Manchester United vs Everton LIVE Pogba replaces Fred in Man Utd starting line-up

Follow the latest updates from Old Trafford as Man Utd take on Everton in the Premier League this evening.

Manchester United would love to continue where they left off against Southampton when they welcome Everton to Old Trafford this evening.

United are fresh from their 9-0 drubbing of Saints at home in midweek, and will be looking to inflict a similar kind of misery on the Toffees, who they beat 3-1 earlier this season in a vital game for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s future.

The Norwegian is rather more safe in his job these days, with United looking to go level on points with league leaders Manchester City with a win tonight.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made just the one change from the team that lined up against Southampton in midweek, with Paul Pogba coming in for Fred.

United XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Pogba, McTominay; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Cavani

Subs: Henderson, Telles, Tuanzebe, Williams, Fred, Matic, Van de Beek, James, Martial

Follow all the build-up and latest updates from Old Trafford below.

KEY EVENTS

• TEAM NEWS
  19:00
• United squad vs Everton revealed

Inevitable Pogba return

Pogba was always bound to come back into the side after his midweek breather. There was no reason to make any other changes after such an extraordinary midweek win and the principled decision would have been to overlook Pogba, purely after what his brother said.

Cavani deserves to continue and so does Greenwood, whose form has improved with every week.

Full squads

United XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Pogba, McTominay; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Cavani.

Subs: Henderson, Telles, Tuanzebe, Williams, Fred, Matic, Van de Beek, James, Martial.

Everton XI: Olsen; Digne, Godfrey, Keane, Holgate; Davies, Gomes, Doucouré; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Rodríguez.

Subs: Virginia, Mina, Coleman, Delph, Nkounkou, Bernard, Sigurdsson, Iwobi, King.

TEAM NEWS

This is the United XI to play tonight:

United’s Bailly dilemma

The interesting takeaway from the United squad is who isn’t there. Namely, Eric Bailly. This will be the third of the last four games he has sat out and the defender has not played in any of the last four.

United’s dilemma is Bailly is into the last 18 months of his contract and they effectively have two options come the summer: sell or offer a new contract. Ideally, they would have to do neither.

United need to put pressure on rivals

United should have their feet up tomorrow watching Liverpool and Manchester City battle it out at Anfield, but the only way they can really relax ahead of that game is if they’ve done their job tonight and taken three points. Whatever happens tomorrow — and United must surely prefer a Liverpool win — the result will be beneficial one way or another if maximum points have been achieved tonight.

It’s the kind of weekend where the chasers can really make up ground in a title race and United must fulfill their end of the bargain.

Match odds

It’s no surprise to see United are big favourites to win this evening, according to the boomakers.

These are the match odds, as per Paddy Power:

• United win 4/7
• Draw 3/1
• Everton win 9/2

A poignant occasion

There will be a poignant feel at Old Trafford as kick-off time approaches, with today marking the 63rd anniversary of the Munich air disaster. It will be poignant despite, or maybe even because of, the empty stands, it certainly won’t feel normal, with this occasion so often about the act of collective remembrance for United fans, who honour the eight Busby Babes and the three club officials killed in the crash in 1958.

Both captains will lay a wreath pre-match and there will be a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off, while the ‘We’ll Never Die’ which usually passes above the heads of fans in the Stretford End will instead be draped over seats. Solskjaer knows his United history and as ever he struck the right tone yesterday, urging his side to put on a performance befitting the memory of those who lost their lives 63 years ago.

‘No room for racism’

The Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is supporting North West football clubs in the fight against racism, after recent abuse of players on social media

Solskjaer wary of Everton

United may have beaten Everton twice already this season, both at Goodison Park by two-goal margins, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not taking the Toffees lightly.

This is what he told the club’s in-house media about Carlo Ancelotti’s side:

“Very good side. They’ve won the last four away games so they’ve been doing really well away from home and we need to turn up. We’ve done brilliantly against them in the two away games we’ve had this season – 3-1 and 2-0.

“I think we showed resilience and quality on the counterattack and patience and creativity when we had the ball, so we’ve had some good performances. But this is a new game and we really need to up our game again to get three points.”

Emergency services called to United team hotel

Two fire engines dashed to Manchester United’s team hotel hours before the team’s scheduled Premier League game against Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his United players arrived at The Lowry Hotel in Salford at lunchtime, just moments before emergency services arrived on the scene.

The MEN understands a chef at the hotel had accidentally set off a fire alarm, triggering the response from the fire service. Firefighters are believed to have spent around 10 minutes on the scene before departing.

Martial still looking for confidence

Despite Anthony Martial’s goal-scoring cameo against Southampton it’s a boost for Solskjaer that Cavani is fit, as United look a better side with the 33-year-old leading the line at the moment. Cavani gives United a focal point in attack and a bit more of a physical presence in the box, something they can lack with Martial, and his experience could be vital in the final few months of the season.

It’s not out of the question that Martial comes in on the wing if he’s fit, but Cavani surely starts at centre forward, having played only 45 minutes on Tuesday night.

Remembering Munich

Today is the 63rd anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster, so United will pay tribute at Old Trafford before today’s game against Everton.

The United club website has all the details about the memorial.

Lindelof looks set to start

There was no Bailly in the United squad arriving at the team hotel earlier today so that is likely to remain a third successive start for Lindelof at centre back. United have been carefully managing his persistent back complaint recently and having started against Arsenal and Southampton it was the first time he’s played back-to-back matches in more than a month.

Unless Solskjaer places his faith in Tuanzebe it will be three in a row today but his fitness will be one to keep an eye on.

United squad vs Everton revealed

Edinson Cavani was there, despite injury fears, so he could well play a part this evening.

Full squad list: De Gea, Henderson, Grant; Wan-Bissaka, Williams, Tuanzebe, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Telles; Matic, Fred, McTominay, Van de Beek, Pogba, Fernandes; James, Greenwood, Cavani, Rashford, Martial

Michael Owen’s prediction

Former United striker Michael Owen has issued his score prediction for tonight’s game plumping for a 2-1 victory for the home side. 

This is what he told BetVictor:

“United’s home form has been a bit of a concern this season, so winning so emphatically will build the confidence that they need if they are to go on a winning run there.

“Everton’s fine season continued with an away win at Leeds midweek. The Toffees are well in the race for Europe and with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, it would be no surprise to me if they got there.

“Everton have won their last four on the road, however, this will be their hardest test since that run began. United seem full of confidence just now.

“They are undefeated in 13 of their last 14 matches against Everton in all competitions and I think they’ll just edge this one in what should be an entertaining match.”

Predicted line up

After such a great United performance vs Southampton it wouldn’t be a surprise if Solskjaer named an unchanged starting XI for the visit of Everton today, but a couple of changes would help keep his squad fresh with the return of European football on the horizon.

There likely won’t be any changes to the defence, however, with the United boss seemingly settled on his first-choice back four. Luke Shaw was taken off at half-time against his former club after a brilliant 45 minutes, so he will be well rested to keep his spot at left-back ahead of Alex Telles.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who also enjoyed a great game, will almost certainly remain at right-back with Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire partnering in the heart of defence, with Eric Bailly a doubt.

Midfield could see a change, however, with Paul Pogba coming back into the side after enjoying a night off in mid-week. While it would be harsh for either Fred or Scott McTominay to be dropped, the Brazilian’s slightly more defensive mindset may get him the nod.

Welcome

Hello and welcome to another of our live match blogs.

Another big game today, as United face Everton.