Roy Keane was left stunned by Ian Wright’s prediction that Everton will do a job on Manchester United this weekend, insisting trouble at Goodison Park ‘won’t turn them into Barcelona’.
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With the international break over, United head to Merseyside on Sunday afternoon with Everton reeling from a 10-point deduction for violating the competition’s profit and sustainability rules.
It leaves Sean Dyche’s side joint-bottom for the Premier League with Burnley on four points.
Everton will appeal the decision handed down last week with a charged atmosphere at Goodison expected when United come to town.
The Toffees head into that game unbeaten in their last four, beating Crystal Palace away last time out having also held Brighton to a draw.
Former Arsenal star Wright predicts a fierce response from the home crowd in support of their beleaguered side, backing them to beat United ‘3-1 or 3-0’ in his match predictions alongside Keane on Stick to Football.
The former United captain was having none of it, however.
‘The atmosphere won’t turn them into f*****g into Barcelona! It’s still the same players,’ Keane said.
Wright continued: ‘This Everton side with how they are going to feel against this United side, I fancy them. I’d go 3-1, no, 3-0 Everton.’
An incredulous Keane replied: ‘If United score the first goal they will be booing them. Everton are down and everyone thinks that because they have had bad news they will turn up and be like Barcelona. At home they are still a bit dodgy.’
The two, teaming up for their predictions against Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, eventually settled on a 2-2 draw, not before Wright added: ‘I guarantee you it will be 3-2 Everton.’
United boss Erik ten Hag expects a response from the home side but says the weight of the problems at the club could also work against them.
Asked if his side are facing Everton at the an inopportune moment, ten Hag said: ‘That’s definitely the case. But we can’t do anything about it. You have to take it like it is but of course, they get more fuel but that can also work against them.
‘But it’s not about that, it’s about us. We have to focus on the game and our way of playing. We have to make sure we are ready and we start the game with the right attitude. It’s always about a winning attitude.’
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