Everton line-ups for Man United as Dwight McNeil left out in midfield revamp

The dreaded December is here for Everton then. And Manchester United at Old Trafford is the first hurdle to try and overcome.

The Blues went into the Premier League weekend in 15th position having failed to score a goal in November. They were held to a 0-0 draw last time out against Brentford, who were reduced to 10 men before half time.

Sean Dyche doesn’t have a plethora of options available to him, although there is still scope for him to make some changes after some disappointing performances. Our Everton writers Joe Thomas and Chris Beesley have made their picks for the XI below…

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Chris Beesley

Unfortunately, with just one win in over 32 years at Old Trafford since Howard Kendall's men triumphed 3-0 against Alex Ferguson's side in the opening week of the Premier League era, Everton must overcome a wretched habit that stretches back far longer than Sean Dyche if they're to spoil the party at Ruben Amorim's first Premier League home game in charge of Manchester United.

Other than Bryan Oviedo's strike to sink former Blues boss David Moyes' strugglers just shy of 11 years ago, an entire generation of Everton sides have been failing to deliver in this fixture down the East Lancs Road.

They're hardly going into this game brimming with confidence either as one defeat in their last eight matches masks the failure to pick up the number of points many - including the manager - would have expected, and a failure to even score a goal in their last three games, including over 45 minutes against a 10-man Brentford side who had lost all their previous away fixtures, does not bode well. This is the start of the Blues' daunting-looking December and they need to improve drastically to get anything out of this contest.

United will still be finding their feet under their new Portuguese gaffer and his 3-4-3 formation but I don't expect any major surprises from Dyche.

Realistically, I don't think there are too many alterations he could make to improve the side either but I'd restore Orel Mangala to the engine room and put Abdoulaye Doucoure back further up the pitch which means Dwight McNeil going back on the wing, at the expense of Jesper Lindstrom, where he and Iliman Ndiaye can hopefully interchange at times.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Young, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Branthwaite; Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, McNeil, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin.

Joe Thomas

This is a tough call. I actually thought Everton started quite well against Brentford and it was how they struggled to impose themselves in the second half, with the extra man, that was the failure last week rather than the initial set-up.

I think Dyche has to approach this game in a similar fashion - Brentford had a history of quick starts heading into that game and, under Ruben Amorim, Man Utd have scored in the opening two minutes of both games. So Everton need to be solid at the beginning - particularly given the difficulty they will face should they have to claw themselves back into this game.

This Utd side is also vulnerable though and I think Everton need to maintain the ability to hurt them. It will be understandable if Dyche is willing to give up possession at Old Trafford and draw the hosts on to them. There needs to be a sting though.

That requires pace to hit on the counter attack, and for that reason I would start Jesper Lindstrom. He is yet to produce a performance of significance but he is growing in fitness and experience and his record suggests there is quality there to unlock. I would stick him on the right wing and Iliman Ndiaye, who I prefer in a central role, out left today. This is because I want a flat midfield three of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Orel Mangala and Idrissa Gueye to provide a screen in front of the defence. I want Doucoure to stay back rather than be a box to box option, helping to clog up the midfield as part of a three that can move across the pitch to help the full backs. With Amorim likely to play wing backs and Utd struggling, still, with balls over the top, I want Ndiaye and Lindstrom to have the freedom to exploit the space left by the wing backs and have them charging at Utd’s shaky centre backs.

I think maintaining an attacking threat is the best form of defence and this does that. I have thought hard about this and I am moving towards Beto getting a start, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s wider game has been good even if the goals haven’t been coming. I need him winning the flick-ons and holding the ball up to bring Lindstrom and Ndiaye into play, so I am sticking with him for one more game.

My team (4-3-3): Pickford; Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Young; Doucoure, Mangala, Gueye; Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin, Lindstrom.