Five changes for United

In-form Manchester United had a seventh consecutive victory in their sights as they arrived at Everton for today’s Barclays Premier League clash – and manager Alex Ferguson made five changes to the team that outclassed Celtic in the Champions League.

Defenders Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra were back from injury, while midfielder Ryan Giggs returned as captain. Right-back Wes Brown and midfielder Ji-Sung Park were also recalled.

Everton had former United striker Louis Saha in attack alongside Ayegbeni Yakubu, while Joseph Yobo and Phil Neville returned from injury as boss David Moyes looked for his side to end their seven-game winless run.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Fellaini, Osman, Pienaar, Saha, Yakubu. Subs: Nash, Baines, Castillo, Vaughan, Nuno Valente, Rodwell, Anichebe.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Giggs, Park, Berbatov, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Neville, Anderson, Nani, O’Shea, Evans, Tevez.

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)