Manchester United are set to pay a visit to Merseyside on Sunday afternoon to take on Roberto Martinez and his Everton team.
The last time the two sides went head to head, United escaped with a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford. However, a lot has changed since then.
Following the result, Everton plummeted to 17th place with six points, just two above the relegation zone. United meanwhile sat in fourth place with 11 points.
Expectations were sky high for Everton this year after missing out on Champions League football by just two points a year ago, finishing in fifth place which was a very successful campaign for a club that has spent the past decade around mid table. With the permanent signing of striker Romelu Lukaku, the additions of Gareth Barry, Muhamed Besic and Samuel Eto’o, things were looking positive for the Blues.
However, things haven't gone well for the Toffees. Since their last meeting with Louis van Gaal’s United, they have won eight, drew eight and lost ten, including a spell of four consecutive defeats in the Christmas period. Lukaku’s struggles, injuries to key defenders and the inability to establish a rhythm have all been reasons to point toward for the disastrous campaign they have endured.
Although Everton are now five places higher than they were in October, it is not something the players will be patting themselves on the back for. Martinez and his men will be sorely disappointed with how things have gone for them.
The Reds from Manchester have suffered a different fate, however.
After the victory against Everton, United went on to take just two points from the next three games which saw them drop to eighth in the table. United would follow that up with six consecutive victories, propelling them back into the top four race.
United’s roller coaster ride throughout this campaign has been highlighted by the number of injuries to key players they have suffered. Despite being unable to play a consistent lineup, van Gaal has found a way to keep United in the thick of the chase for Champions League football.
A brief setback with a draw away to West Ham and a loss in Swansea saw United respond by going on yet another six game winning streak that now sees them sit third in the standings. Although they defeated Everton in October, they have suffered with an identity crisis with van Gaal trying to find the right lineup and formation to deploy on a consistent basis.
Everton have moved away from the relegation battle but nothing has changed in terms of their football and they are still struggling to find results. United meanwhile will be happy with the way things have gone of late, but still remain far from assured of a top four spot.
The last time the two teams met at Goodison Park, a year ago, Everton took the three points which was subsequently former manager David Moyes’ final game in charge of United.
With United finishing seventh a year ago and Everton fifth, things have definitely changed since then and their last meeting in October.