Manchester United’s trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night was the talk of the Premier League, with Michael Carrick’s revitalized Red Devils seeking to extend their unbeaten run and solidify their push for a Champions League spot. The stakes were high, as United entered the fixture in fifth place—level on points with Chelsea in fourth but with a game in hand—while Everton, under the experienced David Moyes, were still clinging to hopes of a top-six finish despite recent setbacks.
The match, set for an 8pm UK (3pm EST) kickoff on February 23, 2026, was broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with streaming options available via Sky Sports + and NOW TV. Fans across the globe tuned in, with coverage extending to USA Network, Stan Sport in Australia, Fubo in Canada, and beIN Sports for viewers in the Middle East. For those traveling or facing geo-restrictions, VPNs were a popular workaround to catch the action live.
Both squads came into the contest with injury concerns and suspensions. Everton were without Jack Grealish, sidelined for the rest of the season with a broken foot, and Jake O’Brien, suspended after a red card in their recent defeat to Bournemouth. Manchester United, meanwhile, missed Patrick Dorgu, Mathjis de Ligt, and potentially Mason Mount, whose availability was to be determined late. The predicted starting lineups reflected these absences: Everton lined up with Pickford in goal, a back four of Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, and Mykolenko, with Garner and Gueye anchoring midfield. Up front, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, George, and Barry completed the attack. United countered with Lammens between the posts, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, and Shaw in defense, Casemiro and Mainoo in midfield, and an attacking quartet of Amad, Fernandes, Cunha, and Mbeumo.
Recent form favored the visitors. United, under Carrick’s stewardship, had dropped points for the first time in their previous outing—a 1-1 draw at West Ham—after rattling off four consecutive wins, including eye-catching victories over Manchester City and Arsenal. The Red Devils’ attack had been firing on all cylinders, averaging 2.2 goals per game under Carrick and scoring in every match since his appointment. “We’re going there in good form, in a good mood and good spirit and trying to keep this run going as much as we can,” Carrick remarked before the game, acknowledging both the challenge and the opportunity that awaited his side in Liverpool.
Everton, on the other hand, were looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth—a result that snapped their five-match unbeaten streak and put a dent in their European ambitions. The Toffees had struggled to turn their new home into a fortress, winning just four of thirteen league matches at Hill Dickinson Stadium and failing to secure victory in their last six competitive home games. Despite this, Moyes’ side had shown a knack for finding the net, scoring in each of their last nine matches, and eight of those saw both teams get on the scoresheet.
“I think the big thing that I wanted us to do at Everton was to make us competitive with the so-called big teams at the top of the league. And I think we have tried to do that. We haven’t won all the games, but we have been competitive,” Moyes stated, highlighting the club’s resilience even in the face of adversity. The manager’s experience was not lost on Carrick, who said, “David [Moyes] has got so much experience in the league so going there, seeing him again will be nice but we know it’s going to be a tough game and we’re ready for that.”
Statistically, United were the favorites, with betting markets giving them a 47% chance of victory compared to Everton’s 28%. The over/under was set at 2.5 goals, reflecting expectations of an open, attacking contest. United’s away games had been especially lively—an astonishing 92% of their road matches saw both teams score, the best rate in the Premier League. Everton’s own scoring consistency, despite their home struggles, made the “both teams to score” prediction a compelling one. Analysts and betting experts alike picked United to edge the contest, expecting both teams to find the net.
The head-to-head history added another layer of intrigue. Manchester United had dominated the fixture in recent years, winning six of the last eight encounters. However, the two most recent meetings ended without a United victory, and only one of the last five matchups saw both teams score. Yet, with United’s recent offensive explosion and Everton’s persistent ability to notch at least one goal, many anticipated a break from the recent low-scoring trend.
Key players were set to play pivotal roles. Bruno Fernandes, United’s talismanic midfielder, had been involved in ten goals in his last nine Premier League away appearances (two goals, eight assists), and his creativity was expected to be crucial in breaking down Everton’s compact defensive setup. For Everton, the absence of Grealish and O’Brien was a blow, but the likes of Dewsbury-Hall and Barry were tasked with carrying the attacking threat.
Tactically, the game promised an intriguing battle. United, now playing a more aggressive and risk-tolerant style under Carrick, were expected to push forward and test Everton’s defensive organization. Moyes’ side, likely to sit deep and play on the counter, would hope to replicate their earlier 1-0 victory at Old Trafford this season—an encounter defined by defensive resolve and a well-taken early goal. For Everton, a win would be a massive boost to their European qualification hopes, while United were eager to capitalize on their momentum and leapfrog Chelsea into the top four.
With both teams boasting attacking form but also facing defensive vulnerabilities, the match looked set for fireworks. Would United’s resurgence continue, or could Everton rediscover their home advantage and throw a wrench into the Red Devils’ Champions League ambitions? As the teams took to the pitch under the floodlights at Hill Dickinson Stadium, fans everywhere settled in for what promised to be one of the weekend’s most compelling Premier League showdowns.
As the action unfolded, all eyes remained fixed on Liverpool, with the outcome poised to shape the race for European places in the weeks ahead. Whether United’s new era under Carrick would keep rolling or Everton would spring a surprise, the drama at Hill Dickinson Stadium was far from over.