Manchester United host Everton in the Premier League this evening (8pm kick-off) with both sides looking to bounce back after frustrating results last time out.

Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils could only muster a 0-0 draw at home to West Brom on Saturday to put another dent in their top four chances, with their eighth home draw of the campaign, and 11th overall, leaving them five points adrift of neighbours Manchester City in fourth.

However, United will hope to put some pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side, who play tomorrow away at league leaders Chelsea, with victory over Ronald Koeman’s Everton tonight.

The Toffees were comfortably beaten 3-1 by rivals Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Saturday to all but end their top four hopes, but with just one defeat in the 12 league matches prior to their loss at Anfield, Koeman’s men will hope that it was nothing more than a blip on a fine run of form.

Everton are a point behind Arsenal and three adrift of United ahead of this evening’s clash, so there is plenty to play for for both teams at Old Trafford.

So, with the build-up well underway to this evening’s vital encounter, we’ve analysed the THREE key battles that could determine the outcome at Old Trafford tonight…

Marcos Rojo vs Romelu Lukaku

Everton’s Romelu Lukaku is the Premier League’s top-scorer this season, and although he was very quiet at Anfield on Saturday, he’s unlikely to have two below-par games in four days.

The Belgian international has netted 21 goals in 29 league matches this term to sit two goals clear of Tottenham’s Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot, and with six assists as well, it means that he has been involved in over half of the Toffees’ league goals thus far (27 of their 52).

That outlines his absolute importance to Koeman’s team, and thus underlines how significant it is for Marcos Rojo to be at his best for United this evening.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed a renaissance in his Red Devils career this season, starting 15 of their 28 Premier League games, but given that he didn’t play a league match prior to their 4-0 defeat at Chelsea in October, he’s become an invaluable member of Mourinho’s backline.

Lukaku has the pace and strength to cause Rojo serious issues, but if the Argentine international is at the top of his game, he could make it a frustrating evening for the league’s top-scorer.

Ander Herrera vs Idrissa Gueye

Ander Herrera looks set to return to the United midfield this evening after serving a two-match ban.

The Spaniard was sent off against Chelsea in the FA Cup a few weeks ago and has subsequently missed their 3-1 win at Middlesbrough and 0-0 draw with West Brom, but given his stunning displays in the middle this season, he is almost certainly going to return this evening.

The 27-year-old has arguably been United’s player of the season so far given the way he has made a central midfield spot his own, with his defensive capabilities greatly improved, as is his overall play off the ball.

He still carries an attacking threat though, which is what Everton’s Idrissa Gueye will have to kerb at Old Trafford this evening.

The Senegalese international is another who has performed well for the Toffees this season, starting 24 of their 30 Premier League matches, and leapfrogging N’Golo Kante in the tackles made column.

The Chelsea star was the only midfielder above Gueye in that stat last year, yet the Everton man has this term turned it up another level, with his energy, desire, and overall ability to break things up in the middle crucial in Everton’s solid campaign thus far.

He wasn’t at his best against Liverpool on Saturday, yet he quite simply will need to be at Old Trafford tonight otherwise United will have the control and domination of the midfield area.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs Ashley Williams

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return from suspension is a welcome boost for a United side that couldn’t break West Brom down on Saturday.

The Swedish striker has scored 15 Premier League goals this term and 26 overall, which is 16 better than the next highest scorer Juan Mata.

Thus, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see Mourinho’s men struggle against the Baggies on Saturday without Ibrahimovic, given their huge over-reliance on the 35-year-old, and it also gives Everton’s Ashley Williams something else to think about at Old Trafford tonight.

The Welsh captain was one of many Toffees players who underperformed at Anfield on Saturday, and was arguably lucky to stay on the pitch following two pretty poor challenges on Liverpool’s Emre Can.

Nonetheless, the 32-year-old is fit and available for selection, and how well he marshals Ibrahimovic will be key to Everton’s chances.

The Swede will win the majority of the aerial duels between the two, yet on the floor, Williams has the advantage, so it should be an interesting tussle between them this evening.