Everton vs. Man Utd Betting Tips: Two card plays for Sunday's 7pm kick off

It’s quirky kick-off time for the Premier League this weekend, as Sunday’s evening game sees Manchester United making the short trip to Merseyside to take on Everton at Goodison Park.

In what has been a rare scheduling debacle, the visitors’ hectic fixture list - featuring back-to-back midweeks against Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League - has meant that 7pm on Sunday evening was the only logical time for this game to take place.

It’s given Erik Ten Hag’s side an immediate opportunity to mend the wounds caused by Erling Haaland in their 6-3 drubbing at the hands of neighbours Manchester City, and they escaped by the skin of their teeth on Thursday in Cyprus.

The Red Devils trailed at half-time against the Cypriot First Division side and it wasn’t until the introductions of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in the second half that they really grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and made their superiority count, as the pair scored all three goals between them - with the former also contributing an assist.

The latter of the two, Frenchman Martial, was really the only shining light in that embarrassing defeat to their ‘noisy neighbours’, coming off the bench to win a penalty and grab a brace in the final ten minutes to make the score somewhat less depressing for United fans. He’s currently averaging a goal involvement once every 27 minutes in his limited game time so far this term, and finally looks like the player that got Martin Tyler so excited all those years ago.

His return to fitness, and form, could be crucial for United and their hopes for the rest of season; especially given the situation of last season’s leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo. Clearly the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and the United gaffer don’t get along very well, but he was uncharacteristically wasteful when handed an opportunity to force his way into the starting XI on Thursday night; missing a big chance and firing six of his eight shots off target.

What he doesn’t need then is an Everton side that are unbeaten in seven across all competitions, riding the wave of two back-to-back wins for only the second time in the last 12 months.

Frank Lampard’s side boasts the Premier League’s best defence so far this season - conceding just 0.88 goals per game - and that is down to their new duo at the head of their back-line.

Picking up James Tarkowski and Conor Coady for nothing has proved to be a master stroke for the Toffees, with the pair combining to form an impressive partnership ahead of Jordan Pickford.

An overhaul of their midfield has also paid dividends, in which bringing back Idrissa Gueye from PSG and adding the exciting Amadou Onana from Lille has given them a bite that the Allan/Doucouré pivot just wasn’t providing.

All that being said, the most exciting change from last season to this for Everton has been the form of Alex Iwobi in his converted midfield role.

Not only has the Nigerian revolutionised his off-the-ball work - dominating opposition midfields with pressures to regain possession - but he’s also improved his progressive work, driving Everton forward with successful dribbles and passes into the final third.

Reminiscent of the drastic change Joelinton implemented to his game at Newcastle last season, the former-Arsenal man could be on the verge of a very special year.

It’s his aforementioned teammate that we’re focused on here though, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Idrissa Gana Gueye in trouble with referee David Coote at some point.

The gritty Senegalese midfielder made a name for himself in the Premier League before his move to PSG for doing the grunt work at Everton; getting stuck into challenges so those around him didn’t have to.

He committed at least 50 fouls in each of the three seasons he spent at Goodison Park, picking up 23 bookings and two red cards in that time - as well as leading the league for fouls in his only season at Aston Villa.

One opponent he had a particular affinity for getting into trouble against was Manchester United, with Gueye earning four bookings in just seven Premier League appearances against the Red Devils.

With two to his name in just three starts for club and country this term, would it really be a shock if he earned another here?

Another Everton player that it wouldn’t shock anyone to see carded is local lad Anthony Gordon, who has enjoyed an intriguing start to his second Premier League season as a starter.

Linked with a potential £60m move to Chelsea over the summer after being the catalyst for Everton’s survival last year, Gordon has continued to endear himself to those on the blue half of Merseyside with his passionate performances and consistent contributions.

The tenacious nature of his game doesn’t come without its downsides though, and it’s one that often sees him in trouble with the officials.

Only two players have picked up more yellows than Gordon’s four so far this campaign - earned in just seven starts - and it could so easily have been more.

He got away scot-free from three-foul games against both Aston Villa and bitter rivals Liverpool, and his luck might just run out against an opponent he is precious against.

He was booked towards the back end of last season for a second half foul in this exact fixture, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if both he and the man opposite - which looks likely to be Luke Shaw - picked up a booking each at 22/1.