Man Utd start out on a make-or-break run of fixtures on Saturday with a home date against in-form Everton.
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Manchester United start out on a make-or-break run of fixtures on Saturday with a home date against in-form Everton.
The Red Devils know a season which has promised so much hinges on how successfully they can negotiate their next five games.
A meeting with the Toffees this weekend is followed by a two-legged UEFA Champions League semi-final against Schalke and crucial domestic fixtures against Arsenal and Chelsea.
Fortunately for Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who head the top-flight table by six points, their recent record against Everton suggests they will make a positive start to their testing run.
United have won 14 and lost none of their last 17 Premier League games against the Toffees at Old Trafford.
They have also won their last 12 top-flight fixtures on home soil, with three clean sheets secured in their last four league outings.
Everton will make the short journey to their North West rivals fully aware of their struggles against United during the Premier League era.
They have won only four of their 37 meetings to date, with the Red Devils having proved to be a tough nut to crack down the years.
David Moyes' men did, however, snatch the unlikeliest of points off United in the reverse fixture earlier in the season and have scored three goals in the 90th minute or later in their last two games against Ferguson's men.
The Toffees will arrive at Old Trafford unbeaten in seven, with 17 points collected during that run.
They have won their last two fixtures, but have not won three Premier League away games in a row since December 2008.
Team news
Darren Fletcher is unlikely to figure for Manchester United as he is still working his way back to full fitness following an illness.
Owen Hargreaves will also play no part as he has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder problem.
Paul Scholes misses out through suspension, while Dimitar Berbatov, who sat out Tuesday's goalless draw at Newcastle with a virus, has a slight groin strain.
Everton welcomed Seamus Coleman and Jack Rodwell back into the first-team picture against Blackburn last time out and they should be involved again.
John Heitinga is a doubt with a hamstring injury picked up against Rovers, while Louis Saha and Marouane Fellaini (both ankle) definitely miss out.
Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta are closing on a return to action, but Saturday's encounter is likely to come too soon for them.
Possible starting XIs
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Rooney, Hernandez.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Rodwell, Neville, Osman, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford.
