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Mourinho's United on the charge
First you build the foundations, and then you build the house. In his first season at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho's Manchester United were a tough team to beat, but often struggled to turn draws into wins. His first-season vintage was still of sufficient quality to win the League Cup and the Europa League, and this term's version looks like the real deal. If United avoid defeat on Sunday, it'll be the first time since 2012 that they'll have got through the first five games of a league season without losing.
United lost the UEFA Super Cup to a superb Real Madrid side, but since then they are unbeaten. They have won three of their four Premier League games, and they saw off Basel 3-0 on their return to the Champions League, although Mourinho did accuse his playing of indulging in flashy "Playstation football" in the closing stages.
One of the big changes to United this season has been the arrival of Romelu Lukaku, who has impressively picked up the baton from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Belgian has provided a focal point in attack, and he has scored four goals in four league games. Opta tell us that if he scores against his old club Everton, he'll become the fourth-youngest player in Premier League history to hit the 90-goal mark.
Paul Pogba is out with a hamstring injury, but Phil Jones and Eric Bailly are likely to return to the back four after missing the Basel game through suspension.
Optimism in short supply as Everton fade
It had all started so well. Having made some impressive summer signings, Everton tiptoed their way through some tricky Europa League qualifiers, and took four points from Premier League games against Stoke and Manchester City. And then the wheels didn't just come off, they disintegrated spectacularly.
A tame surrender in a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea was followed by a performance at home to Spurs that manager Ronald Koeman derided as too weak and too nice. Many people (including me, I must admit) thought there'd be a reaction at Atalanta in the Europa League. How wrong we were. Everton were crushed 3-0 by a young side with very little European experience, and the alarm bells are well and truly clanging now.
This is the backdrop against which Wayne Rooney makes his return to Old Trafford. Rooney is Manchester United's record goalscorer, and Jose Mourinho says he'll get the reception he deserves from the Old Trafford crowd. Like Everton, Rooney started the season well with goals against Stoke and Manchester City, but his nocturnal activities and subsequent drink-driving charge have created an unnecessary and potentially harmful distraction.
The loss of Lukaku to United has been a bitter pill for Everton fans to swallow. It says a lot that the Belgian has scored more goals this season for club and country than Everton have as an entire club. At least new signing Gylfi Sigurdsson might be able to land a glove on United - Opta tell us the playmaker's been involved in six goals in his last six games against the Red Devils.
Hosts set for another comfortable win
Manchester United have won four times this season, and all four of those victories were by at least two goals. Everton have gone into a tailspin, and although Koeman remains confident the decline won't last, I'd be very surprised if Old Trafford provides the light at the end of the tunnel.
United are trading at 1.37 for the outright win, but they can be backed -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at 2.10. If they win by two goals or more, you win.
Lukaku to show no mercy to old employers
Romelu Lukaku was already a proven Premier League goalscorer when he arrived at Manchester United, and he could barely have made a better start. He has scored nine goals for club and country this season, and I think his price of 1.81 to find the net in 90 minutes is more than fair. Of course, Lukaku isn't the only former Everton player in the building - Marouane Fellaini has become a key player for Mourinho, and he is 4.40 to score his third goal in four games.
If you fancy Wayne Rooney to mark his return to Old Trafford with a goal, he is trading at a hefty 4.70.
Recommended Bets
Back Manchester United -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at 2.10
Back Romelu Lukaku to score at 1.81
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