Everton vs Manchester United: Match Preview| Toffees seek response after tumultuous week

Everton are increasingly resembling one of those challenge scenarios on Football Manager Mobile –

“owners who want to sell and have turned the taps off, a weakened squad and your contract is running down. Ensure the CEO is not happily dissatisfied “

Or maybe a social experiment designed to test the limits of human endurance, or maybe both?

The speed of the unravelling of the transfer window was spectacular even by Everton’s standards, though David Moyes’ demeanour over the summer suggests these issues have been bubbling under the surface for some time.

Ironically, Moyes’ position has been bolstered in recent days. His “I am an Evertonian” quote after the Bournemouth game made his position in this saga clear – and it wasn’t with the board or owners.

He could have come out swinging in Friday’s press conference after the deadline-day farce, but he knows further turbulence is not going to help the team. Instead, he tried to foster the backs-to-the-wall spirit that saw him overcome the financial odds so many times during his first spell at the club.

With just 18 senior players, the next few months are going to be a real physical challenge and Moyes knows he needs all the help he can get. That includes harnessing the power of the fans, who have shown time and time again how much impact they can have.

With the club now seemingly up for sale, several months of uncertainty lie ahead, but if the team can defy the odds on the pitch, it can only help tempt prospective buyers, while giving TFG a reminder of what they are about to let go.

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Man Utd fans must be wondering which Red Devils side is going to turn up after two wildly inconsistent performances. A tame 2-0 defeat at Hull on the opening day was followed up by a Bruno Fernandes-inspired 5-2 thrashing of Ipswich, but the truth is this United side probably sits somewhere in the middle.

Their summer spending has been modest by United standards. Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans bolster the midfield, but other key gaps have not been addressed. That is especially the case at left-back (we can relate, guys), with Luke Shaw the only senior specialist in that position.

It means there are question marks over what the team can achieve under Michael Carrick. The former Red Devils midfielder did superbly well to guide the team back into the Champions League, but he was helped by the lack of European or cup football, and an inspirational season from Fernandes.

Sunday’s game is therefore likely to be a good indicator of where the team lies.

Everton, perhaps unsurprisingly, have a poor record against United, with last season’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford very much an anomaly. They have won just three of their last 22 meetings, with United winning six of the last eight.

Everton 0-1 Man Utd, February 23, 2026

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Another Monday night game for both sides that ended in a narrow defeat for the Toffees. The game will largely be remembered for Everton’s farcical tactics at corners, which involved surrounding the goalkeeper with about six or seven players. It didn’t work, and a breakaway goal from Benjamin Sesko with 19 minutes left did the trick.

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Jack Grealish is in contention to make his second debut following his deadline-day return. Ainsley Maitland-Niles could also feature from the start at right-back.

Iliman Ndiaye’s departure could open the door for Brennan Johnson. Thierno Barry is probably assured of his place up front.

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“Everton’s different. I wouldn’t have come back for anybody but Everton.

“I think the club here has had enough days where the people find a way of recovering. People saw the face of Evertonians last week and it can be really powerful. I would expect them to be really powerful now.

“But powerful for the team, powerful for the players. What we’re going to need from them is extra because we’re short, so we need them. If they’re not with us, then it’s terrible. And they are with us, I believe they are with us.”

There is likely to be a feisty atmosphere as the fans look to rally round a diminished squad and embattled managers. Evertonians often relish the us-against-the-world fight, and you would back the starting XI to compete with anyone. But it is the lack of depth that will cost them as the season progresses.