Manchester United continue their Premier League campaign on Sunday against Everton. The match has many different storylines to follow it.
One of them will be Wayne Rooney’s return to Old Trafford for the first time since leaving the club. Another one is the injury of Paul Pogba who is to be sidelined for at least a month, while Romelu Lukaku will also play against his old team for the first time.
However, off the pitch happenings are not something Manchester United players should worry about. After a 2-2 draw at Stoke last weekend, Jose Mourinho and his team will be eager to get back on a winning track. A 3-0 win against Basel on Tuesday was a good sign as Manchester United played well.
Still, there are some things we expect to see against the Toffees.
Fellaini To Shine Against His Old Club
One of them is Marouane Fellaini in the starting lineup. He has been very useful to the team whenever he was on the pitch. His cameo in UEFA Super Cup final almost proved decisive and he made an impact against West Ham and Leicester City, as well.
Against Basel, Fellaini was the one who replaced injured Pogba and he did that very well. He brings something to the team that is very hard to explain or see. Except for his physical presence, Manchester United seem more coherent when he is on the pitch. That may not be the thing people would think of Fellaini, but it has been the case so far.
If starting, he could really shine on Sunday. He is always a threat coming onto second balls and arriving late into the box. Paired with Nemanja Matic, Old Trafford should really seem like a fortress for the visitors.
Unleash The Pace
There is plenty of pace in this Manchester United side. Marcus Rashford is expected to start at the expense of Anthony Martial. The young Englishman should be the main outlet for Manchester United counter-attacks. His runs are dangerous whether he has the ball or not.
Rashford had great displays this season, especially against weaker sides. West Ham were lucky he did not score against them, while Leicester could not contain him either. This all seems like a perfect environment for him to shine. However, Everton defenders are much more experienced and of a higher quality.
Besides, he is not the only pacey player. Henrikh Mkhitaryan showed against Basel he can be dangerous running into channels and Romelu Lukaku knows this Everton team inside out.
Mkhitaryan Should Do Plenty For Manchester United
The Armenian playmaker was unlucky not to score against Basel in the Champions League. He is expected to score more goals and make his displays more decisive. Mkhitaryan’s efforts in creating chances have been marvelous and he should only continue like that.
However, Mkhitaryan is expected to try even harder to be more decisive in front of goal. His instincts are not those of a striker and time is needed, but with his pace and intelligence, he could really trouble Everton defenders.
Five assists in four Premier League matches tell a story of their own. Do not be surprised if Mkhitaryan makes another goal or two against the Toffees. It is just that is not the only thing world-class players do. They also score goals.
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