Premier League: Everton Face Red Devils on a Level Playing Field

Everton vs Manchester United

It’s been one heck of a week for Everton as the club, the players, and fans have been rocked by a 10-point penalty for breaches of financial fair play.

The Premier League has ruled that Everton breached its profitability and sustainability rules during the 2021/22 campaign since the club had signed some big money players and even done some creative accounting, attempting to write off a huge figure to COVID-19 expenses.

So now they sit in the bottom three of the league and have another problem on the horizon when Manchester United are going to provide the test on Sunday.

As far as Everton’s rivals are concerned, justice has been done, well almost, and now the playing field has been levelled, but their fans feel hard done by and will make their feelings known on Sunday when they face United.

It’s going to be a red-hot, if slightly weird, atmosphere on Merseyside.

Manchester United have their problems too, but they have been picking up points in the league. Before the break, the Toffees won 3-2 away at Crystal Palace, while the Red Devils struggled to a 1-0 win at home to Luton Town.

The Premier League 2023 betting odds say this game is on a knife edge, so pull up a chair and enjoy the drama.

Talking Points

How will Everton react?

This could go one of two ways.A 10-point deduction has stopped the Toffees momentum, but manager Sean Dyche, a fierce fighter, could well use the situation to his advantage and create a siege mentality at Goodison Park.

But Everton’s problems might not yet be over. They already face a relegation battle and top-flight status is vital to the club as they prepare to move to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Lawyers at Leicester City, Burnley, and Leeds United are now circling as they are the clubs disadvantaged by the Toffees offences, relegated and losing significant sums in the process.

It is possible that each club will sue for £100 million and a ruling in their favour would likely throw Everton into administration, and that could attract a further deduction of points.

Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is back from a long-term injury. With three goals in nine games, his fitness will be crucial to the Toffees survival, and he has issued a rallying cry to his teammates.

“I think, given the circumstances, I’ve sensed a lot of unity and togetherness. We were off on the international break when the news broke, but coming back in this week, I don’t feel like it’s fazed us players,” said Calvert-Lewin.

“We know, as a group, we can’t affect that. All we can affect is what’s in front of us, and that’s the game on Sunday, so we’re looking forward to that,” he added.

Ownership distraction for Red Devils

Throughout the tenure of the Glazers at the helm of Manchester United, a large section of fans have been unhappy and they celebrated the news that lifelong supporter Jim Ratcliffe was preparing a takeover.

The INEOS magnate is now set to invest £1.3 billion, but that will only buy a 25-per cent stake, so the situation at the top of the club is far from resolved.

And the involvement of Ratcliffe could even cause problems if UEFA get twitchy about any conflict of interest caused by his ownership of Ligue 1 side Nice.

Amidst all the noise, Erik ten Hag, who did a good job in his first season as manager, has tried to keep his team focused and they have responded, picking up 12 points from the last six games. But they still sit outside the top five and have been unconvincing, struggling to beat teams in the lower reaches of the league.

That defencive midfielder Scott McTominay is top scoring with three goals speaks volumes, as ten Hag’s team lacks punch.

Manchester United are off the pace in the league and struggling in Europe, and Goodison Park will be a cauldron when they turn up on Sunday. The Red Devils need to be at their best.

History

With 43 wins to 10 in the Premier League era, Manchester United have dominated Everton over the past three decades, and they have won the last three encounters.

But recent form favours Dyche’s team with four wins, one draw, and one defeat from the last six games in all competitions, while ten Hag’s men have picked up three wins and three defeats.

Betting Tip

While Liverpool and Manchester City prepare to battle it out at the top of the Premier League, this is a clash between Liverpool and Manchester’s troubled clubs.

Nevertheless, it will be a match worth watching, and the Premier League 2023 highlights promise to be red-hot.

There’s not much to choose between the two teams according to the SBOTOP

Odds with the Red Devils marginal favourites at 2.40 and the Toffees at 2.52. I think they will trade blows but share the spoils.

 

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