Manchester United travel to Merseyside this afternoon looking to build on their emphatic 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town, but the leading pre-match predictions suggest Michael Carrick’s side could face a much tougher afternoon against Everton.
United recovered from their opening defeat at Hull City by producing five goals at Old Trafford last weekend, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist.
Everton, meanwhile, remain unbeaten in the Premier League after collecting four points from their opening two matches.
Here is how several leading pundits and outlets see Sunday’s clash at Hill Dickinson Stadium unfolding.
Sky Sports predicts Everton 1-1 Man Utd
Sky Sports pundit Lewis Jones believes Everton can frustrate United and has backed the points to be shared.
In his Premier League predictions for Sky Sports, Jones argues that facing United at home could be precisely the fixture Everton need following a chaotic conclusion to their transfer window.
He believes David Moyes can harness the atmosphere surrounding the club and set Everton up pragmatically against Carrick’s side.
Jones also warned against reading too much into United’s 5-2 win over Ipswich.
The newly promoted side remained competitive before United eventually took control, while Everton are expected to offer a considerably different defensive challenge.
Sky Sports prediction: Everton 1-1 Manchester United.
BBC Sport’s Chris Sutton also backs a draw
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton has reached the same conclusion.
In BBC Sport’s weekend Premier League predictions, Sutton acknowledges Everton’s frustrating deadline-day business but believes their squad still contains enough attacking quality to trouble United.
Thierno Barry remains Everton’s recognised centre-forward, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has already demonstrated his ability to contribute important goals.
Sutton has previously backed United to win during the opening weeks of the campaign but believes this assignment will prove more difficult.
Chris Sutton prediction: Everton 1-1 Manchester United.
NBC Sports backs Man Utd to edge tight contest
There is more optimism for Carrick’s side from NBC Sports.
Joe Prince-Wright predicts a 2-1 Manchester United victory, arguing that both teams are likely to wait for opportunities to attack quickly rather than dominate the contest throughout.
United’s attacking quartet showed what it can produce against Ipswich.
Fernandes was exceptional, while Marcus Rashford, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha all contributed to a far more dangerous attacking display than United had produced at Hull.
NBC expects that additional individual quality to ultimately separate the teams.
NBC Sports prediction: Everton 1-2 Manchester United.
Experts expect Everton to make Man Utd work
The consensus is therefore considerably tighter than United’s 5-2 victory last weekend might suggest.
Two prominent predictions have gone for a 1-1 draw, while NBC expects Carrick’s side to edge the contest by a single goal.
Sports Mole has reached the same 2-1 United conclusion, pointing to United’s attacking quality after their response against Ipswich.
For Carrick, the challenge is turning last weekend’s attacking improvement into a first Premier League away victory of the campaign.
