Jordan Pickford is confident Everton will be able to ‘run all over’ Manchester United during Saturday’s Premier League clash with Erik ten Hag’s side at Old Trafford.
After successive league defeats to Fulham and Man City, and with the rumblings over Erik ten Hag’s future growing over the last few days, an Everton side winless in their last 10 top-flight games may be seen as ideal opposition.
Even after clawing back a few of the points deduction earlier in hte campaign on appeal, Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat by West Ham left The Toffees 15th. Should results go against them this weekend, Sean Dyche’s side could find themselves just two points above the drop zone.
But, as Pickford points out, Everton do have the weapons in their armoury to fire a few more rounds into a bullet-riddled Manchester United.
Manchester United host Everton at Old Trafford
Boasting the running power and the physicality of Amadou Onana, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Dwight McNeil and United graduate James Garner, a Red Devils side who have struggled to cope with aggressive, athletic teams this season could find themselves chasing shadows in transition once again.
“For me, I think the intensity and the work-rate the lads give out, the running stats, I think we will be able to get after them. We will be able to run all over them,” Pickford tells talkSPORT (6 May, 12pm).
“They have got a few injuries as well. But you never know which Manchester United turn up on the day.
“It is about us focusing on ourselves, and the manager and the staff setting out the game plan. We try and execute that and get the results.”
Two league defeats in a row for Erik ten Hag
Fulham were the latest side to cut through Erik ten Hag’s paper-thin engine room with consummate ease a fortnight ago, triumphing 2-1 at Old Trafford thanks to Alex Iwobi’s stoppage-time winner.
It would be no real surprise – particularly if the ageing Casemiro, Christian Eriksen or the one-paced Sofyan Amrabat are included – to see Onana, Garner and co galloping into those wide open spaces again away to a Man United side who, even during a run of seven wins in nine games at the start of 2024, were often indebted to the last-man heroics of Andre Onana between the sticks.
There is some hope, at least, that top scorer Rasmus Hojlund will be fit to feature against The Toffees (The Standard). Hojlund was sorely missed during those defeats to Fulham and Man City.
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