Manchester United vs Everton - Why Wayne Rooney will run around a lot in tonight’s mid-table battle

Roberto Martinez and David Moyes – It’s a mid-table battle tonight

Manchester United take on Everton tonight, in what is a battle of mid-table teams. If Manchester United win, and they leapfrog Everton. If Everton win, they do not leapfrog United, because they are already ahead of them, so it would be impossible to do so. Manchester United go into the match slight favourites, but Everton will be confident that they could end up with all the points.

In previous matches between the two sides, Marouane Fellaini has caused all kinds of trouble for United, scoring the winner against them in the first game of last season. Given his woeful form for United so far, Fellaini could again cause trouble for Manchester United. He’s almost definitely going to improve, but so far he’s off the pace, unable to impress with his passing, and he provides little goal threat, except at corners. It’s not good enough.

Tell me Marouane, what is it that you do again?

United, however, are at least unbeaten over the last 12 games, which does suggest that they’re tough to beat, reinforced by their two recoveries against Spurs on Sunday. The problem that the recoveries indicate are twofold. One, conceding goals is, as a rule, considered something of a problem in football.

Tactically, United should stop conceding goals if they can. Two, if they are going to concede goals, they should have a strategy where they try to score one more goal, at least, than their opponents. So far this season, they have failed to not concede goals. Often they have failed to score more goals than their opponents on a number of occasions. Seven times so far this season in the league.

Everton, as we are told by their fans, have become an amalgamation of all the most admirable parts of Wigan combined with the greatest skills of Barcelona. They are unbeaten all season, apart from when they lost to Manchester City.

Hang on.

While Everton have started the season well, and played attractive football, it should not be forgotten that they are still, fundamentally, Everton, and as such will probably lose. They are still, fundamentally, managed by Roberto Martinez and so will commit a couple of defensive howlers and end up on the end of a dodgy decision from the referee, allowing him to complain about injustice while overlooking incompetence.

Ross, I’ll ask you again, where’s my bleeding water?!

Rafael and Robin van Persie are back fit, and should feature in some form in the match. Van Persie should probably get round to showing up Wayne Rooney for faded presence he now is, a man who masks his drop in talent with just running around a lot. Rafael should put in a performance to convince David Moyes that Chris Smalling is a dire alternative at right-back.

So, predictions. The game will end up with Manchester United winning, unless Everton come away with a draw or a victory, in which case United will end up drawing or losing respectively.