An Anthony Martial start vs Everton might not be a bad thing for Manchester United

Manchester United supporters will be dreading the prospect of Rasmus Hojlund's potential absence at Goodison Park on Sunday. Evertonians would dread the sight of his probable replacement, Anthony Martial.

The last three years have been Martial's most miserable at United: 18 goals since the start of the 2020-21 season, lengthy lay-offs, an uninspiring loan in Seville and absent for the European Championship and World Cup.

And during that period Martial still scored against Everton in December 2020, again in October 2021, he teed up Antony to equalise at Goodison in October 2022 and netted the clincher at Old Trafford in April.

READ MORE: United could be without nine players vs Everton

READ MORE: Who United need to buy and sell in the January transfer window

Everton have been Martial's patsies since he was first pitted against them eight years ago at Goodison. He had Seamus Coleman on toast in a surprisingly accomplished 3-0 victory for United on a sombre day as Everton mourned Howard Kendall in October 2015.

Coleman, an Everton stalwart once of interest to United, was sufficiently spooked by Martial's entrance in the teams' last fixture that his lapse resulted in Martial's contest-killing side-footer.

Martial is as much of a scourge to Everton as Pascal Gross is to United. In Martial's first season in England, there were winners against Everton at Old Trafford and in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Goodison Park is the away ground Martial has graced the joint most in his United career.

Martial has eight goals in 16 games against Everton. Roberto Martinez, Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez and Sean Dyche have all been powerless to halt Martial. Frank Lampard is the only