Everton's unbeaten start makes Manchester United's Merseyside trip anything but simple

Manchester United arrive at Everton as slight favourites in the market price. That tag alone does not make an away win the likely outcome once you weigh what David Moyes has built. Everton are unbeaten through two games: a 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace, followed by a late equaliser at Bournemouth. That is a compact, well-organised side finding its feet at a new ground, with a raucous crowd behind it. It is exactly the low-event setup that has troubled United on Merseyside before. United's case rests on a 5-2 win over Ipswich, with Bruno Fernandes at the centre of it. But that came after an opening defeat at Hull, and against a newly promoted side at Old Trafford, not away at an organised unit. More pressing is the injury list. Carlos Baleba (ankle), Amad Diallo (ankle) and Matthijs de Ligt (back) are all confirmed out, thinning midfield and defensive depth for a demanding road fixture. Premier League home sides win close to 54% of matches historically. Any visitor needs strong evidence to be rated above that mark. United have quality, but not enough to overcome a hosts' momentum, home advantage and their own thin squad all at once. A draw or a narrow Everton win looks just as plausible as three points for the visitors. The thing to watch is whether United's makeshift midfield can control the opening half-hour before Everton settle into their compact shape.