Robin van Persie captains Manchester United in Wayne Rooney’s absence as they host Everton from the friendly confines of Old Trafford at 7am ET on NBCSN or live online at NBC Sports Live Extra.
On the other end, Everton has barely returned 24 hours ago from a long Europa League trip to Russia and come up against a Red Devils side that has had a week to rest.
Rest they need, as Manchester United have been battered and bruised this season. Louis van Gaal has picked 19-year-old Paddy McNair to start at the back, leaving Tyler Blackett on the bench as the Dutchman looks to shore up his defense after shaky results.
Falcao and van Persie will pair up front, and in the absence of Rooney, Juan Mata and Angel Di Maria will be in charge of creativity from the midfield.
WATCH LIVE: Manchester United vs Everton live on NBC Sports Live Extra
Marouane Fellaini also returns to the United bench, and 21-year-old defender Tom Thorpe also makes the substitute ranks.
For Everton, the squad is also staggering a bit into the match, as the team is down James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman after the midweek trip, while Kevin Mirallas is a long-term miss.
Roberto Martinez has chosen a very attacking lineup, with Romelu Lukaku plodding the striker position, supported by Steven Naismith, Gareth Barry, Aiden McGeady, and Steven Pienaar.
22-year-old Muhamed Besic, who signed in the summer from Hungarian side Ferencvarosi, starts in the defensive midfield for the second straight Premier League start.
LINEUPS:
Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, McNair, Rojo, Shaw; Blind; Valencia, Di Maria; Mata; Falcao, van Persie.
Bench: Lindegaard, Thorpe, Blackett, Fletcher, Fellaini, Januzaj, Wilson.
Everton: Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka, Stones, Baines; Barry, Besic, Pienaar, Mcgeady Naismith; Lukaku.
Bench: Joel, Gibson, Eto’o, Oviedo, Osman, Browning, Alcaraz.
