How Ronald Koeman’s knowledge of Romelu Lukaku can help Everton beat Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend
EVERTON travel to Old Trafford on Sunday to face Manchester United... which is the last thing Ronald Koeman needs after a poor display against Tottenham .
Jose Mourinho’s United lost their 100 per cent record in a 2-2 away draw with Stoke on Saturday.
But the Portuguese boss would have been happy to see Romelu Lukaku continue his excellent start to the season.
Football Whispers wonder if Koeman’s knowledge of his former player is enough to help the Toffees pick up points this weekend.
Despite Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s late equaliser, Lukaku added his fourth in four games to give his side a second half lead.
The 24-year-old Belgian is already proving his he is worth every penny of his £75million transfer from Goodison Park this summer.
In 166 games for the Toffees, Lukaku scored 87 times before signing for United.
The former Chelsea striker found the net every 160 minutes for the blue half of Merseyside.
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From his time at Stamford Bridge and loan spell at West Bromwich Albion, the centre-forward failed to find the net against Everton before moving to the Blues in 2013.
Roberto Martinez was Lukaku’s first manager at Everton, but last term, under Koeman’s guidance, the striker scored 25 times under the Dutch boss’ guidance.
That was his best return in the Premier League, and undoubtedly it was the former Saints boss who got the best out of the ever-maturing Belgium international.
As he did on Saturday, Lukaku will face a back three against Everton and despite Koeman’s knowledge, it will be extremely difficult to pin down their former star.
Although Michael Keane has shone at his new club, both Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams have looked off the pace at times this season.
Everton have already struggled to stop both Chelsea and Spurs, so playing away, against one of the best attacks in England this term will be the most difficult task they’ve faced so far.
On Saturday, Mauricio Pochettino’s team attempted 15 shots at Goodison, while United had 18 against Stoke - with Lukaku himself firing off six.
Mourinho has moved to a 4-2-3-1 this term.
The signing of Nemanja Matic has boosted the midfield, allowed Paul Pogba to play with more freedom and contribute more in the final third.
That, in part, has given the attack a whole new dimension.
With Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan both operating as playmakers, their movement and vision has been key to Lukaku’s success.
It was the Armenian midfielder who slipped a pass through the Potters’ back-line and the big striker was able to provide the finish after his initial shot was saved.
Against Swansea, it was a similar situation, Lukaku drifting to the blind side of the defence before finishing on the counter.
When he played for Everton, he was the best attacking option the Toffees had, so opponents could concentrate on limiting how much he saw of the ball.
Isolating the forward, frustrating him, was the best way to play him, but now his team-mates are just as deadly as he is.
Fixating on Lukaku would be a mistake, only opening up space for Marcus Rashford and the other runners from midfield.
Rather than concentrating on how to try and stop the deadly Belgian, Koeman needs to work on fixing his own defence. Manchester United have more than one way to beat his side.
If the Dutch coach tries to rely on his knowledge on the striker rather than look at the bigger picture, it could spell another bad result for the Toffees.