Lampard fears for his job

Manchester United are the team of the moment in England after the World Cup break. As well as progressing in the League Cup, the Red Devils also won all three of their Premier League games to jump into a Champions League spot ahead of the city derby on the second weekend in January. The run of success is now set to continue in the FA Cup.

There, coach Erik ten Hag’s side will face a stumbling opponent who even lacked any fitness in their last league match. In view of recent impressions, Christmas and Easter would have to fall on the same day for a bet on the Liverpool underdogs between Manchester United and Everton to come true.

The critical situation of the Toffees is also shown by the fact that the coach Frank Lampard is rumoured to be under discussion and could be dismissed in case of further failures.

It is doubtful whether the visitors will be able to pull off a surprise coup in the Theatre of Dreams under these adverse circumstances. In our eyes, the prediction must be aligned in favour of the hosts ahead of the third-round clash Manchester United v Everton.

Manchester United – Statistics & current form

Rest is a rare and at the same time extremely valuable commodity in the operational business of many top clubs. After Manchester United repeatedly had to contend with (mostly) negative headlines in recent years, the global club is now moving in calmer waters. Certainly, the gradual return of confidence in the people in charge is closely linked to the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, who seems to have done the team good.

At least the positive sporting development of the last few days and weeks suggests this. All four competitive matches after the World Cup break were won. The Red Devils also went four matches without conceding a goal.

In addition to reaching the quarter-finals of the League Cup, where Charlton Athletic will be a feasible opponent from the second division next week, the three league victories helped the former champions to jump to fourth place in the table. They are five points clear of fifth place. A Champions League return in 2023/24 is definitely within the realms of possibility.

United coach ten Hag is picking up a lot of players at the moment

If United can build on their performances of the last few games, there is every reason to check the odds between Manchester United and Everton for a home win after regular time. Incidentally, this would be their sixth successive win in a competitive match. In the previous five victories, the under 4.5 would have always paid off, so on Friday evening we again expect the English record champions to do a good job at the back and score the typical two or three goals up front.

The fact that they have not been eliminated in the third round of the FA Cup since 2013/2014 and have always reached at least the quarter-finals in four of the past seven years also speaks in favour of the favourites. In 2016, they even won England’s oldest cup competition, and in 2018 they reached the final again.

In terms of personnel, the Dutch coach will probably start the rotation machine. But because everyone feels important at the moment and ten Hag has already used many players in the league, this should not be a big disadvantage. Nevertheless, it may take some time before a revitalised United side can break down the Merseyside bulwark and take the lead. Consequently, we are not averse to making an additional prediction before the Manchester United vs Everton match that the home side will win the second half. Admiralbet is offering 1.75 for this.

Predicted line-up of Manchester United:
Dubravka – Malacia, Lindelöf, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka – McTominay, Fred – Garnacho, Eriksen, Antony – Martial

Last matches played by Manchester United:

Premier League
04/01/2023 – Manchester United 3 – 0 Bournemouth

31/12/2022 – Wolverhampton 0 – 1 Manchester United

28/12/2022 – Manchester United 3 – 0 Nottingham Forest

Carabao Cup
22/12/2022 – Manchester United 2 – 0 Burnley

Club friendlies
10/12/2022 – Real Betis 1 – 0 Manchester United

Everton – Statistics & current form

Everton Football Club fans can only dream of the temporary feelings of happiness of United supporters at the moment. Their emotional world looks completely different and this despite the fact that their team was able to pick up a remarkable point at Manchester City the previous week. The 1-1 draw at the very dominant Citizens, which was only initiated by a Sunday shot from Demarai Gray, should not hide the fact that things are not going well at all for the Toffees at the moment.

The Blues have managed just five points in the last ten Premier League games. After a solid start to the season, Everton now find themselves back in the bottom of the table and, with only one point separating them from the first relegation place, are once again in fear of staying in the league.

Toffees attack is hard to beat for harmlessness

The sad low point of the disappointing first half of the season was the 4-1 home defeat against Brighton during the week, in which the Toffees disappointed all along the line and were unable to get a foot on the ground for long periods. At the latest after this painful defeat, Frank Lampard’s days as coach seem numbered.

No wonder, because with an average of less than one point per game, the ex-national player is the worst Everton coach in the club’s recent history. With Everton owner Farhad Moshiri also sacking five managers in the last seven years, Lampard faces the same fate. Especially if the famous buck doesn’t unexpectedly turn at Old Trafford on Friday night either.

Strictly speaking, it is also conceivable that the Blues from Liverpool once again fall short of their own expectations offensively. In the league, only three teams have scored fewer goals than Everton. At the same time, only two other clubs in the bottom half of the table have conceded more goals. We therefore do not believe in a goal spectacle and locate the most appealing value in the Manchester United vs. Everton betting odds on the home win combined with a maximum of four goals in the course of the match.

Predicted Everton line-up:
Pickford – Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Mina, Coleman – Gueye, Onana, Iwobi – Gray, Calvert-Lewin, Maupay

Last matches played by Everton:

Premier League
04/01/2023 – Everton 1 – 4 Brighton

31/12/2022 – Manchester City 1 – 1 Everton

26/12/2022 – Everton 1 – 2 Wolverhampton

Club Friendlies
23/11/2022 – Everton 5 – 1 Western Sydney Wanderers FC

20/11/2022 – Everton (4)0 – 0(2) Celtic Glasgow

Manchester United – Everton Direct Comparison / H2H Record

The two teams have already faced each other in the Premier League this season. Everton enjoyed home advantage in the tenth matchday at the beginning of October, even taking a 1-0 lead through Iwobi, only to be beaten 2-1 in the end. United’s goals came from Antony and Cristiano Ronaldo, who has since moved to Saudi Arabia. The last three PL duels at Old Trafford have all ended in a draw.

Manchester United – Everton Tip

How much longer will Frank Lampard be in charge of Everton Football Club? This question hangs over Friday night’s FA Cup third round clash. After the recent 1:4 defeat against Brighton, the signs point to dismissal. Hardly anyone still trusts the ex-national player in the service of the Toffees to turn things around. Especially because of the disappointing performances that the 15th-placed team puts up week after week in the game with the ball.

It would therefore be a big surprise if Manchester United lose out to Everton and are knocked out of the cup competition. The Red Devils look very stable at the moment, having won five matches in a row and not conceding a goal in any of their four matches after the World Cup break. The momentum is therefore clearly on the side of the host nation.

These contrasting form curves, combined with the home and quality advantage, are all arguments that lead us to bet on a home win between Manchester United and Everton, including a maximum of four goals after normal time.