Michael Owen predicts Everton v Manchester United, states 23-year-old needs a big game
By Amir Mir
Michael Owen has predicted Everton to draw 1-1 with Manchester United at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
TV pundit Owen also stated that Toffees striker Romelu Lukaku will need to have a big game for his side.
The home team have not won a game since beating West Ham 2-0 in October, while their opponents beat the same opposition 4-1 on Wednesday night to progress through to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup.
Only one point separates both sides in the Premier League table ahead of their mouth-watering contest at the weekend.
Former Liverpool striker Owen provided his verdict on the game and explained why Belgium forward Lukaku needs a big performance.
“Both sides had disappointing results last weekend and I’m finding it hard to split the sides at Goodison,” Owen wrote in his column for Bet Victor.
“Romelu Lukaku scored a hat-trick against United for West Brom in that daft 5-5 draw at the Hawthorns in Sir Alex’s last game in charge, but has yet to score for Everton against United in the Premier League in six games. The blues need a big game from their star striker.”
Lukaku began in blistering form this season for the Merseyside club and still has a fine haul of seven goals in 12 Premier League games.
However, he failed to score in any of Everton’s three games in November, which saw them lose on two occasions, including being thumped 5-0 at Chelsea.
As a result the Toffees are seventh in the league table with 19 points from 13 games and they could overtake United in sixth if they claim all three points at Goodison.
Additionally, Koeman’s side have a tough set of fixtures coming up during their next three games. They travel to Watford next Saturday, then host Arsenal three days later, before playing Merseyside rivals Liverpool on December 19.
In other Everton news, the Toffees have been handed an injury boost ahead of their clash with Manchester United.