Everton vs Man United: Carrick’s Run Faces Monday Night Test

Four wins from five. That’s Michael Carrick’s record since replacing Ruben Amorim as Manchester United manager in January – and the streak has dragged United from sixth into fourth, right in the thick of the Champions League race. On Monday night at 8pm GMT, he takes his squad to a stadium they’ve never visited before: Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, a ground where the Toffees have somehow failed to win in their last five league outings.

Something has to give. United are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League in 2026. Everton, under David Moyes in his second stint, beat United 1-0 at Old Trafford in November. Both clubs have had nearly two weeks off since their last fixture, making this one of the freshest – and hardest to predict – matchups of the weekend.

The Carrick Effect Is Real

The turnaround under Carrick hasn’t been subtle. He’s beaten Manchester City 2-0, Arsenal 3-2, Tottenham 2-0 and Fulham 3-2. The only dropped points came in a 1-1 draw at West Ham on February 10. United have scored at least two goals in four of their last five league games, and Benjamin Sesko has found the net five times in his last six starts.

Before Carrick arrived, United were stumbling. Amorim was sacked on January 5 after falling out with the recruitment department, and caretaker Darren Fletcher oversaw an FA Cup exit and a 2-2 draw with Burnley. Carrick’s impact has been immediate: a clear defensive structure, sharper transitions, and Sesko finally looking like the striker United paid big money for.

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The question is whether this form holds against a Moyes side that knows how to set up against top-four opposition. Everton won at Villa and Fulham away earlier this year and have scored in each of their last five league matches. They’re eighth – not a team to take lightly.

Team News: Who’s Missing?

United will be without Patrick Dorgu, still recovering from a muscle injury picked up during the Arsenal win. Matthijs de Ligt hasn’t played since late November due to a back problem, though Carrick hasn’t ruled him out. Mason Mount is closer to a return and could feature from the bench.

Everton are missing Jake O’Brien, suspended after a red card in the 2-1 loss to Bournemouth. Jack Grealish, on loan from Manchester City, is done for the season after foot surgery. But Jarrad Branthwaite is fit again following his own hamstring operation, which gives Moyes a significant defensive boost.

📊 Key Stat: Everton are winless in five home league matches since a 2-0 victory over Burnley on December 6 – the longest home drought in Moyes’ Everton career. (Source: WhoScored)

The attacking options are healthier. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Illiman Ndiaye are both back from injury and AFCON duty, while Thierno Barry has been Everton’s sharpest forward since December with five goals in all competitions, including two against Forest.

“Everton at home are always a tough game. David Moyes is one of the most experienced managers in the league – we know what’s coming.” – Michael Carrick, Man United pre-match press conference

Why This Game Matters for the Top Four

United sit fourth on 49 points. Chelsea are third on 51. A win here would close the gap to two points with a game in hand. A loss – especially to an Everton side that already took three points off them this season – would let the chasing pack back in. Aston Villa and Bournemouth are both within touching distance, and the calendar only gets harder from here.

For Everton, the maths points toward Europe. They’re eighth and within a single win of the Conference League spots. Moyes knows that beating a top-four team at home – their new home – would do more for his squad’s belief than any training session.

What to Watch on Monday Night

Two things to track. First: Sesko versus Branthwaite. United’s striker has been electric under Carrick, but Branthwaite is one of the best young centre-backs in the league when fit. That matchup could decide everything. Second: United’s away record. Despite the headline results, Carrick’s only away wins have come at Wolves (rock bottom) and Arsenal. This is a different kind of test – a physical, compact Everton side at a ground with a hostile atmosphere that United have never played at before in the league.

Kick-off is 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports Monday Night Football.