| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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MANCHESTER UNITED
De Gea Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Young Rooney, Welbeck |
EVERTON Howard Hibbert, Heitinga, Jagielka, Coleman Neville, Gibson Fellaini, Osman, Pienaar Jelavic |
Sir Alex Ferguson’s midfield remains without Darren Fletcher (illness), Anderson (hamstring) and Paul Pogba (ankle). Skipper Nemanja Vidic (knee) is ruled out for the season, as is Italian striker Federico Macheda. Goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard (ankle) is believed to still be out with an injury, but Michael Owen (thigh) could be in line for a first-team return while Ashley Young has apparently shaken off a knock picked up in Manchester United's win over Aston Villa.
Everton will be without left-back Leighton Baines (hamstring) for a couple of weeks, while fellow England international Jack Rodwell (hamstring) will be absent. Royston Drenthe will not play either, as the winger on loan from Real Madrid has been disciplined for an undisclosed matter. Steven Pienaar is certain to return to the line-up after missing the Toffees' FA Cup semi-final because he was cup-tied.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
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Wayne Rooney (pictured right) will go fourth in Manchester United's all-time goalscoring list if he scores two against his former club on Sunday. He will surpass the current joint-fourth-placed Old Trafford legends Dennis Viollet and George Best.
- Everton have not beaten the Red Devils on away soil in 18 top-flight matches. United have won 15 of those, drawing with the Toffees three times.
- 82 points - the current points tally of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side - is the highest they have ever had after 34 matches.
- David Moyes’ men have not lost in four consecutive league matches, taking 10 points from an available 12. However, their momentum was dented last weekend when Liverpool scored late to beat their Merseyside rivals 2-1 in their FA Cup semi-final.
- Although they lost both European matches at Old Trafford, United have won all seven of their games at the stadium since the turn of the year.
- As of Saturday morning, Rooney (24) is three goals behind Arsenal’s Robin van Persie (27) in the Premier League top goalscorer chart. The former Everton forward is on 31 in all competitions, eight ahead of Everton’s top goalscorer, Nikica Jelavic (23), who arrived at Goodison Park from Rangers in January.
- The Goodison Park club have conceded 34 times in the top-flight this season - only Manchester United and Manchester City have a better defensive record.
- That man again: Rooney has not scored in his last six Premier League games against the club he played for until 2004.