Manchester United’s bid to reclaim the Premier League title will start against Everton at Goodison Park in August after the fixtures for the upcoming season were revealed on Monday.
Some fans may feel that a trip to Everton first up is one of the worst ways to start a season. After all Goodison Park is never an easy ground to go to and David Moyes does seem to have a more than good record against the top sides.
However in many ways it’s the best and ideal game for United to kick-off the new season and to some aspects banish the demons of the 4-4 draw at Old Trafford in April that ultimately cost the side a 20th League championship.
Of course the run-in defeats away to Wigan Athletic and Manchester City didn’t help nor did QPR gifting City the ball from the kick-off after Eden Dzeko’s equaliser presenting Roberto Mancini’s side with the one last chance needed to clinch the league (not that we’re one for sour grapes) but it was that draw at Old Trafford which in years to come United fans will look back on as the moment the title was lost.
Yes it could have all been different had Patrice Evra’s header with the score at 4-2 had gone in off the woodwork instead of rebounding out to an Everton defender. After all Everton attacked after that with Nikica Jelavic bagging Everton’s third and his second of the game moments later.
However Everton were well worth their point and despite being 2 goals down twice in the game, kept going much to the delight of their fans who were in desperate need of a pick-up after losing an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley the week earlier to Liverpool. For Everton fans the 4-4 at Old Trafford was arguably their performance of the season.
Back to United though. You can learn a lot more from a team from a good performance in a big game rather than a good performance against a team you are highly likely to beat. A trip to Everton will be a challenge. They are a strong physical team who will be confident of pulling of a win, which for them will not in the slightest be an upset by any means.
No offence to the likes of Southampton and West Brom (who United played on the opening day last season) but both Manchester City and Liverpool will be expected to beat them comfortably on the opening-day.
United will not be expected to beat Everton and it gives a chance to the team to start the season in style. There can be no slackness and mistakes allowed. Everton will not let United of the hook like West Brom did after David De Gea’s mistake which led to Shane Long scoring and will punish mistakes.
That’s why playing Everton at Goodison Park is the perfect way to start the season. Let City bag a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Southampton because Mancini won’t learn anything from it. We’re go to Everton and prove people wrong by laying down a marker, that’s the plan anyway.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
