Everton vs Manchester United preview, prediction, team news and head-to-head

• Both teams to score

• Over 2.5 goals

• Manchester United to score first

• Manchester United to win

The headlines on Merseyside are likely to revolve around the fact that Everton haven’t won at home since early December. They’ve drawn with Wolves and Leeds United and lost to Arsenal, Brentford and most recently, Bournemouth at their new waterfront stadium since the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

Everton’s 1-0 win over Man Utd at Old Trafford in November was their first league success at the Theatre of Dreams since December 2013. However, that historic record has been undermined by an unimpressive record at their new stomping ground, where they have now been beaten in five of their last ten home matches, claiming just three wins in that time.

Hence, the Toffees recent home form will be under scrutiny when they welcome to Hill Dickinson Stadium a very different-looking Manchester United side compared to the one they faced earlier in the season.

Michael Carrick is having a great “new manager bounce” effect on the Red Devils. They are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games under Carrick and have won four of those contests, including against the two leading sides – Arsenal and Manchester City.

Joint-top of the form table with Chelsea over the last five games before the start of round 27, the Red Devils are clear favourites to extend their unbeaten league run to 10. Given that the Blues’ 1-1 draw with Burnley on Saturday leaves both top-four chasers tied on points, Carrick’s side head into Monday’s fixture needing a win to return to fourth place, and they hope their historical precedent persists under the lights on Merseyside.

It is an important game for both sides as each are very much in the race for European qualification, and playing after their rivals will add a layer of intrigue to proceedings.

Manchester United have more away wins (19) and more wins overall (42) against Everton than any team has against another in Premier League history. However, they are winless against Everton in their last two meetings across all competitions.

Everton are looking to complete just their second Premier League double over Manchester United after 2013-14, with current boss David Moyes in charge of the Red Devils in those games.

While Jake O’Brien – sent off in Everton’s last Premier League match with Bournemouth – and long-term absentee Jack Grealish (ankle) are missing, Moyes welcomes back Seamus Coleman for the first time since late January.

Thierno Barry and Iliman Ndiaye are level with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on five goals this season. Notably, Dewsbury-Hall is chasing a historic goal against United on Monday as he could become the first English Everton player since Andy King in 1978-79 to score both home and away against Man Utd.

Bruno Fernandes has scored twice and assisted eight in his last nine away top-flight appearances, and the United captain aims to be decisive in Monday’s contest.

Although Carrick does not have any of his big hitters absent, Mason Mount, Matthijs de Ligt (back) and Patrick Dorgu (thigh) all remain sidelined.

Everton: Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Armstrong, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry

Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo

Everton are struggling at home, failing to win any of their last six in all competitions and that should offer encouragement to Man United on their first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Consequently, United are backed to expose the home team’s defensive frailties on Merseyside and return to the top four.

Correct score prediction: Everton 1-3 Manchester United