Everton began 2025 as relegation candidates, but under the guidance of returning manager David Moyes, they have transformed into the Premier League’s most in-form side. No team has collected more points than Everton’s 13 (W4, D1, L1) since Moyes’ return, a run that has seen them surge up the table.
The Toffees now find themselves in a rare position, sitting as close to the top six as they are to the relegation zone, with a 13-point gap separating them from both. While a push for European football or a late-season relegation battle seems unlikely, Moyes has the opportunity to lay the foundations for next season, which will be Everton’s first in their new stadium.
A key area of improvement under the Scottish manager has been in attack. Everton have scored 12 goals in their last five Premier League matches, a dramatic upturn in form considering they had managed just as many in their previous 16 combined.
While Everton’s momentum is building, Manchester United arrive at Goodison Park in the middle of a crisis. Back-to-back league defeats, along with an unconvincing FA Cup victory over Leicester City, have left Ruben Amorim under mounting pressure.
United head into this fixture sitting 15th, a point behind Everton, marking the latest point in a season where they have faced the Toffees while being below them in the table since April 2014, when they were seventh and Everton were fifth.
Injuries have compounded United’s problems, with last week’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham exposing a squad stretched to its limits. The Red Devils were without 12 senior players for that match, leaving Amorim with limited options as he looks to halt his side’s slide.
Despite their struggles, United can take confidence from their recent record in this fixture. They have won six successive meetings against Everton across all competitions and will be desperate to extend that streak to ease the pressure on their manager.
Key Players to Watch
Beto (Everton): The Portuguese forward has thrived under Moyes, scoring four goals in five Premier League appearances since the Scot’s return. That tally is already equal to the total he managed in his 42 league matches under former boss Sean Dyche.
Joshua Zirkzee (Manchester United): The Dutch striker has not found the net in the Premier League since December, but his last goals in the competition came in a dominant 4-0 win over Everton. He will be hoping to rediscover his scoring touch against the same opposition.
Hot Stat
David Moyes is chasing a third consecutive home victory over his former club Manchester United, having won his last two with clean sheets.
With momentum firmly on Everton’s side and United struggling for form and fitness, Goodison Park could be the stage for yet another significant result in the Toffees’ resurgence.
