Louis van Gaal will look to register successive victories for the first time as Manchester United manager as Everton visit Old Trafford on Sunday.
The 2012/13 Premier League champions chalked up only their second win of the season last weekend as they survived a Wayne Rooney red card to beat West Ham United 2-1.
Redknapp on Man Utd v Everton
Everton, meanwhile, may well be wearied by the strains of competing in the continent having played out a 1-1 Europa League stalemate with Krasnodar on Thursday night before facing a quick turnaround for the noon kick-off in Manchester.
Roberto Martinez’s Toffees are without a win in their last four outings in all competitions, with a third round Capital One Cup defeat to Swansea City preceding last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.
Opta Facts
Everton have lost 299 Premier League games, which is more than any other team in the competition.
Manchester United have lost eight Premier League games at Old Trafford since the start of last season, as many as they had lost in the previous five campaigns from 2008-09 to 2012-13.
Roberto Martinez’s side have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the Premier League (7).
The Red Devils have already used 29 players in the Premier League this season; six more than any other team. They used 30 different players in the whole of 2013-14.
Everton were on course for back-to-back Premier League defeats before centre-back Phil Jagielka unleashed a stunning strike to restore parity and ensure the Toffees took a share of the spoils.
Meanwhile, United’s chequered start the campaign under the tutelage of Van Gaal continues, with the Red Devils winning, losing and drawing in equal measure across their opening six fixtures.
History does not favour the hosts either, with United having only beaten Everton once in their last five meetings, while Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes both lost their first meetings with the Toffees.
Team news
Louis van Gaal is still without eight first-team players through injury ahead of Manchester Utd's clash with Everton
United coach Van Gaal will obviously be without suspended captain Wayne Rooney as he serves the first of a three-match ban, while midfield playmaker Ander Herrera added to the Dutchman’s growing injury woes when he fractured his rib.
Winger Ashley Young (groin) remains sidelined and he is joined on the treatment table by defenders Chris Smalling (hip) and Jonny Evans (ankle).
Midfielder Michael Carrick may be in line for a return against Everton, but Phil Jones and Marouane Fellaini are both rated doubtful.
Defender Tyler Blackett is back from his ban, but manager Van Gaal has said 19-year-old Paddy McNair will keep his place in the starting XI following his impressive debut against West Ham.
Roberto Martinez has backed John Stones to become a regular player for England
After fielding a strong side in the Europa League, Martinez could make changes to his side, with Seamus Coleman, Sylvain Distin and Steven Pienaar all on course to return from injury.
James McCarthy is said to be doubtful for the trip to Old Trafford, while Martinez will again be without long-term absentees Kevin Mirallas and Ross Barkley.
Paul Merson’s prediction
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I watched Everton against West Brom the other week and I thought they’d turned the corner because they won well and they also had a good 4-0 win over Wolfsburg in Europe, but they haven’t really been the Everton we know this season. They’ve been a bit weird.
I think they’ll lose this because it’s an early kick-off and they were in Russia on Thursday night. They put a decent team out (which I understand because winning the Europa League is the best way for them to get into the Champions League) and it’s a lot of travelling, so I’ve got to go for Man United.
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