Everton will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven matches when they host Manchester United at Goodison Park on Sunday.
The visitors, meanwhile, saw their streak of four successive league wins come to an end away to their city rivals Manchester City last weekend.
Match preview
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Having marginally avoided their first ever relegation of the Premier League era last season, Everton have become a much more solid unit under Frank Lampard in recent times.
Only four teams conceded more goals than the Toffees by the end of last campaign, yet they have the best defensive record in the entire division after eight matches, having only conceded seven goals.
The summer signings of Conor Coady and James Tarkowski have clearly had a huge baring on that, with Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye offering more energy and protection in midfield, too.
Granted, they have only scored the same amount at the other end, but most managers generally attempt to fix the defence as a matter of priority before searching for ways to help their team score more goals.
Everton ended a run of four successive draws by beating West Ham United prior to the international break, before securing a 2-1 win away to Southampton last weekend. Joe Aribo had provided the hosts with the lead four minutes after half-time, but Coady and Dwight McNeil quickly struck back to provide an important victory for their side.
With a four point gap opened up on the relegation zone ahead of the weekend's action, Lampard will be hoping to see his side express themselves a little more in the final third against Man United on Sunday, while retaining their newly found defensive solidity.
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Man United, on the other hand, were thrashed 6-3 the champions Man City at the Etihad Stadium last Sunday, with two late goals from substitute Anthony Martial making the scoreline a little kinder to the visitors.
Erling Braut Haaland and Phil Foden both sensationally scored hat-tricks for the Citizens as Erik ten Hag's side simply could not live with their opponents' pace and precision in and out of possession, although summer signing Antony scored his second league goal in two matches with a ferocious effort from distance.
The Red Devils came from behind to beat Omonia 3-2 away from home in the Europa League on Thursday evening, with Martial and Marcus Rashford sparing their side's blushes from the bench as the England forward bagged himself a brace.
Ten Hag was less than enthused with his side's overall performance, though, branding them "not very good" in his post-match press conference. The former Ajax boss will be hoping for a major reaction from his players as they make the short trip to Merseyside to take on Everton on Sunday.
Team News
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Everton will remain without defenders Ben Godfrey, Nathan Patterson, Mason Holgate and Yerry Mina due to injury, although the latter pair have returned to training and could be in contention to face Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.
Lampard has confirmed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is back in contention for selection again after suffering a ligament injury in August, but he is unlikely to be thrown straight into the starting XI, especially with Neal Maupay beginning his Everton career in decent form.
Abdoulaye Doucoure featured from the bench at Southampton last weekend but may find his place in the side tough to reclaim, especially given the notable form of Alex Iwobi in a more central role, but Anthony Gordon should start after only coming on as a substitute during the victory.
Man United, meanwhile, will travel without Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Donny van de Beek and club captain Harry Maguire due to injury, but Raphael Varane is still fighting to prove he is fit enough to start alongside Lisandro Martinez at the heart of the defence.
The France international was withdrawn five minutes before half-time against Man City after sustaining an ankle injury, with Victor Lindelof waiting in the wings to deputise for him if required.
Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho were both hooked at half-time against Omonia in midweek and may find themselves displaced in the starting XI by Luke Shaw and Martial at the weekend.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Onana, Gueye, Iwobi; Gordon, Maupay, Gray
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; McTominay, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
We say: Everton 1-1 Manchester United
We can envisage a tight game on Sunday, with all of Everton's matches so far this season either ending as draws or only one goal apart.
Man United may be fatigued after enduring a tougher game than many expected in Cyprus on Thursday, so we think the Toffees can extend their unbeaten run.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
