EFL Cup: Trophy Chance For NW Neighbours

Everton vs Manchester United

They have had to watch their closest rivals revel in success for far too long, but there are some early signs that Everton and Manchester United may be finding a road to success for themselves.

While Liverpool and Manchester City have dominated the domestic game in England, the Toffees and the Red Devils have swapped managers with regularity in a desperate bid to stay in touch. On Wednesday they meet in the EFL Cup quarter final and that should prove to be an epic clash, as this competition offers the first chance of silverware in the English season, and it’s a trophy both clubs would dearly love to win.

Manchester United and Everton sit handily in third and fourth places in the Premier League table and this clash is SBOTOP’s big match of the week in the EFL Cup, so let’s take a closer look at the two teams and the very latest EFL Cup 2020 betting odds.

Talking Points

Toffees over their blip

Everton’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal was a third league win on the run for Carlo Ancelotti’s men. After making a breath-taking start to the campaign the Toffees stuttered, but since losing 1-0 to Leeds and drawing with Burnley they have recaptured their early season form, with impressive victories over Chelsea and Leicester City before taking the Gunners to task on Saturday.

With some key men injured Ancelotti has had to use some fringe players over the past few games, but Seamus Coleman is on his way back and made an appearance from the bench against Arsenal, while Brazilian striker Richarlison is back in the fold. Everton’s centre back pairing of Yerry Mina and Michael Keane is looking solid and both are a threat from set-pieces, Mina planting home a firm header to win the game.

Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin both have three goals in this competition and they’ll be a handful for the Manchester United centre backs Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.

Is Ole on the right track?

Manchester United's Scott McTominay aims to score against Everton in EFL Cup — Scott McTominay celebrates after scoring against Leeds United

After crashing out of the Champions League with defeats to Red Bull Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain, Red Devils head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was under pressure again, but he and his team have responded well. There have been false dawns before for United fans; but while a 0-0 draw with Manchester City was a shocker for neutrals to watch, the Sky Blues seemed oddly apprehensive to leave themselves open to counter-attack, which hints that the Red Devils are being taken seriously again as an attacking threat.

Bruno Fernandes has carried the team over the last 12 months and the addition of Edinson Cavani has added real striking quality to the Red Devils, and he could be fit to play some part on Wednesday.

Back-to-back wins, 3-2 over Sheffield United and then an exhibition of attacking football on Sunday has seen the return of the feel good factor. It was a great shame that Old Trafford was empty for Manchester United’s long awaited meeting with Leeds United, particularly for long suffering Red Devils fans who had to watch their team win 6-2 on the television.

Young Scott McTominay tore into the Leeds defence, scoring two goals within the first four minutes to put the Red Devils in charge, and if he continues to show the kind of dominating form in the middle of the park then Paul Pogba, when he eventually leaves the club, is unlikely to be missed. Fernandes bagged a brace too but OGS will be a little concerned that his side conceded two for the second week running against teams they should really keep out.

The Everton attacking threat is dangerous, while the Toffees defence is also much better than either Sheffield’s or Leeds’. So Manchester United will have to be at their best to navigate this clash.

History

The Red Devils eased past Brighton with a 3-0 victory to reach this quarter final, while the Toffees had a thumping 4-1 victory over West Ham, Calvert-Lewin scoring a hat-trick and Richarlison adding a fourth.

Manchester United have had much the better of the head to heads, winning 38 of the 59 meetings between these two sides, with nine Everton wins and 12 draws.

The last meeting ended in a 3-1 win for the Red Devils, Fernandes scoring twice and Cavani adding a third.

Betting Tip

	Everton vs Manchester United	Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.89
	December 24, 4:00 (GMT+8)

Once this round of EFL Cup 2020 results is through we’ll be down to four, and the odds here at SBOTOP are backing Manchester City, Spurs, Championship club Brentford (to oust Newcastle United) and then the winner of this tie. We have Manchester United at 1.60 to go through with Everton at 2.38.

Everton are 2.97 to win in 90 minutes with the draw at 3.26 and Manchester United at 2.15, and I have a feeling it may go to extra time.

1-1 is the most likely outcome at odds of 5.80.