Two teams in desperate need of the three points will lock horns for a key Premier League contest on Saturday afternoon, as Everton welcome Manchester United to Goodison Park.
Everton's relegation fears deepened on Wednesday when they lost 3-2 at fellow strugglers Burnley, while Man United saw their top-four hopes take a hit last weekend, dropping points at home to Leicester City.
Match preview
Everton are one of six teams to have never been relegated from the Premier League, but there is no question that the Merseyside giants are locked in a battle for their lives heading into the final straight, and the pressure is already firmly on head coach Frank Lampard despite his recent arrival.
The Toffees picked up a vital 1-0 win over Newcastle United before the international break but have lost their last two in the league, going down 2-1 at West Ham United last weekend before suffering a damaging 3-2 reverse away to fellow relegation candidates Burnley on Wednesday night.
Richarlison netted two penalties for Everton at Turf Moor after an opener from Nathan Collins, but Jay Rodriguez made it 2-2 in the 57th minute before Maxwel Cornet decided the contest in the 85th minute, piling the pressure on Lampard.
The Toffees are currently 17th in the table, just one point clear of 18th-placed Burnley on the same number of matches, while they are only three ahead of 19th-placed Watford, but the Hornets have played a game more.
The Merseyside club are now heading into a tough run of fixtures, facing Man United, Leicester (H), Liverpool, Chelsea and Leicester (A) before a trip to Watford on May 11, and there is no question that the home supporters will be demanding a response at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon.
Man United will not be in the mood to hand out any favours this weekend, though, as the Red Devils require three points to keep their top-four hopes alive heading into the final straight.
Last weekend's 1-1 draw with Leicester, coupled with the other results in England's top flight, has left Ralf Rangnick's side in seventh spot, three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur on the same number of matches; it is not an impossible task, but they will also likely have to finish above Arsenal and West Ham.
The 20-time English champions are believed to be on the verge of naming Ajax's Erik ten Hag as their new manager, with the club already planning for next season, but they will surely have to finish in a Champions League spot this term to be able to attract their desired transfer targets this summer.
Man United have only won one of their last six matches in all competitions during a disappointing run, while they suffered a 4-1 loss at Manchester City in their last away league fixture towards the start of March.
The Red Devils also have some huge matches in April, facing Liverpool and Arsenal in back-to-back away fixtures on April 19 and April 23 respectively, but they should be in a confident mood heading into this game, having only lost once to Everton in all competitions since April 2015.
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Team News
Everton will again be without the services of Yerry Mina, Andre Gomes, Tom Davies, Andros Townsend and Nathan Patterson through injury, while Donny van de Beek is ineligible against his parent club.
The Toffees will be boosted by the returns of Michael Keane and Allan from suspension, though, and the pair are expected to be in the starting XI for the huge match at Goodison Park.
Lampard will make changes from the loss at Burnley, with Seamus Coleman potentially coming back into the side at right-back, but Vitaliy Mykolenko should retain his spot at left-back this weekend.
As for Man United, Cristiano Ronaldo was absent against Leicester last weekend due to illness, but the Portugal international has been back training this week and should be in the starting XI here.
Jesse Lingard has also trained this week after being unwell before the clash with the Foxes, but Luke Shaw had to be substituted last weekend due to a leg injury and now needs a minor operation to remove two metal bolts, so Alex Telles could return to the starting XI.
Man United will also definitely be without the services of Edinson Cavani due to a calf problem, while Mason Greenwood remains unavailable due to a club suspension.
Rangnick also ruled both Raphael Varane and Scott McTominay out of the contest through injury when speaking during his press conference on Friday afternoon.
The Man United interim boss could hand Marcus Rashford a spot in the front three alongside Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, with Paul Pogba, who continues to be linked with an Old Trafford exit, set for a start in central midfield.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Coleman, Holgate, Keane, Mykolenko; Gordon, Allan, Doucoure, Iwobi; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Telles; Fernandes, Pogba, Fred; Rashford, Ronaldo, Sancho
We say: Everton 1-2 Manchester United
Everton certainly have a result in them at Goodison Park, and they will fancy their chances of causing a damaged Man United team problems on Saturday. That said, Ronaldo's return will boost the Red Devils, and we are expecting a very tight match to swing the way of the 20-time English champions, further deepening Everton's relegation fears at a key period of the campaign.
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