After watching everyone else kick-off their 2012/13 campaign over the weekend, Everton and Manchester United complete the opening round of fixtures at Goodison Park on Monday, in what is traditionally one of the most one-sided fixtures in the Premier League.
The Toffees have a dreadful record against their rivals from up the M62, winning just four times in the Premier League era, their last victory coming in February 2010 (Everton 10/3, draw 12/5, Man Utd 10/11).
Indeed United have picked up more points against Everton than any other Premier League side and go into the game bolstered by the arrival of Robin van Persie, who could make his debut at Goodison in what is a fearsome looking strike partnership with Wayne Rooney. Fellow new boys Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell are also set to be included in Ferguson’s squad.
Despite their impressive record against the Blues, it is the Red Devils who are smarting after their last encounter. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men blew a 4-2 lead at Old Trafford in April to eventually draw 4-4, a result which ultimately cost them the league title.
For Everton the battling draw was one of a number of impressive results during the tail end of the season. David Moyes’ men have a reputation for starting slowly and picking up again in the spring and last season was no different.
Their defence was largely sound – they had the third best defensive record in the league last season – it was scoring goals that was the problem in the autumn.
However, the signings of Nikica Jelavic and Steven Pienaar on transfer deadline day in January proved crucial. That added creativity and a goal threat that saw the Toffees soar up the table, with Jelavic bagging nine goals in 13 games – the 6/1 for him to score first on Monday is worth considering.
They eventually finished last season in seventh place, above neighbours Liverpool for only the second time in 25 years. They have also won seven of their last nine league games at Goodison Park and are unbeaten in nine league games in all. The reason behind their poor starts is often speculation surrounding their best players and lack of funds to bring in any new faces.
However, on this occasion boss David Moyes has actually been able to strengthen, sealing a permanent deal for Pienaar and snapping up Steven Naismith from the now defunct Rangers. Jack Rodwell was sold to Manchester City last week for £12million but Moyes has already spent £6million of that on Belgian forward Kevin Mirallas, with the promises of further new faces.
The air of optimism – instead of despair – hanging over Goodison should be enough to ensure a raucous atmosphere during the game.
Van Persie aside, the ace card for United will undoubtedly be former Toffees striker Wayne Rooney. The England star has scored 14 goals in his last 14 Premier League games and loves to start the season with a bang – he has hit 10 goals in his last nine Premier League games in August.
He is unsurprisingly therefore the 4/1 favourite to open the scoring first on Merseyside, though value could be found in the scorecast. With the Toffees capable of grabbing a point, a Wayne Rooney 1-1 scorecast is priced at tempting 22/1.
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Rio Ferdinand has been declared fit to return to the Manchester United first-team (11/5 – Premiership Outright) after he came through 45 minutes of the reserve-team’s 2-1 win against Oldham in the Manchester Senior Cup tie at Stalybridge on Wednesday.