Premier League preview: Everton v Manchester United

Robin van Persie

When Manchester United travel to Goodison Park, Wayne Rooney is always the name on everyone's lips. However, this will not be the case on Monday.

It was said on many occasions throughout last season that Sir Alex Ferguson's biggest fear was losing the Premier League title by virtue of goal difference.

Less than 100 days ago that's exactly what happened.

To make matters worse it was the club's bitter rivals Manchester City – no longer just "noisy", now unapologetically deafening – who snatched the title from United's grasp thanks to Sergio Aguero, whose last-kick-of-the-game winner against QPR will be difficult to top this season in terms of sheer drama.

Losing out on "number 20", as it is referred to at Old Trafford, hurt everyone associated with the club – but none more so than their manager, who reacted by spending £24million on last season's Premier League top scorer and current PFA Footballer of the Year.

Of all the summer changes, the sight of Robin van Persie in Manchester United apparel will be the strangest.

The Netherlands international only put pen to paper on Friday, but Ferguson is expected to hand the former Arsenal star his debut away at Everton on Monday, deployed just ahead of ex-Toffee Rooney in a new-look star-studded Manchester United forward-line.

Clearly, Ferguson is not prepared to experience the gut-wrenching lows of last season ever again, and the veteran Scot is guaranteed goals from one of the finest strikers on the continent.

Van Persie, though, will be under pressure to deliver the goods from the moment the first ball is kicked at Goodison Park. With Manchester City almost certain to beat newly-promoted Southampton a day earlier, Ferguson knows how important – if only for psychological reasons – it is to keep the pace and send out a message to the reigning champions.

That's because Everton away is not a straightforward fixture for any team – as City discovered last season, when they suffered one of their five league defeats.

United have also had their problems against David Moyes' men in recent seasons. One of the primary reasons for the Red Devils surrendering their eight-point lead in the previous campaign was the 4-4 draw at Old Trafford in April, when the Toffees showcased their never-say-die attitude and salvaged a point despite being two goals down with seven minutes remaining.

Earlier in the season, United secured a hard-fought 1-0 win in the blue corner of Merseyside – but that was their first win there for almost four years.

Everton may lack the financial clout of the big guns, including United, but in Moyes they have one of the division's most astute managers. Retaining his services was a real feat for the club's chairman Bill Kenwright who, like the supporters, will be quietly optimistic ahead of their opening fixture despite losing one of their most promising youngsters this summer.

Jack Rodwell certainly has a bright future in the game, but he is now at Manchester City and Everton focus on the future. Bringing back Steven Pienaar from Tottenham will have softened the blow considerably, while Steven Naismith has the potential to make an impact after signing from Rangers.

Of course, Moyes will be slightly more fearful about facing United now than he was this time last week. After all, it was a moment of magic conjured from the devastating left boot of Van Persie that downed his team at the Emirates Stadium last December.

It would not be a huge surprise if the Dutchman marked his Manchester United debut with a similar flash of inspiration.

Another possible reason why Ferguson was so keen to wrap up the deal before the start of the season was because he had this fixture in mind - knowing it was the only way to take the limelight off Rooney for once.

Although still a Toffee at heart, no-one will be more determined to score than the Croxteth-born striker, who always receives his fair share of stick by the fans that once adored him.

The Rooney-Van Persie partnership has got the United fans salivating – and they will get a sneak preview of what lies in store for the rest of the campaign on Monday night.

Prediction: Everton 0 Manchester United 2

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