Manchester United are given another chance to show their Premier League title credentials when they travel to Everton on Saturday afternoon.
The Red Devils will need to improve on their recent record in the blue half of Merseyside, however, having lost on each of their last three visits to Goodison Park.
Everton
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While the Toffees may have made themselves hard to beat this season, losing just two of their opening 10 games in all competitions, a lack of consistency has cost them so far.
Sitting two points off a Champions League place at this stage of the campaign is certainly not a bad way to start things, though, particularly on the back of last year's disappointment.
Everton have yet to win back-to-back league games, but when considering that they have faced Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Liverpool since the end of August, things become a little clearer.
Take the last five games, for example - a run that has seen the Blues remain unbeaten - and a combined nine points from tough-looking games against Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs has to be seen as a good return.
Throw into the mix that Everton follow up Saturday's meeting with United by travelling to face Arsenal, and you certainly have some sympathy for boss Roberto Martinez who has instilled a strong belief into his dressing room.
All the Spaniard can do is set his side up to continue making themselves tough to beat, while picking up points which keep them in contention for a Champions League berth come the season's end.
That is ultimately the goal for the Toffees, particularly when considering the form of certain rivals, but if they are to achieve that target then certain improvements will have to be made.
Everton remain the only side yet to have scored from a set piece, which is largely down to the unfortunate absence of specialist Leighton Baines at full-back.
The England international is still a couple of weeks away from making a comeback, although Martinez will be boosted by the return of John Stones and a fit-and-firing Ross Barkley in midfield to provide the attacking ammunition.
Recent form in Premier League: LDWDWD
Recent form (all competitions): DWDWWD
Manchester United
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Eight league games into Louis van Gaal's second season as United boss, the club find themselves sitting in third place and just two points off current leaders Man City.
That, when considering the Red Devils' struggles for large parts of the Dutchman's maiden campaign at Old Trafford, is not bad going.
However, the 3-0 defeat against title rivals Arsenal in the final match prior to the international break provided plenty of cause for concern, as a questionable team selection saw United concede three times inside the opening 20 minutes.
It could have been far more embarrassing than the full-time scoreline suggests, but Van Gaal escaped with the team's morale just about still intact due to an otherwise decent run of results.
Following defeat at Swansea City prior to the last two-week hiatus, Van Gaal's men managed to get the better of Liverpool, Southampton and Sunderland, as well as brushing aside Ipswich Town and Wolfsburg in the League Cup and Champions League respectively.
In the process of doing so, United racked up 14 goals as they finally found their attacking groove thanks in large part to the instant impact of record teenage signing Anthony Martial from AS Monaco.
Many questioned his lofty price tag, which could potentially rise to around £58m, but the Frenchman's goals against Southampton and Liverpool in particular have already proved to be important.
No player has had more touches of the ball inside the opposition box than Martial, which is a good thing when considering that fellow forward Wayne Rooney has now gone 17 matches without scoring on his travels in the top flight.
Speaking of being poor on the road, United certainly need to improve in that regard after taking just six points from four games so far - fewer than West Brom, Crystal Palace, West Ham United and Leicester City have themselves accumulated.
Recent form in Premier League: DLWWWL
Recent form (all competitions): LWWWWL
Team News
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Bastian Schweinsteiger picked up a thigh injury while on international duty with Germany, so Morgan Schneiderlin will therefore be hopeful of a midfield recall.
Rooney had to sit out England's recent qualifiers due to a knock, but he took part in training on Thursday morning and is expected to be fit to face his former club.
Everton boss Martinez has no fresh injury concerns to contend with, meanwhile, with Stones returning to the heart of the back four to bolster the Toffees' defensive ranks.
Baines is in line to make his first start of the season against Sunderland at the beginning of next month, while Tom Cleverley is about a week further behind in his recovery.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Howard; Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Galloway; McCarthy, Barry; Deulofeu, Barkley, Naismith; Lukaku
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Young, Smalling, Blind, Darmian; Schneiderlin, Carrick; Mata, Rooney, Young; Martial
Head To Head
Everton have won their last three home league meetings with United, keeping a clean sheet in each of those games.
Prior to this recent impressive run, the Blues had tasted victory in just one of their previous 20 on Merseyside against the Red Devils.
The last team to win four in a row against United was also Everton between 1984-87, while the last team to do it without conceding was West Brom a decade prior.
We say: Everton 1-1 Manchester United
Van Gaal is still two away wins short of the figure achieved by much-maligned ex-boss David Moyes during his ill-fated spell at United, which highlights their relative struggles away from Old Trafford. Against an Everton side with just one defeat to their name, a draw may be the best outcome this weekend.
Daniel Lewis
