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Match preview: Everton v Manchester United

Scene-setter: United return to Merseyside after the win at Anfield last month and will be looking to bounce back from the defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend. Despite losing, United controlled that match with possession and there are several other reasons to be positive ahead of Sunday's clash. Roberto Martinez’s Everton will be looking to break into the top 10, while the Reds are aiming to maintain the pressure on Arsenal in second.

Form guide: United head into this game having won five of the last six matches, with only that defeat to Chelsea preventing Louis van Gaal's men from topping the Premier League form table. The Reds have scored 13 goals in those six games, conceding just five along the way. Everton head into this fixture in excellent form and are unbeaten in their last five league matches, most recently earning a 1-0 victory at home to relegation-threatened Burnley.

Team news: Robin van Persie could be in line for a return after being an unused substitute against Chelsea and playing for the Under-21s in midweek. Rafael and Adnan Januzaj were injured in that match, while van Gaal will check on Michael Carrick, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind after they missed the Chelsea game. Everton's Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar face late fitness tests after recovering from groin and knee injuries respectively.

Quote/unquote: "Marouane Fellaini will go there full of confidence. What happened in terms of his departure from Everton has been forgotten about now, so he’s got to go there and enjoy the fact he’s playing really well, and he had five great years at Everton too." – Phil Neville

Danger man: Powerful striker Romelu Lukaku is the Toffees' top scorer this season with 18 goals and was a threat in the fixture at Old Trafford in October, albeit in a losing cause.

Sub-plot: Goodison Park has always been a tricky place to visit for United. In the last six meetings away to Everton, the Reds have only won once – in 2012 – and will be looking to improve that record (W1, D2, L3) by completing the double over Martinez’s side, after securing a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford earlier this season.

Rivals watch: Liverpool travel to West Brom on Saturday afternoon, while Manchester City play at home to Aston Villa later that night. Arsenal face a tough challenge against Chelsea on Sunday, following the United match.

Match officials: Andre Marriner takes charge of his first United match of the season, with Scott Ledger and Dave Bryan acting as his assistants. Robert Madley is the fourth official.