Manchester United are in FA Cup action for the first time this season tonight, as they face Everton at Old Trafford.
It's been a positive few weeks for United since the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup, with a feel-good factor back among the Reds faithful. Erik ten Hag 's side have won three from three in the Premier League while also beating Burnley in the Carabao Cup in their last four games, keeping clean sheets in each match as United surged into the Premier League top four.
Last season saw United suffer a shock defeat by Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fourth round at Old Trafford, with the Championship side edging past United on penalties. Ten Hag will be hoping his side can go further in the cup this year, and they'll fancy their chances against Everton who have won just one of their last 11 games in all competitions.
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So, could United book their spot in the FA Cup fourth round tonight? We simulated the game in order to get a score prediction. To complete this simulation, we used FIFA 23 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions.
We predict that United could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Fred, McTominay, Eriksen; Antony, Rashford, Garnacho.
We predict that the Toffees could line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Pickford; Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Onana, Gueye; McNeil, Calvert-Lewin, Gray.
Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho came closest for United in the opening 45 minutes, but both forwards failed to hit the target in a dominant half from the hosts. All that was missing from United's performance was a goal, and it finally came after 52 minutes through the in-form Rashford.
Garnacho used his speed to edge past Seamus Coleman down the left, cutting across the defender using his low centre of gravity to break into the box. As the Argentine reached the byline, his pullback was met by Rashford who fired across goal and into the far corner of the net.
Everton struggled to escape their own half for most of the game, with the United backline solid once again, limiting the Toffees to just one shot in the opening 70 minutes. Rashford, Antony and Tyrell Malacia all tested Jordan Pickford in the second half, but the best chance fell to substitute Bruno Fernandes with minutes remaining.
United were camped deep in the Everton half and as they worked the ball around the visitors' box, Scott McTominay spotted Fernandes in a pocket of space, picking out the Portuguese midfielder with a driven pass forward. Fernandes turned and shot in quick succession, but some good reflexes from the 'keeper denied the United captain.
FIFA 23 predicted final score: United 1-0 Everton
Here are the full-time match stats.
FIFA 23 predicts that United could dominate Everton in the FA Cup tonight, but the scoreline may not reflect their dominance, with Ten Hag's side edging into the next round with a narrow 1-0 win. The simulation saw United keep another clean sheet with an assertive defensive performance, whilst Rashford starred again, scoring the only goal of the game.
What do you think the final score will be? Let us know in the comments!
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