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Everton vs Manchester United

Match Preview

Everton's month of death, an October that has played out almost as badly as some had feared, comes to a close this weekend with the visit of a Manchester United side reeling from an unprecedented 6-1 Premier League home defeat at the hands of neighbours Manchester City. If anything is certain it's that a wounded Sir Alex Ferguson will be expecting an immediate response from his players, while David Moyes will hopefully be looking to exploit any weakness in morale or self-belief in the United defence.

If City showed anything in what was, even accounting for a man advantage, a stunning performance at Old Trafford, it's that United can be vulnerable when you really have a go at them. Everton also proved that two seasons ago when they ripped Sir Alex's side apart at Goodison Park and ran out 3-1 winners in what was only the Blues' third win over United since 1992.

Unfortunately, were he inclined to take a more cavalier approach to exploit any knocks to United's self-belief, Moyes will have to do without one player who could have helped lead that charge. Royston Drenthe's second yellow card against Chelsea on Wednesday night arguably tipped the Carling Cup fourth round tie in the Londoners' favour and it will also deprive Everton of the power, pace and shooting threat that caused Fulham so many problems last Sunday.

He also looks be without his captain and Talisman due to injury. Phil Neville was withdrawn at half time in midweek with a hamstring strain and Tim Cahill played through the pain barrier but at reduced capacity. Indeed, the Austalian has not been running at 100% fitness for months now but his manager has relied on him so heavily in the past that it wouldn't be a complete surprise to see him patched up and thrown on to start in this noon kick-off, though that does appear unlikely at this point.

Tim Howard is almost certain to return after sitting out of the cup defeat and Phil Jagielka is also in line to resume defensive duties as John Heitinga betrayed a little rust as a central defender on Wednesday evening.

Seamus Coleman will likely replace Drenthe on the right flank but whether Diniyar Bilyaletdinov gets to keep his place after his impressive display against Chelsea remains to be seen. He scored one of the Blues' goals in that 3-1 triumph over United two seasons ago and was at the centre of many of his side's best moments on Wednesday but Moyes is persistently loyal to certain players and Leon Osman is another candidate to reclaim his place.

With disappointingly defensive performances against City and at Chelsea in the League two weeks ago, how Moyes approaches this game, particularly in view of United's humiliating reverse last Sunday, will be key. It's likely that he will send his team out to have a go from the first whistle but much will depend on whether he deploys the personnel to maintain a strong start and make it successful.

Obviously, remaining tight at the back will be central to Everton's chances of success, the rest will come down to the players' belief on the day and just how shaken United's rearguard is after conceding six goals on home turf.

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