Manchester United’s nine-point lead in the Premier League is partly down to success against other big clubs but Champions League challengers Everton visit Old Trafford on Sunday having outfoxed them in August.
Everton fans will be proud to call their fifth-placed side “big” as they again push for the top four despite modest means compared to United and second-placed champions Manchester City.
However, apart from August’s aberration, United’s record is so good against those in the upper echelons of the Premier League that Everton might have more of a chance by reverting to their old role as underdogs bravely battling for a famous scalp.
“[In the league] you hope that the return we’ve had from the big games is going to be significant. We’ve won at Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and we were 30 seconds away from a really good result at Tottenham,” United boss Ferguson told the club’s official Inside United magazine.
“All in all we’ve had a good return from these kinds of games and hopefully they will prove significant at the end of the season.”
David Moyes’ Everton sit three points behind Tottenham, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot, after a solid season marked by the mercurial midfield talents and goals of Marouane Fellaini.