Everton v Man Utd: Rooney can add to Mourinho misery

Everton v Man Utd
Monday, 17:30 GMT
Live on Sky Sports Main Event

Toffees looking to bounce back

After an unbeaten run of seven games under new boss Sam Allardyce in which they conceded just two goals, Everton made some careless mistakes to lose 2-1 at Bournemouth on Saturday.

A response can be expected but a glance at the table shows that Everton need to be given plenty of respect anyway.

Despite their poor start to the season, only the top three and Arsenal have won more home games than Everton's six while let's not forget that the Merseysiders remain the only team in the top flight to have taken points off Man City this term.

Their record against the big teams has been impressive of late too and under Allardyce's watch they've drawn 1-1 at Liverpool and held Chelsea to a 0-0 home draw.

United suffering dip

Back in September, Romelu Lukaku scored against his former club in a 4-0 win to move Man Utd joint top of the table and Jose Mourinho could even afford to praise Everton, who were only 1-0 down with 10 minutes left.

Absolutely none of those things are happening now.

The goals have dried up for Lukaku and he'll miss this one after a bang to the head, United have slipped 14 points off the lead, they've won just once by over a two-goal margin since the end of September and Mourinho is in blame mode not praise mode.

They go into this fixture after three straight draws, six points being squandered against Leicester, Burnley and Southampton.

The mood in the United camp seems far from a happy one.

Everton big underdogs

The market seems to take little notice of Everton's good home form and United's current woes which include a 2-1 away defeat to Bristol City in the League Cup.

Everton are a hefty 5.90 to take victory, while Man Utd are 1.77 and The Draw 3.70.

The initial pull towards Everton grows when you consider that they've won four and drawn two of their last eight games at home to the Mancunians.

However, Allardyce has won just one of his last 21 Premier League games against United and has lost eight and drawn three when coming up against Mourinho.

To be fair, in a lot of those matches it would have been a wooden sword taking on some heavy artillery so it's hardly a surprising record.

On current form, the weaponry looks more balanced and I think the hosts are value at odds against not to lose the game.

Back Everton +1 at 2.26.

Big tilt towards Unders

Allardyce has been ultra-conservative in games against Liverpool (1-1) and Chelsea (0-0) whilst Mourinho is naturally a cautious manager.

No wonder Unders is the clear 1.68 favourite here although perhaps the negativity is being overplayed.

United have enjoyed extra freedom on the road and even in their current average form, their last five games away from home have all seen over 2.5 goals.

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BTTS odds against

In a similar vein to the Over/Unders, the lack of expected goals makes 'Yes' 2.18 in the Both Teams to Score market, with 'No' just 1.75.

BTTS has landed in three of Everton's last six games and in eight of Man Utd's last 10 matches so there is scope for expecting both goalkeepers to be fishing the ball out of their net at some point.

Rooney can register

First thought as a punter - what are the odds on Wayne Rooney knocking one in against his old club?

The answer is 4.40 and those odds have plenty of appeal given that only four players have scored more Premier League goals than Rooney this season.

Six of his 10 have come in his last six games and, due to a virus, he's rested his legs over Christmas after missing two matches and playing only the second half at Bournemouth.

That could work in his favour and adrenaline alone would probably have got him through a game against United.

He's worth a go at those odds.

Ref watch

West Midlands ref Andre Marriner gets the Goodison gig.

He's shown 50 yellows and three reds in his 18 games this season and the last time he took charge of United he sent off Paul Pogba in their 3-1 win at Arsenal.

Marriner also reffed Man Utd's 4-0 win over Everton earlier this season, booking just a single player from each side.