The season really hangs in the balance for Everton at this point. Ronald Koeman's club badly needed to get something out of a trip to Anfield over the weekend and couldn't, and now, another setback on the road at Manchester United will very likely end any hope the team has of a Top 5 finish and the trip into European competition next season that would go with it.
This EPL duel will go down Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at 3 p.m. ET at Old Trafford. The match will be televised live on NBC Sports Network.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Manchester United -200
Everton +550
Draw +320
Over/Under 2.5
Odds Analysis
In fairness to the Toffees, this was always going to be the easier of the two matches in the middle of this insane run in 72 hours. They never had a shot on the road in the Mercyside Derby against the Reds, losing 3-1, and now, they can still pull back even with Manchester United for the last Europa spot, albeit with the Red Devils still having two matches in hand when this is said and done with.
Manchester United though, is clearly the better of the two teams, and just as Liverpool was favored by a full goal over Everton, the same can be said of the hosts in this match as well. The Red Devils are -200 moneyline favorites, while the Toffees are longshots at +550 to take all three points.
Key Injuries
Everton really has a beaten up squad at the moment. Morgan Schneiderlein would love to get a shot to play against his old mates, but after sitting out against Liverpool, this just doesn't seem all that likely thanks to a calf problem. James McCarthy is still down with a bum hammy, and both Ramiro Funes Mori and Seamus Coleman were lost on international duty for the rest of the season with their respective countries. That doesn't even count the other two long-term absentees of this squad, Muhamed Besic and Yannick Bolasie, both of whom ironically were injured against Manchester United earlier in the season.
Man U has its own problems to deal with. Phil Jones, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba and Chris Smalling are all relatively new absentees, but they're all probably finished for at least the month, if not for the rest of the season. With UCL hopes fading, Jose Mourinho might be inclined to prefer some of his younger squad selections anyway.
Recent Form
You hate to say that a scoreless draw against West Brom at home represents big troubles for the Red Devils, but if we're being realistic, they're running out of time if they want to ultimately end up in the Champions League next year. Their best hope is running down third place Liverpool, who sits on 59 points, but to do that, Man U would have to win both of its games in hand and ultimately make up a goal differential of eight goals or another point somewhere in the last eight Reds fixtures of the season.
Everton was in good form before heading to Anfield. The team had scored at least twice in four straight fixtures, but aside from the cheeky goal for Matthew Pennington that erase Saido Mane's opening offering, there wasn't a heck of a lot to be happy about for the Blues.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Everton was a victim of running into a better team with superior individual talent on the pitch against Liverpool, but we still believe this is a club that could sneaky into the Europa League next year if enough goes right. The Blues didn't play as poor of a match as 3-1 would have indicated at Anfield, and this trip to United might be just what the doctor ordered to get back on track. We'll take the ball in this one, as Koeman could ultimately pull out a result from this duel.
EPL Odds: Manchester United 1, Everton 1
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