The Ruben Amorim era takes its next step this weekend as Manchester United lock horns with Everton in the Premier League.
- Date: 01/12/2024
- Kick-off time: 13:30
- Location: Old Trafford, Manchester
Manchester United are currently 12th in the Premier League with 16 points from 12 games. The Red Devils are amidst a resurrection attempt by Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim as they look to drag themselves out of the hole they've dwelled in for well over a year under Erik ten Hag. Since Amorim took over, United have shown mild improvements, but the former Sporting manager will now be acutely aware of the enormity of the task at hand after seeing his side largely stumble through his first two games in charge.
Frankly, it's going to take Amorim several transfer windows to get the team where he wants it to be, as there are far too many players who fall well below the required standard for a top team. Still, though, there are smatterings of quality within the squad, and that can be seen by the performances of goalkeeper André Onana and defender Noussair Mazraoui, both of whom have been the standout individual performers of this season for the Red Devils.
There is also hope that Mason Mount can rediscover his best form under Amorim, who has admitted he is a huge admirer of the English midfielder. A lot will depend on his ability to stay fit, but Mount delivered a promising performance in the Europa League in midweek, showing there's still an excellent player in there.
Injuries as a whole have been a tall hurdle for United this season, but those issues are slowly resolving themselves. Kobbie Mainoo is now fit and available after a lot of time on the sidelines, while defender Leny Yoro is nearing a return from an injury that's kept him out all season.
All in all, there are plenty of reasons for United fans to be positive about the future, but they should know, and likely will know, that it's going to be a fairly long road back to the top of English football.
Everton are currently 15th in the Premier League with 11 points from 12 games. The mood around Goodison Park is much less optimistic, with Everton currently bearing the brunt of a very fractured relationship between the fans and the team. The Toffees are playing their final season at Goodison Park and the fans (understandably) want a rapturous sendoff for their team, but the product currently on show is so blatantly dull that it's becoming somewhat of a stain on the season.
Everton lost midfielder Amadou Onana in the summer, and there was little money spent on bolstering a squad that desperately needed a big injection of attacking talent. As a result, Sean Dyche is working with a very, very limited squad in terms of quality, so as you can expect, they're not very fun to watch.
Everton have scored ten goals in 12 league games - only Southampton have scored fewer - and the team is routinely criticised for its repetitive and predictable attacking patterns. Everton have recently been the subject of a takeover by the Friedkin Group, owners of AS Roma, and the future of manager Sean Dyche is now a topic of serious speculation. Many reports suggest that the new owners want to move on from Dyche, and while everyone associated with the club will no doubt want a more exciting brand of football, there needs to be an acceptance of the limitations of the squad at hand.
It's very hard to imagine this Everton squad not being in a relegation battle this season, regardless of who is in charge. Simply, the squad does not have enough quality, and for all their attacking shortcomings, Everton are still very strong defensively. Whether or not Dyche lasts at Everton remains to be seen, but if the Toffees do move on from him, they must be aware of the size of the risk.
Premier League 
