ESPN Soccernet Preview: Manchester United v Everton

• Live on ESPN UK at 17.30 GMT

Two defeats in three games have left Manchester United five points behind leaders Chelsea and at a low ebb in the Premier League, while the visit of Everton will only dredge up memories of last season's painful FA Cup semi-final defeat on penalties. But boasting a record of seven wins in nine games at Old Trafford this season, Sir Alex Ferguson will be expecting a victory against a team placed 12th in the league as he looks to restate his side's title credentials.

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Sir Alex Ferguson will have to call on the kids

• Jon Champion: Fergie takes seat for Rodwell audition

Ferguson's two-game touchline ban following his criticism of Alan Wiley has not yet come into effect so the United boss will be patrolling the touchline with his usual authority. Opposite him will be David Moyes - a man often tipped as a successor to Ferguson but wrestling with a succession of fitness problems that explain Everton's lowly status at present. Indeed, the Toffees look in danger of ceding the top-six place they have made their own in recent years.

Everton ended a run of four games without a victory when defeating West Ham 2-1 in their last outing but the Merseysiders have not won at Old Trafford since August 1992 - a game which witnessed the Premier League debut of a certain Ryan Giggs.

Manchester United player in focus: Wayne Rooney. After a blistering start to the new season, Rooney has scored just once in his past nine games for club and country and will be determined to end his dry spell against his boyhood club. Everton fans have never forgiven Rooney for the manner of his departure to United in 2004 but with Cristiano Ronaldo in Spain, he is the undoubted darling of Old Trafford.

Everton player in focus: Louis Saha. Injuries prevented the Frenchman from achieving his full potential at United but a move to Goodison has given him a new lease of life. While his fitness remains somewhat precarious, Saha has been in fine form this season, scoring seven goals in eight league starts, and Everton's hopes of a shock will likely rest on his shoulders.

Key battle: Nemanja Vidic vs. Marouane Fellaini. The two players are not natural opponents in a positional sense, but will no doubt pick each other up at set pieces and their battle could be pivotal. Fellaini is an evident aerial threat thanks to his towering frame but Vidic, who returned from injury for Serbia in midweek, is no slouch himself and both will be real dangers on Saturday.

Tactics: United will field Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, who became Bulgaria's record scorer on Wednesday night, as a front two but the composition of their midfield is far less certain. Against a physical Everton midfield, Ferguson is likely to field Anderson at the expense of Paul Scholes, with Nani and Valencia providing creativity from wide positions. Everton will pack the midfield and hope to hit United on the break, or exploit Fellaini's height at set pieces.

Quotes: Sir Alex Ferguson on top-four challengers: "I could toss a coin and that could be my best chance of deciding who could break into the top four out of Tottenham, Aston Villa, Everton and Manchester City with all the money they have. That's a difficult competition in itself and any one of them is capable of doing that."

Tony Hibbert on facing former team-mate Wayne Rooney: "There's always banter with Wayne and I talk to him a lot throughout the games. He always gives a lot back. It's a good laugh."

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Jack Rodwell is believed to be a target for Sir Alex Ferguson

In the news: United have been linked with a possible move for Everton's new rising star, Jack Rodwell. Having taken Wayne Rooney from Goodison in 2004, it has been reported that Ferguson will swoop for Rodwell in January as he fears that Chelsea, looking to reinforce in anticipation of a future transfer ban, will target the England Under-21 international.

Manchester United team news: Ferguson has problems in defence as Rio Ferdinand remains sidelined with his prolonged fitness issues and Jonny Evans and John O'Shea picked up injuries on international duty and are doubts, while Fabio is out and Gary Neville is suspended. However Nemanja Vidic is in line to make his first league appearance since October 25 after appearing for Serbia on Wednesday, opposite Old Trafford team-mate Park Ji-sung. Michael Carrick is a doubt after sustaining a thigh injury prior to England's friendly against Brazil.

Everton team news: The Toffees remain limited by the long-term absence of key men Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka, but Phil Neville, Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman all have an outside chance of featuring at Old Trafford after spells out. Former United striker Louis Saha has been nursing a calf injury and is a doubt while Rodwell was forced to miss the Under-21 game between England and Portugal due to a groin problem. Goalkeeper Tim Howard also failed to represent United States due to a foot injury while Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who scored twice for Russia at the weekend, is suspended following his dismissal against Aston Villa.

Probable Manchester United line-up (4-4-2): Van der Sar, Rafael, Vidic, Brown, Evra, Fletcher, Anderson, Nani, Valencia, Berbatov, Rooney.

Probable Everton line-up (4-5-1): Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Heitinga, Rodwell, Cahill, Pienaar, Fellaini, Saha.

Soccernet prediction: The weight of history is firmly against Everton and do not expect them to end their 17-year wait for a win at Old Trafford. Against the under strength Toffees, Ferguson's side should secure a narrow victory.