Everton v Manchester United: Key stats and talking points

Undefeated Everton host a Manchester United side bidding for a first away win of the season. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of their meeting at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday (14:00 BST). As timelines go, turbulent doesn't really do justice to the final days of Everton's transfer window. A £40m offer for academy prospect Harrison Armstrong was accepted and then rebuffed following a fan backlash. Four players left on deadline day, including star winger Iliman Ndiaye, with only two brought in. A £40m deal for Monaco forward Folarin Balogun collapsed spectacularly at the 11th hour. The net result is that Everton will play until January with only 18 senior outfield players available. Toffees boss David Moyes used 22 players in the Premier League last season, the fewest of any manager, but even for someone who prefers to work with a smaller squad, Everton's resources look stretched at best for a side who will play at least 17 games before the transfer window opens again in January. One positive on a difficult deadline day was the loan signing of Jack Grealish for a second successive season from Manchester City. Grealish proved to be a popular addition to the Everton squad in 2025-26 before a stress fracture to his foot ended his campaign after a 1-0 win at Aston Villa in January. While Everton's goal output was broadly the same with and without Grealish, their win percentage and points-per-game tallies were both significantly higher with the 30-year-old in the side. Jack Grealish spent last season on loan at Everton [BBC] Despite missing four months of the season, only James Garner (seven) provided more assists than Grealish's six for the club, while Grealish ranked top for fouls won (58) and touches in the opposition box (105). The England international's creative numbers also compared favourably to Ndiaye. Grealish created eight more chances, won 21 more fouls and provided three more assists in the Premier League despite playing 12 fewer games than the Senegal international. Manchester United had challenges of their own during the transfer window having not signed a left-back to offer competition to Luke Shaw. United did still spend about £100m on new players, including marquee signing Carlos Baleba. The central midfielder, who joined for an initial £65m from Brighton, could make his debut this weekend, although United may look to another matchwinner. Captain Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick in the 5-2 win against Ipswich Town and he enjoys playing against Everton. The Portugal international has been involved in 11 goals in 13 Premier League appearances against the Merseyside club, scoring six and assisting five, the joint most of any United player. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes could set a club Premier League record for goal involvements against Everton [BBC] This will be 20th Premier League game of Michael Carrick's second tenure in charge of the club, with no side winning more points than United's 42 during this period. And United tend to do well in this fixture. They have won six of the past eight Premier League games against Everton (D1, L1), keeping a clean sheet in five of those wins.