark contrast to the team’s away form; they’ve won five, drawn four and lost one of their last nine.
Manager David Moyes will be hoping a visit from a big-name opponent can ignite the mood at the new 52,000-seat arena. The number of midweek games and Monday night matches have been a big factor in a number of low-key atmospheres at their new home.
United playing favourites
United have 19 away wins and 42 wins overall against Everton in the Premier League, more than any team has against another team in the competition’s history.
The Toffees did get the better of the Red Devils previously though, as they rallied from an early Idrissa Gueye red card to win 1-0 at Old Trafford thanks to a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall goal. A win for Everton on Monday would give them just their second Premier League double over United, the first coming in 2013-14 when Moyes was in charge of the Red Devils.
That defeat in November was arguably the nadir for former boss Ruben Amorim. Plenty has changed since, with Michael Carrick in charge and the team playing with a renewed sense of freedom.
The draw at West Ham may have ended Carrick’s winning start, but the team will take heart from the manner in which they fought to the end.
Benjamin Sesko’s stoppage-time goal – his second in three games – was enough to extend the team’s current unbeaten streak to nine. The improved form of the £74m summer transfer will be a big relief at Old Trafford.
Overall, United have been the best team in the division in 2026, with no side able to better their haul of 15 Premier League points for the year; they have also scored more open play goals than any team since Carrick took charge.
Against a muddled opponent – their favourite opponent – they will be confident of adding to that on Merseyside.