Man Utd vs Everton

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 21 November 2009 Kick-off: 1730 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score, live on ESPN & highlights on Match of the Day; Full match commentary on BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8 FM, 1485 MW and DAB

• TEAM NEWS

Nemanja Vidic (calf) is in line to return to the Manchester United defence for Saturday's showdown with Everton.

However, Gary Neville is suspended with John O'Shea (ankle) and Jonny Evans (calf) rated doubtful.

Everton trio Phil Neville, Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar are close to a return but look set to sit out Saturday's game.

Russia star Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is suspended following his dismissal against Aston Villa.

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Man Utd

Suspended: Neville (one match) Doubtful: Berbatov (knee), Carrick (thigh), Evans (calf), O'Shea (ankle)

Injured: Fabio (unspecified), Ferdinand (calf), Hargreaves, Welbeck (both knee)

Everton

Suspended: Bilyaletdinov (two matches)

Doubtful: Howard (ankle), Jo (knee), Neville (knee), Osman (ankle), Pienaar (knee), Rodwell (groin), Saha (calf)

Injured: Anichebe, Arteta, Jagielka, Vaughan (all knee)

• MATCH PREVIEW

Manchester United return from the international break desperate to reassert themselves in the Premier League after slipping to third in the table.

The good news for United is that Everton's Premier League record against them is abysmal. The Toffees have lost 26 out of 34 encounters against United and won only three.

David Moyes's side have struggled for form and consistency this campaign, not helped by a lengthy injury list that has deprived them of several first-team regulars including captain Phil Neville, Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka.

One player who has come to the fore in their absence is 18-year-old Jack Rodwell, whose assured displays in midfield have reportedly caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson. Rumours abound that the Old Trafford boss will make a £20m move for the youngster as soon as January.

Ferguson will be free to assess the teenager's talents from the home dugout after the Football Association confirmed the United manager's two-match touchline ban will not start until the trip to Portsmouth on 28 November, and not on Saturday as widely reported.

• MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• These sides have met on 181 previous occasions. Man Utd have won 78 to Everton's 63.

• Everton have only won one of their last 28 Premier League meetings with United (a 1-0 victory at Goodison Park back in April 2005).

• Since losing to Everton in August 1992 in their first Premier League encounter, United have won 13 and drawn three of the 16 subsequent encounters at Old Trafford.

• United have scored more goals against Everton (69) than against any other opponent in the Premier League.

Man Utd

• United have gone 11 games unbeaten at Old Trafford in the league. They have won 26 and lost just one of their last 30 Premier League matches at Old Trafford.

• United are the only team in the Premier League who have not dropped any points from a winning position in the league this season.

• United only managed two shots on target against Chelsea last time out.

• Ryan Giggs in on 99 Premier League goals, while Paul Scholes is on 98.

Everton

• Everton's win over West Ham ended a run of seven games without victory in all competitions.

• Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini are both in the top five Premier League foulers chart for the second successive season.

• Everton are on identical points (15) as they were after 11 games last season.

• Jospeh Yobo has made 249 appearances for Everton.

• LEADING GOALSCORERS

Man Utd

Rooney: 8 goals (7 league); Berbatov: 4 goals (4 league); Owen: 4 (2 league)

Everton

Saha: 9 goals (7 league)

• MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Steve Bennett

Assistant referees: David Coote & Martin Yerby

Fourth official: Stuart Attwell

• LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Man Utd (L0-1 v Chelsea, a): Van der Sar; O'Shea, Brown, J Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson (Owen 84), Valencia, Rooney, Giggs (Obertan 84). Subs not used: Kuszczak, Vidic, Scholes, Fabio, Gibson.

Everton (W2-1 v West Ham, a): Howard; Hibbert, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Heitinga, Gosling (Neill 76), Fellaini, Rodwell, Cahill, Saha (Yakubu 57). Subs not used: Nash, Coleman, Wallace, Agard, Baxter.

• MOST RECENT MEETING

2008/09 FA Cup

Man Utd 0-0 Everton (aet) (19 April 2009)

Everton won 4-2 on penalties

From BBC