Mark Lawrenson is backing Manchester United to beat Everton 2-0 this evening.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and Everton manager Ronald Koeman (R)
Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Manchester United will beat Everton 2-0 at Old Trafford this evening.
The Red Devils were left frustrated on Saturday afternoon as they failed to break down a resilient West Bromwich Albion side, with Jose Mourinho’s men only able to muster a 0-0 draw against the Baggies.
With United’s top four hopes fading slightly, they need a strong result against Everton this evening, and they could be handed a triple boost for the visit of Ronald Koeman’s men.
Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are all set to return to the United side tonight, giving Mourinho three of his most trusted players in a must-win game.
As for Everton, they will be looking for a big response having struggled against Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Saturday afternoon, with a leaky defence faltering in a 3-1 defeat at Anfield.
Before that disappointing defeat, Everton had lost just once in nine Premier League games, winning six having strung together a superb run of results under Koeman.
The corresponding fixture between the two sides earlier this season finished in a 1-1 draw as Leighton Baines’ last-gasp penalty rescued a point for Everton following Ibrahimovic’s opener – but Mark Lawrenson thinks United will win this meeting.
Mark Lawrenson
Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks United will win the game 2-0, as the return of Ibrahimovic, Pogba and Herrera, combined with Everton’s defensive frailty against Liverpool, will give the Red Devils all three points.
“Manchester United did not have enough about them to break West Brom down at the weekend but I think they will beat Everton,” said Lawrenson. “Zlatan Ibrahimovic is back from suspension and Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera could be fit, so the big boys may be back for United. If they are, they will make a difference.”
“As for Everton, well they were really poor defensively in the Merseyside derby on Saturday – it is a long time since I’ve seen Liverpool’s front three given so much space to play. I am not really sure what Ronald Koeman’s game plan was at Anfield – they never got close to a defensive shut-out, and they did not pose much of an attacking threat either. That is why Everton were cut open so easily and, if they play like that again on Tuesday, it will happen at Old Trafford too,” he added.
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