Manchester United head to Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday seeking to build momentum against Everton following their emphatic 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town. Head coach Michael Carrick is balancing squad selection hurdles with positive news on the fitness front as United look to secure back-to-back Premier League wins. Having recovered from an opening 2-0 defeat to Hull City, United hold three points from their first two fixtures and return to a venue where they claimed a 1-0 victory last season through a brilliant Benjamin Šeško strike. With a crucial clash against Manchester City looming the following weekend, Carrick knows securing another positive result on Merseyside is essential for building momentum.
United received a massive boost with the return of Mason Mount to first-team training this week. The midfielder was withdrawn before the 20-minute mark against Paris Saint-Germain after taking a knock to the foot, missing subsequent fixtures against Leeds United, AC Milan, Hull City, and Ipswich Town. Carrick confirmed Mount is fully back with the squad, stating, “Mase is back around the group, which was great. Trained this week, so that’s a big positive for us.” Luke Shaw is also expected to be available despite being forced off after 73 minutes due to muscle tightness in the win over Ipswich. However, winger Amad Diallo suffered a training-ground muscle injury with an uncertain return timeframe, while defender Matthijs de Ligt isn’t expected back until late October as he continues early-stage rehabilitation from a back operation.
Everton enter the weekend defending an unbeaten start to their campaign across all competitions. Manager David Moyes navigated a midweek Carabao Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers despite being limited to selecting from just 15 fit senior outfield players. That cup tie highlighted the flexibility of the Toffees’ squad, though ongoing fitness concerns continue to test their depth. In addition to Sunday’s clash with United, Everton also host Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, aiming to extend their unbeaten run against an Ipswich side bidding for back-to-back away victories.
Moyes must carefully manage his squad availability across these demanding back-to-back home matches. Summer signing Christian Nørgaard remains sidelined alongside midfielder Merlin Röhl, with no clear timeline for their returns. On a brighter note, Harrison Armstrong is expected to recover after missing midweek action with a minor knock, while Jack Grealish and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are both available after starting in midweek. They join a core selection group including Jordan Pickford, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski, Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, and Louie Barry. The upcoming domestic schedule comes ahead of an expanded two-week international break from September 21 to October 6, where national teams will play four matches rather than the usual two.
Tactical discipline and bench impact will prove decisive at Hill Dickinson Stadium as both managers handle reduced options. Reintroducing Mount gives Carrick valuable midfield flexibility after United’s five-goal outburst against Ipswich demonstrated their ceiling. Meanwhile, Moyes will rely on Everton’s defensive resilience and home momentum to sustain their strong start. A victory for either side on Sunday would provide a major lift before the autumn schedule intensifies further.
