Chris Sutton made a bold prediction ahead of Manchester United’s final trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday afternoon.
Former Manchester United manager David Moyes has quickly turned things around at Everton in the last month.
Within the space of six Premier League matches, Everton are sitting above United in the table, and could form a gap with a positive result this weekend.
It’s been a rocky start for Ruben Amorim at United, but he needs to get the team back on track.
United’s first team have lost 12 of their 25 Premier League games this season. It brings up memories for some Reds from the 1973-74 season when we were last relegated from the top flight. This is a disaster for a club that has won the Premier League 13 times.
Forward players like Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee need to stand up as United have failed to score in 10 different league games this season. Only Everton (12) have failed on more occasions.
Everton go into the game as one of the league’s most in-form sides.
Chris Sutton predicts Everton vs Manchester United
United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last time out, but Chris Sutton doesn’t think Amorim’s side performed as poorly as others made out.
The result leaves United 15th in the Premier League and under increasing pressure to qualify for Europe next season.
United fans will be hoping for a repeat of the comfortable 4-0 win over Everton in November, though we already know Moyes will have his side set up in a more organised manner than Sean Dyche.
Sutton believes Everton are favourites when they take on United this week, but has predicted a 1-1 draw as a result.
“Everton have moved above Manchester United in the table, and they go into this game as favourites – and rightly so,” Sutton told BBC Sport.
“The Toffees are without the injured Iliman Ndiaye, which is a big blow for them, but Beto’s improvement under David Moyes has been incredible and they definitely carry a goal threat now.
“I actually think this game will be quite tight, though. I didn’t think United’s performance in last weekend’s defeat at Tottenham was as bad as a lot of people made out. They had some very good early chances they should have taken and I have a feeling they will have some opportunities this time too.
“This smells of a 1-1 draw to me, which is what I am going with. One of my pals is an Everton fan and every time I haven’t backed them to win under Moyes and they got something, he loved it.
“He will probably be quite happy that I am not backing them here, either, but it’s important for United boss Ruben Amorim that they get something at Goodison Park, and the way his side end this campaign is massive for him too.
“United are not getting relegated whatever happens, but Amorim needs a decent result or two to build some credit for next season. If he overhauls his squad in the summer, he needs to hit the ground running – it will be seen as being more his team and he has to get a tune out of them.
“If that doesn’t happen, then there is going to be a pile on from people saying there has been no progress since he took over from Erik ten Hag.”
Manchester United absentee list
Amorim could be without no fewer than 11 players for Saturday’s trip to Goodison Park.
This makes his selection process incredibly difficult, but Moyes has injuries of his own in the Everton squad.
The Toffees could be without up to 8 players on Saturday, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Amad Diallo’s injury blow is by far the biggest felt on the team going into the game. His spark in attack will be missing, but it’s up to the other players to take responsibility.
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