It's been a chaotic couple of weeks for Everton after they were handed a 10-point deduction for a breach of the Premier League's financial rules and were subsequently dropped into the relegation spots.
The message has been clear ever since from the board level at the club, as director of football, Kevin Thelwell, has claimed that the punishment will simply provide "additional fuel" for Sean Dyche's team. That could be seen here against old foes Manchester United.
Before their points deduction, the Toffees were faring well in the competition, sitting in 14th spot and a distance from the bottom three. That was aided by a return of just one loss in five league outings, which had seen them turn around some undesired early-season form. Even that defeat owed much to Ashley Young's early red card at Anfield.
BET ON EVERTON VS MAN UNITED AT DRAFTKINGS HERE (US)
That could leave visiting Manchester United vulnerable to the occasion here, especially as the Red Devils continue to face their own problems both on and off the field. Back-to-back 1-0 wins over Luton Town and Fulham have helped their Premier League top-four push, but a demoralising 4-3 loss to FC Copenhagen in the Champions League in between highlights that the team are still struggling for any sort of dominant form.
In this latest visit to Goodison Park, Erik ten Hag's side will be looking to claim successive wins at this ground for the first time since 2007 after winning here 2-1 last campaign. The Sporting News previews the game below.
MORE: English Premier League table 2023/24: Updated EPL standings
Everton vs Man United match facts
- Date: Sunday, November 26, 2023
- Kickoff time: 4:30 p.m. local (11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT)
- Location: Goodison Park (Liverpool, England)
- Last meeting: Manchester United 2-0 Everton (Apr, 8, 2023 | Premier League)
Everton vs Man United prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Draw (+245)
- Score prediction: Everton 1-1 Manchester United
| EVE win |
Draw | MNU win |
Both teams to score Y / N |
Over / Under 2.5 goals |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings (USA) |
+175 | +245 | +150 | -170 / +130 | -130 / +100 |
*Odds correct as on November 24.
Everton vs Man United best bet
- Pick: Under 2.5 goals
- Odds: +100 (DraftKings)
Given that they'll feel extremely hard done by with their 10-point deduction, we're expecting Everton to fly out of the traps in this clash whilst backed by a buoyant Goodison Park crowd who will be making themselves heard to the watching league organisers.
That should at the minimum see them find the back of the net, especially as this campaign they've produced plenty of opportunities, as shown by their accumulative xG (expected goals) value of 17.9 — the 10th highest in the competition. The hosts have also scored eight times across their past five outings, whilst at home, they've scored in five in their previous four games.
That said, when playing stronger opposition, they've very rarely struck more than once in a match, which gives this selection of under 2.5 goals at +100 with DraftKings plenty of chance.
As for United, they're likely to score again here due to the nature of Everton's leaky defence — one that conceded twice in a 3-2 win at Crystal Palace last time out — but they too have struggled to produce too much away from home in the Premier League.
On their travels, three of their past four away days in the English top flight have seen them net exactly one strike, which could point towards another low-scoring affair here.
Everton vs Man United flier bet
- Pick: Jarrad Branthwaite to be booked
- Odds: +550 (DraftKings)
If you ask Everton fans which player they've been most impressed with so far this season, a good majority will say young centre-back Jarrad Braithwaite.
The 21-year-old has featured 10 times in the Premier League in 2023/24, mostly looking assured in the Toffees' backline and more than holding his own in selection terms against some of the club's most experienced players.
That said, the England youth international also frequently picks up yellow cards and at +550 with DraftKings to get another here, we feel that's value that's too good to turn down.
In the top flight, Branthwaite has accumulated four bookings to date and with him likely to face a frontline consisting of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes and possibly Rasmus Hojlund if he recovers from injury, there will be plenty of opportunities for him to find himself in the referee's notebook again.
Create a parlay of both selections for +1100 here at DraftKings