Match Preview: Manchester United vs Everton

With the 9 point lead not in any danger of being cut down, Sir Alex can chose to rest some players with the crucial fixture against Real Madrid coming up.

Games against Everton are always tough. David Moyes puts out a well drilled team that is extremely compact and difficult to play. However, United have had the better of this fixture in the recent past. The 4-4 result last season has been singled out by Sir Alex as the one game that handed the title to City last term.

The one boost that United have received prior to kick off is that come what may, United’s nine point lead cannot possibly get smaller for City lost to Southampton last night. This is certain to play on Sir Alex’s mind when he selects his team for tonight’s encounter, keeping in mind, of course, the mammoth clash against Real at the Bernabeu in a few days time. Sir Alex can now rest a couple of players who he might otherwise have been forced to play.

David De Gea looks set to start in goal once again with Rafael and Evra on the flanks. It will be interesting to see if Sir Alex will start with Rio, given how he has handled the defender’s fitness this term thus far. Phil Jones seems to have shaken off a bout of shingles and might just be handed a starting berth alongside Smalling or Evans. However, with Vidic just a few games into his comeback, Sir Alex might opt not to rest him and give him a bit more match time.

The midfield is where it has been most difficult to predict what Sir Alex will do this term. Rarely (if ever) has he put out the same midfield two games in a row and one can only guess what he intends to do this time around. For my money, I think it will be Carrick, Cleverley, Kagawa and Nani in midfield. Carrick and Cleverley will be expected to shore up the middle with Valencia playing down the right and Kagawa off the left. Don’t be surprised, however, if Sir Alex goes with Anderson in order to get him more match-time under his belt. Ashley Young is back in the squad and he could be a contender as well. Valencia is ever present, of course, but his form has been quite average of late and Sir Alex might not really fancy him for the starting line-up.

Up front, expect Rooney to partner Hernandez, with van Persie being saved for Real Madrid. Of course, if needed, Robin can always be called off the bench but Sir Alex would not possibly want to risk him this game lest he picks up an injury. Touch wood. Welbeck has been in quite good form of late and perhaps Sir Alex is looking at a midfield 5 with Kagawa supporting Rooney and Welbeck playing from the left, a position that he excelled in for England this week.

The interesting thing to see will be whether Sir Alex goes for the jugular, so to speak, to go all out for a 12 point lead at the top of the league and then cross the Real bridge when he gets to it, or opt to play it moderately safe with Real very much on the near horizon.

My line up:

De Gea

Rafael, Evans, Smalling, Evra

Nani, Carrick, Cleverley, Kagawa

Hernandez, Rooney

Who do you expect to start for United?