Expectations weigh heavily on United

Analysing the quality and potential of Manchester United under Louis van Gaal is proving a complicated process, as his players come to terms with new tactics, new team-mates and new challenges; but it may well become a little easier after a fixture against Everton tomorrow that has been an interesting barometer of United’s health in recent years.

Although United’s rivalry with Liverpool has always been far sharper, their home result against the men from Goodison has been a pretty reliable indication of the team’s title potential. Of course, it has been a largely impressive record — in 22 years of Premier League football, United have won 16 of the home games against Everton, scoring 45 goals — but it is the years in which they failed to win that make more interesting analysis.

Last year’s 1-0 defeat for instance, secured by a late goal from Bryan Oviedo, was the start of a downward spiral that eventually cost David Moyes his job. The ignominy of losing against his former club, and being booed by the away fans, was followed by a 1-0 home reverse against Newcastle United — the first time United had lost back-to-back home games since 2001-02. Within four months, he was on his way out of Old Trafford as United went on to finish seventh in the table, their worst placing in Premier League history.