Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Everton from Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are currently languishing down in 10th spot in the Premier League table, and sit one point and two positions behind Everton ahead of what should be a very interesting match.
United have won five of the last seven meetings between the two teams in all competitions, including a 4-0 success in the corresponding match last season.
Everton's last victory over the Red Devils was at Goodison Park in April 2015, although they also have a recent Old Trafford win to their name, having triumphed 1-0 at the Theatre of Dreams back in 2013.
Stay tuned for our live minute-by-minute coverage of the action.
3.01pmAfternoon all! Sports Mole's live Premier League coverage continues from Old Trafford as Manchester United welcome Everton. United are currently languishing down in 10th spot in the Premier League table, and sit one point and two positions behind Everton ahead of what should be a very interesting match at the Theatre of Dreams. Stay tuned for minute-by-minute updates!
3.04pmUnited have won five of the last seven meetings between the two teams in all competitions, including a 4-0 success in the corresponding match last season. Everton's last victory over the Red Devils was at Goodison Park in April 2015, although they also have a recent Old Trafford win to their name, having triumphed 1-0 at the Theatre of Dreams back in 2013. The Toffees also held United to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in April 2017, and won four of the six Premier League matches between the two teams during August 2012 and April 2015. What will occur in Manchester this afternoon?
3.07pmRight, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Old Trafford. Both managers had big decisions to make ahead of the match, let's have a look...
3.10pmTEAMS!
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-3): De Gea; Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw; Fred, Matic, Pogba; Mata, Rashford, Martial
EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Coleman, Zouma, Keane, Digne; Gueye, Gomes; Bernard, Sigurdsson, Walcott; Richarlison
3.13pm
Checking in at Old Trafford for today's game. #MUFC #MUNEVE pic.twitter.com/bt60ocnWbA
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 28, 2018
3.16pmNow then. The big team news for United is that Romelu Lukaku starts on the bench against his former club. Lukaku is without a goal in his last eight matches at club level, and drops out here, allowing Marcus Rashford to start through the middle. Fred for Lukaku is actually the only change from the team that started against Juventus during the week, which means that Juan Mata moves further forward. Fit-again duo Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard join Lukaku on what is a very strong bench for the hosts this afternoon.
3.19pmAs for Everton, the Toffees are unchanged from the team that started the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace last weekend. As a result, Richarlison will again start through the middle, with Cenk Tosun and Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the bench despite both scoring against the Eagles. Yerry Mina is fit following a move from Barcelona, but the Colombia international again starts on the bench.
3.22pmSo there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff at Old Trafford. I shall speak about the away side a little bit later, but let's start with United. Four wins, two draws and three defeats - that is United's record after nine matches of the 2018-19 campaign, with a total of 14 points leaving them down in 10th, some 12 points off the leaders Liverpool.
3.25pm
#MUFC v Everton, 05/10/2014: Peak #DaveSaves! ❤️ @D_DeGea pic.twitter.com/cxaKnTIgSu
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 27, 2018
3.28pmManchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are all going well in the top flight this season, and forgetting a title challenge for the moment, United have a real task on their hands to make the top four this term. The gap is currently eight points, with Arsenal's clash with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park finishing 2-2, which has left the Gunners in fourth position on 22 points.
3.32pmThere is no question that United showed positive signs in their clash with Chelsea last weekend, and would have collected all three points from their trip to Stamford Bridge had Ross Barkley not popped up with a late equaliser. The 3-2 victory over Newcastle United on October 6 is United's only win in their last seven matches in all competitions, however, and Jose Mourinho's side will enter the clash with Everton off the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
3.35pmUnited were strong at home last season, but have won just two of their seven games at Old Trafford in all competitions this term, and have worryingly conceded 16 Premier League goals, which is the fifth-worst record in the division at this stage of the 2018-19 campaign. The players do seem to still be with Mourinho, however, and back-to-back wins over Everton and Bournemouth in their next two matches would lead them nicely into the hugely important games with Juventus and City towards next month.
3.38pm
A special day for the Wild Boars Football Team. ✨ #MUFC pic.twitter.com/n8E05VYEnb
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 27, 2018
3.42pmEverton were not without their problems in the early weeks of the 2018-19 campaign, but three straight Premier League wins have left the Toffees in eighth position, and feeling pretty good about themselves. It would be fair to say that there was pressure on new head coach Marco Silva following the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on September 23. That result made it four games without a win for the Merseyside outfit, and followed the 3-1 home reverse to West Ham United one week before.
3.45pmThe Toffees returned to winning ways with a 3-0 success over Fulham on September 29, however, and have since beaten Leicester City and Crystal Palace in their last two to move into eighth position. There was always going to be pressure on Everton this season when considering their summer activity, and the club are entering a very interesting run of matches. Indeed, by the start of December, it should become clear just what the Everton supporters can expect from their team this season.
3.48pmEverton will host Brighton & Hove Albion next weekend, before travelling to Chelsea and Liverpool either side of a home game against Cardiff City. The Toffees will feel that they can challenge for a top-six spot this season, and a win over United here would send out a strong message.
3.52pm
💪 | Ready to work! Come on, lads! 🔵 #EFCawayday pic.twitter.com/hKb8fhhBGw
— Everton (@Everton) October 28, 2018
3.55pmEverton are winless in their last 18 matches against the established top six, suffering 13 defeats in the process. Meanwhile, the Toffees have lost 19 of their last 26 Premier League matches at Old Trafford. Can Silva's side collect all three points this afternoon? Stay tuned to find out!
3.58pmHere we go then; both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of kickoff at Old Trafford. It is a freezing late afternoon in Manchester. Winter is here. Let's hope for an entertaining game!
0 minKICKOFF: United kick things off at Old Trafford...
2 min... you do get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital this afternoon. United will be looking to make a fast start, which they have not been great at this season.
4 minNot too much to report in the opening four minutes here, with both teams conceding possession. Pogba has just struck one from the edge of the box, but it went out for a throw-in. It must be said that there is an excellent atmosphere inside the stadium, with both sets of supporters in fine voice.
6 minRicharlison falls to the ground inside the United box under a challenge from Shaw, but the referee is not interested. A dangerous cross from Bernard had caused the home side problems there.
8 minJust a few signs that United are starting to dominate as they keep the ball in Everton's half of the field. Pogba tries a little flick into Rashford, but Gomes is on hand to make the clearance.
8 minYoung just about does enough to put off Bernard at the far post, with Sigurdsson delivering a dangerous cross into the United box. Good play from the away side there.
11 minFairly open game at the moment as both teams look to work the ball in the final third of the field. I would be surprised if there were not goals when considering the talent on display here. Rashford has just attempted to run away from Keane, but the centre-back did well to make the clearance.
13 minSmalling does well to come across and make the clearance with Richarlison looking to feed a pass into Walcott. United's back four has been pulled a part on a number of occasions here.
15 minCHANCE! Gomes has a free header from a corner, but his effort is straight at De Gea.
17 minThe atmosphere has just dropped in the last minute or two, with Everton enjoying the ball.
19 minToo slow from United at the moment. Everton are comfortable as things stand.
19 minCHANCE! Huge chance for United as Martial picks out Mata with a cross, but the Spaniard's effort is straight at Pickford. Really should have picked out a corner there!
20 minYELLOW CARD! Smalling (United) is booked for a late tackle on Richarlison.
22 minYELLOW CARD! Gueye (Everton) is booked for bringing Fred to the deck.
23 minSAVE! Pickford has to make a smart save to keep out a powerful Martial strike!
25 minStill goalless with 25 minutes on the clock at Old Trafford. Both teams have had opportunities, but it has not exactly been a match full of chances thus far. United just about on top at the moment.
26 minPENALTY! MAN UNITED PEN!
26 minUnited have a penalty as Gueye brings Martial to the ground with a loose tackle!
27 minGOAL! MAN UNITED 1-0 EVERTON (POGBA)
28 minUnited score, but they are very fortunate. Pogba takes an age to finally hit it, and Pickford saves it. The ball falls for Pogba, however, and the midfielder can just poke the ball into the other corner.
29 minThat was very strange. And a number of United fans were not pleased with the Pogba penalty. They are pleased, however, that the midfielder managed to score the rebound for 1-0.
30 minDISALLOWED GOAL! Rashford fires home at the far post after Pickford had saved from Martial, but the offside flag is raised. Martial has been excellent for United in the first 30 minutes here.
33 minNot too much in the way of a response from Everton, who are struggling in the wide positions. Martial has been wonderful, with the Frenchman causing Coleman nightmares down the left.
35 minDigne has to turn a low Pogba cross wide at the far post as United threaten once again, with Rashford and Martial involved. The resulting corner is then headed clear by the rising Zouma.
35 minSHOT! Fred's shot, after a fine United move, whistles wide of the Everton post.
37 minSilva has just given Young a telling-off, with the United defender flying into a challenge with Digne. It is a very, very open game of football at the moment. Surely more goals will arrive.
38 minCHANCE! De Gea has to keep out a header from Sigurdsson following an impressive Everton move. The ball went wide to Coleman, but De Gea kept out the effort from Sigurdsson.
40 minIt must be said that the first half of this match has absolutely past.
42 minUnited are keeping the ball well in Everton's half of the field, and the Toffees are struggling to cope with the movement. Little under five minutes of the first period to play at Old Trafford.
44 minNot too much to report in the last few minutes, with Everton taking the sting out of the match. That said, the Toffees are not offering too much down the other end of the field. Still 1-0 here.
44 minSAVE! Comfortable save for De Gea to keep out a weak Walcott attempt.
45+1 minWe are into the first of two additional minutes at the end of the first period.
45+1 minSAVE! De Gea pushes a strike from Walcott behind the United goal.
45+3 minHALF TIME: MAN UNITED 1-0 EVERTON
4.48pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with United leading Everton 1-0 courtesy of a finish from Pogba. The midfielder saw his initial penalty saved by Pickford, but the rebound fell for the Frenchman, and he stroked the ball into the opposite corner for 1-0 here.
4.53pmSTATISTICS! United had 58% of the ball in the first period, while they had nine attempts, five of which were on target. Everton, meanwhile, hit the target with four of their six attempts. Three yellow cards to report here - Smalling and Matic for United, and Gueye for the visitors.
4.58pmBENCH WATCH! Everton boss Silva has a number of attacking options on his bench this afternoon, with the likes of Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Lookman and Tosun all capable of making a difference in the second period. United, meanwhile, have Lingard, Sanchez and Lukaku on a strong bench.
46 minKICKOFF: Everton resume the action here...
47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops here.
47 minSAVE! Smart save from De Gea to keep out a low Richarlison effort.
48 minYou do get the feeling that the next goal in this match - if there indeed is one - would be massive. A second for United would make it very, very difficult for Everton to pick up a good result.
49 minGOAL! MAN UNITED 2-0 EVERTON (MARTIAL)
50 minOh my word! Sensational! Pogba plays a clever little pass into Martial, and the Frenchman curls a stunning effort into the far corner of the net. That is simply excellent from the attacker!
51 minCHANCE! Huge chance for Everton to answer back as Bernard breaks into the United box before rounding De Gea, but the Brazilian hits the side-netting. What a waste from Bernard!
53 minUnited look a lot more fluid in the final third without Lukaku, which will be a worry for the Belgium international when it comes to regaining his spot. We should see him at some point here though.
54 minSAVE! Pickford makes a smart save to keep out a strike from Rashford!
56 minBit of possession for Everton in the last couple of minutes, but a cross from Digne is too strong for his teammates, and United can clear their lines. Still 2-0 to the hosts at Old Trafford.
58 minGood defending from Lindelof once again, and the centre-back has built on his impressive performance against Juventus with another one here. That is a big positive for United.
58 minSAVE! Super save from Pickford to keep out a low strike from Pogba!
60 minWe are entering the stage of the match where Everton boss Silva will surely be considering alterations. Tosun and Calvert-Lewin are the obvious options for the away side here.
62 minEVERTON SUB! Lookman replaces Bernard for the away side.
64 minPogba is not too pleased as Gomes treads on the back of Pogba's foot. There is a little exchange, but nothing else in it. Still 2-0 United with little over 25 minutes of football to play here.
65 minSigurdsson delivers a free kick into the United box, but the referee sees a push.
65 minUNITED SUB! Lukaku replaces Rashford for the home side here.
67 minLukaku does well to flick a cross into the Everton box, but Pogba had not read it. Mourinho would absolutely love Lukaku to come off the bench and find the back of the net in this match.
67 minSAVE! De Gea rises to collect a weak header from Gomes.
69 minGood football from United once again as Mata and Pogba exchange before the ball goes wide to Young, but his cross is blocked by Digne. A third for the home side would kill Everton off here.
71 minMartial drives clear for United before finding a clever pass into Fred, but the midfielder's effort hits Matic. Lukaku would have been the better option in a wide position there.
72 minCHANCE! Coleman is released by Richarlison inside the United box, but he fires over!
74 minEverton are the team on the front foot at the moment, with United sitting back and attempting to play on the break. We might well see Sanchez or Lingard in the final 10 minutes or so here.
76 minUnited force another corner as Young's cross is deflected behind by Zouma...
76 min... Richarlison heads clear as Everton prepare to make a double change.
76 minPENALTY! EVERTON PENALTY!
77 minEverton have a penalty as Smalling brings Richarlison to the ground!
77 minGOAL! MAN UNITED 2-1 EVERTON (SIGURDSSON, PEN)
78 minSigurdsson fires his penalty into the corner of the net for 2-1!
79 minEVERTON SUBS! Tosun and Calvert-Lewin replace Gueye and Walcott.
80 minSmalling looks to be injured, but might be okay to continue here.
82 minSmalling is indeed back on, and United are looking for a third. Pogba delivers a dangerous cross into the Everton box, but Lukaku's effort is wide of the post. Still 2-1 to the home side here.
83 minRicharlison fires over from a narrow angle as Everton throw players forward here.
85 minUNITED SUB! Herrera replaces Mata for the home side.
87 minColeman continues to cause problems in a wide position as Everton look for a second here. You do get the feeling that at least one more chance will arrive for the visitors late on.
87 minColeman continues to cause problems in a wide position as Everton look for a second here. You do get the feeling that at least one more chance will arrive for the visitors late on.
89 minUnited are preparing to make their final change as Lingard receives his instructions.
90+1 minWe are into the first of six additional minutes at the end of the match.
90+3 minDe Gea rises to collect a cross before releasing Fred as the clock ticks on here.
90+4 minUnited are just smashing the ball clear as Everton continue to force the issue here. Calvert-Lewin just had a header for the away side, but it was never threatening De Gea.
90+5 minSAVE! Wonderful chance for United as Martial breaks into the Everton box, but he is denied by Pickford. Really should have found the back of the net for 3-1 there!
90+5 minUNITED SUB! Lingard replaces Fred for the home side.
90+6 minEverton deliver another ball into the United box as the clock ticks on.
90+7 minPickford comes forward as Everton force a corner...
90+7 min... Lukaku pokes clear before Lookman fires over!
90+7 minFULL TIME: MAN UNITED 2-1 EVERTON
5.57pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with United recording a 2-1 win over Everton at Old Trafford. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!
