Key Events
Chance for Redemption
In the back of Keane’s mind may well be the trouble he’s had in dealing with Lukaku in the past.
Playing here for Burnley a few seasons ago, Lukaku rolled Keane with ease and scored.
Lukaku Reception
Not many boos for Romelu Lukaku’s name being read out at all there, which is a little surprising.
What a Noise!
Wow, what a noise inside Goodison Park to welcome the players onto the pitch!
Teams in Tunnel
The siren sounds out promptly followed by Z-Cars.
Goodison Park roars. Here we go!
Come on Everton!
Schneiderlin Key
I suppose the big debate before team news was announced today centred around which of Schneiderlin or Davies would start in place of Gomes.
Of course we now know the former has got the nod, and you can certainly understand why.
Let’s not forget how good the French international looked against Cardiff towards the end of February, playing well enough even to start the following Merseyside derby.
United have come to Goodison Park with a very attacking setup, and the Blues need to be at the top of their game to keep them out.
An important part of that is keeping Pogba quiet. If he’s off his game, more often than not United are.
Schneiderlin could be crucial to making sure that happens.
Gorgeous Goodison
The Old Lady looks stunning today, doesn’t she?
What a place. You wouldn’t want to be anywhere else today, would you?
Big Win Needed
Everton know victory this afternoon will take them seventh, on goal difference, with three games to go.
Yes, Watford and Wolves will still hold a game in hand but it is a position the Blues would not have thought possible only a few months ago.
But a win is needed here today.
Sigurdsson Statistics
No Flip Flops
This is proper end-of-season kind of weather at Goodison Park today, it’s absolutely glorious.
The players can’t afford to have their flip-flops on yet though, seventh place and potential European football is still up for grabs.
Man United will be up for this one, and Everton have to match that.
Team News
What could be better on Easter Sunday than seeing Adam Jones’ lovely face?
Probably just hearing him talk about the latest team news ahead of Everton’s clash with Manchester United, actually.
Maybe he’ll show off next time.
Team News Reaction
So, that ‘leaked’ United team was accurate, as it turns out.
Romelu Lukaku is today returning to Goodison Park for the first time since leaving Everton, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has put him in right from the start.
In fact, that front three in general is very bold, with Paul Pogba in place just behind them as well.
The Blues defence will have to be on top form to keep them out, and perhaps that’s why Michael Keane has been recalled.
Lukaku Starts
Everton XI
Morgan Schneiderlin replaces the suspended Andre Gomes while Michael Keane returns in place of Phil Jagielka.
There’s no place in the matchday squad for Leighton Baines or Jonjoe Kenny.
Everton Line-Up Confirmed
Everton team to face Manchester United: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne, Gueye, Schneiderlin, Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin
Team Leak
Apparently there’s a ‘leaked’ Manchester United lineup that includes Romelu Lukaku up front with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial on the flanks.
We won’t have to wait long to see if that’s accurate…
This Is Home
Well, let’s see if Everton can get back on track.
That Fulham match was undoubtedly a disappointing one, but the Blues’ home record in recent weeks has actually been fairly impressive.
And they’ll need to get back to that kind of form to beat a tough Manchester United side today, who will themselves be wanting to bounce back from their loss in Barcelona.
While it feels like recent years have seen a few Premier League wins for Everton over United, you in fact have to go back to 2015 for the last one.
Remember that 3-0 triumph? McCarthy, Stones and Mirallas got themselves on the scoresheet in a convincing win.
Since then though today’s visitors have been unbeaten in the last nine meetings between the sides.
Let’s see if Everton can turn that around.
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong
Everton have lost the last 36 Premier League meetings against Manchester United according to Sky Sports.
Odd, really, considering the Blues defeated today’s opponents 3-0 in April 2015.
The fact-checker needs a good dressing down for that one!
Feeling This
Adam Jones has arrived at Goodison Park as Everton hope to down Manchester United this afternoon.
The sun is shining and the Blues are playing.
I’m feeling this, as Mark Hoppus might say.
Alfie's Squad
Alfie’s Squad have set up shop outside the People’s Place this morning.
If you’re heading to Goodison Park today, why not go and say hi?
For more on Alfie’s amazing story CLICK HERE.
Blue Easter
United Squad
Manchester Evening News have confirmed the United squad to face Everton this afternoon.
With team news due to be confirmed at 12:30pm, the MEN took note of players arriving on Merseyside earlier today.
Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez have all travelled while Luke Shaw misses out through suspension.
Confirmed Manchester United squad:
David de Gea, Sergio Romero, Lee Grant, Diogo Dalot, Matteo Darmian, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones, Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba, Fred, Andreas Pereira, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez, Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku
Under-23 Title Win
David Unsworth has revealed the big names that came together to celebrate Everton under-23’s title victory earlier this week.
The Blues lifted the title against Brighton and Hove Albion at Goodison Park after a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
“The Chairman was on the phone straight away!” Unsworth said.
“He always gives me amazing support. I have spoken to Farhad as well and the support from the board is fantastic. I spoke to Marcel and Denise after the game. too.
“Joe Royle came back to see the match and I know that Leighton Baines was there but that’s what we’re about. We’re family.”
Bernard's First
This really is surprising.
Bernard sat down with ECHO head of sport Dave Prentice this week and revealed Goodison Park handed him a career first against Arsenal recently.
Find out what it was below.
Come on Oumar!
Three points for Everton and three points for Cardiff would do quite nicely today.
Come on Oumar!
It’s the perfect opportunity for the Senegalese forward to get off the mark for the Bluebirds in their fight against relegation.
Blues looking to avoid Reds troubles when leaving Goodison Park for Bramley Moore-Dock
The ECHO’s political editor Liam Thorp has produced a special report on how the club want to leave lasting legacy in L4 - in different approach to Red neighbours.
He writes:
One of the defining characteristics of this city is its two iconic football clubs and everything they bring in terms of support, community and identity.
But ask any Red or Blue and they will very quickly tell you that the clubs are diametrically different in pretty much every way.
And Everton will certainly be looking to avoid some of the issues that have dogged Liverpool over the past year when it comes to their proposed plans for both their home stadium and training facilities.
Click here for the full article
Blues were told they 'couldn't afford' United man
Here’s a curious tale given that Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has insisted that money will never be an issue on his watch.
As the Blues looked to bolster their defensive numbers last summer, one of the names linked with a move to Goodison Park was Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo.
However, they were told that a deal for the Argentinian was a non-starter because they supposedly wouldn’t be able to cover the cost of his huge wage demands.
Speaking on The Transfer Window podcast, Duncan Castles of the Sunday Times said:
“Rojo is well aware that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn’t trust him for next season and sees him as expendable.
“He’s the centre-back that could be let go to bring a new centre-back in for next season.
“I’m told he’d prefer to remain in England.
“He likes living in the country, and if he could find a Premier League club to take him on he would be interested in that move.
“Last summer he had the same option and Everton were very, very keen on signing him.
“But, Everton were basically told you cannot afford his salary so forget about it.”
Bernard and Fred's 'agreement'
ECHO Head of Sport David Prentice reckons that Bernard and Fred sound like a comedy double act from a 1970s working men’s club but in fact they are a couple of Brazilian footballers who are good friends.
Together for several years as team-mates at Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, they could today come up against each other as opponents for Everton’s clash with Manchester United.
Asked if they’d taken out a ‘no nutmeg’ pact, Bernard said:
“No pact.
“You find yourself in difficult situations sometimes and under a lot of pressure and the only way out is a nutmeg.
“So I hope he will be careful with his legs on Sunday - and I will be too!
“The first game I ever played with him, the runs and plays I made, it was almost as if I could read his mind and he’d know where I would be and how I could play the game.
“Obviously you need the element of surprise, that makes the game more enjoyable and more exciting, but familiarity with the opponent will take me out of my comfort zone.
“He’s a great friend. We played together in the youth team at Atletico Mineiro before he went on to Inter. He’s a great player, I had the chance to see that close up in Ukraine and everything he’s done and achieved, the success he’s had in Europe. I think, for any player, there is going to be a difficult adaptation period, that’s natural.
“We were five years together in the Ukraine and there’s a massive difference between that championship and the intensity of the Premier League.”
Click here for the full interview
Good morning
Hello everyone it’s matchday.
Everton return to action against Manchester United and what is always an eagerly-anticipated fixture today has the added spice of Romelu Lukaku’s first return to Goodison Park.
Marco Silva’s side don’t want any distractions though and need the three points as they try to secure seventh spot in the Premier League.
Stick with us throughout the day for all the latest news and views on the Blues.
