Manchester United’s season resumes with a Premier League trip to Everton next Monday night (23 February).
By the time the 20:00 GMT kick-off comes around, the Reds will have had nearly two weeks since our last outing, the 1-1 draw with West Ham United on 10 February.
That will have given Michael Carrick and his coaching staff some valuable time on the training pitch with the squad, ahead of what will be the team’s first visit to Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton will start the Premier League
weekend eighth in the table, despite missing the chance to stay within a win of the top six, after the aforementioned home loss to Bournemouth last time out.
That was the first defeat in six league matches for the Toffees, who are well within their rights to be dreaming of a first season playing European football since 2017/18.
Former United boss David Moyes is just over a year into his second spell with the club and, having guided them to safety last campaign, has largely seen their improved form carry over into 2025/26.
In recent weeks, they have been able to welcome joint-top scorers Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (injury) and Illiman Ndiaye (AFCON) back into the team, while summer signing Thierno Barry is also now level with the duo’s tally of five goals each, across all competitions.
All five of the French striker’s efforts have come since the start of December, including four in a five-game run that concluded at the end of last month.
NEW STADIUM
Our last visit to Everton came on 22 February 2025 – almost a year to the day of this year’s trip – although this clash will be played at a different venue to the previous season’s.
Since our 2-2 draw at Goodison Park in 2024/25, Everton have moved into their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, which is situated on Bramley-Moore Dock and holds just over 52,000 fans.
The impressive modern venue, located by the water, has hosted 13 Premier League fixtures to date, a Rugby League Ashes Test between England and Australia, and been confirmed as an arena that will host five matches at UEFA Euro 2028.
It’s not our first visit there as a club, with United Women coming from behind to beat Everton 4-1 in a Barclays Women’s Super League encounter that was played in October.
TEAM NEWS
Harry Maguire has been in training at Carrington, easing concerns about a knock he looked to have picked up in the draw with West Ham.
Head coach Carrick suggested before that game that recent absentee Mason Mount could be back from injury in time for the trip to Everton.
Defender Matthijs de Ligt hasn’t been ruled out either, but Mount is believed to be closer to a return than the Dutch defender, who is yet to play in 2026. Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, meanwhile, is expected to remain sidelined.
For Everton, Jake O’Brien will be suspended after picking up a red card in the Toffees’ last outing, a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth on the same night as United’s draw with the Hammers.
On-loan Manchester City winger Jack Grealish won’t play either, after confirming earlier this month that he is out for the season after undergoing surgery on a foot issue. Centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is fit again though, after regaining his fitness following an operation of his own, on his hamstring.
