Who: Everton vs Manchester United What: English Premier League Where: Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, United Kingdom When: Sunday, August 6, at 2pm ( ). How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will have all the build-up from ahead of our live coverage. Manchester United manager Michael Carrick said he is delighted with the additions to his squad despite being outspent by Premier League rivals in the transfer window and short on depth in some areas.
United put their efforts into rebuilding Carrick’s midfield, with Casemiro’s exit and a serious injury to Manuel Ugarte offset by the acquisitions of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba for a combined 155 million pounds ($210m). The Red Devils’ fiercest rivals spent almost that budget on a single player as Manchester City broke the British transfer record for Enzo Fernandez, while Liverpool splashed up to 123 million pounds ($166m) on French winger Bradley Barcola. Despite returning to the Champions League for the first time in three seasons, Carrick hinted at having to work within financial restrictions.
We’ve definitely added to that,” Carrick told a pre-match media conference ahead of Sunday’s trip to Everton. You’ve always got to find ways of adapting,” Carrick added. Despite interest from Fiorentina and Juventus and a deadline-day approach from Everton, the Netherlands international remains at United, despite limited game time over the past two seasons.
I’ve seen it myself, and I know he can do that and looking forward to him doing that a little bit more often for us.” After a dreadful 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted Hull on the opening weekend of the season, United bounced back to thrash Ipswich 5-2 thanks to a Bruno Fernandes hat-trick last time out. Everton boss David Moyes conceded he is left with a small squad after a disappointing transfer window in which key players departed and a deadline day medical fell through as they tried to sign American striker Folarin Balogun. Moyes expressed frustration at his club’s close-season business, revealing they did not want to lose Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye but were powerless when bigger teams like Manchester City look to sign their players.
Sometimes in football you have to live with disappointment and we will move on,” Moyes told reporters on Friday. I’ve been around long enough to know that, but some things went against us and some things could have gone better. There’s no other story behind it.” Everton’s Fans’ Forum also criticised the club’s planning and recruitment after the transfer window closed, saying supporters deserved answers after another window marked by late activity and a failed pursuit of key targets.
With a thin squad, Moyes said Everton’s academy players would have to step up but was unsure if they could fill the gaps. We will see how that goes, some of them might be pushed in,” Moyes said. Let’s see if some of them can do that.” Manchester United were 1-0 winners in the last meeting of the sides, which came in a Premier League fixture at Hill Dickinson Stadium in February.
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