Man Utd would be INSTANTLY improved by these two Everton players

Robin Bairner

Updated: 9 Mar 2024 08:51 GMT
4 min read

Erik ten Hag, Everton, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Manchester United's Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday is an increasingly important one for the Champions League hopes of Erik ten Hag's side.

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Sitting sixth in the standings, United will likely need to make the top four to return to Europe's top table, yet 11 points distant from Aston Villa with just 11 matches remaining, they can barely afford a single slip.

The Old Trafford outfit are set to have a facelift over the summer, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to revolutionise the club both in terms of their backroom and on-field staff.

Although Everton find themselves in the relegation battle as they sit 16th in the Premier League table, the Toffees have players who could improve Erik ten Hag’s squad both in the future and instantly.

United are monitoring the progress of Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana, but there are other players at Goodison Park who would be able to provide an instant upgrade to the Old Trafford team.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and centre-back James Tarkowski are the two Everton players who would immediately go into the Man Utd starting XI, data analytics firm SciSports show.

Giving each player a SciSkill based on hundreds of in-game data points, a combined XI would be dominated by Man Utd stars with these two Everton players slotting in.

© IMAGO - Jordan Pickford and James Tarkowski, Everton

Pickford is rated higher than under-fire Red Devils keeper Andre Onana. The England No.1 boasts a SciSkill of 98 while his rival at Old Trafford has a score of 93.5.

Tarkowski, meanwhile, scores 97.6 at centre-back behind Raphael Varane’s 99.1 but ahead of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez.

Branthwaite might expect to have a shout in this area but while his rating is rapidly rising after an excellent campaign, he does not match his more experienced colleague yet.

Man Utd hit by injury

Everton’s best player, according to SciSports, is left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko but Luke Shaw edges him out in this area of the field. With the England defender out this weekend, the nod for our combined XI goes to the Ukraine star.

Similarly, in attack Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the best fit centre-forward, with Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial both missing for the Red Devils.