Just a few weeks ago, Everton was deeply worried about relegation. However, under Moyes' management, there has been an astonishing turnaround in their fortunes. Now, they find themselves ranked higher than Manchester United in the Premier League table.

This marks the latest instance in the season where Everton is ahead of the Red Devils. The last time they finished above Manchester United was in the 2013 - 14 season, when Moyes was managing United. He was dismissed after suffering a defeat at Goodison Park during that tenure.

For the experienced Scottish manager, the current situation is far better than that unfortunate period. Since taking over, he has accumulated more points than any other manager in the league (13 points from six games).

Before Sean Dyche was sacked, Everton managed to win only three out of the 19 league games he led. They scored just seven goals from open play during that time. In contrast, Moyes has achieved more in both aspects in merely six matches, securing four victories and scoring eight open - play goals.

Their outstanding start continued with an impressive win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last weekend. Carlos Alcaraz scored his first goal for the club, which sealed a late victory for the Toffees. In this game, they also scored their first counter - attack goal of the season.

With the top five teams set to qualify for the Champions League next season, Everton is now closer to that goal than to relegation, with a 13 - point gap in both directions.

That should mean the top eight will all earn places in Europe, but a nine-point gap to eighth place looks insurmountable at this stage of the season for Everton, unless this remarkable run of form continues for the rest of the campaign.

Despite facing another club where there is some ill-feeling between the sets of supporters, it is unlikely to reach the same atmosphere levels as the dramatic Merseyside derby in their last outing here, but the reality of leaving Goodison was apparent in the week, as Everton held their first test event at their new waterfront stadium.

In their final fixture against Man United here, the hosts will be desperate to improve on a recent woeful record against the Red Devils, despite their well-documented troubles.

Everton have lost five in a row against United, losing the last four by a combined score of 11-0, and you have to go back to the late-1950s to find the last time they lost five successive matches against a single opponent without scoring (vs. Wolves).

It was a 4-0 win for United in the reverse fixture, which served as something of a false dawn given their struggles since, but even Amorim admitted that scoreline flattered them in a quite bizarre 90 minutes where they scored four goals from an xG of just 0.73.

Amorim's side have gone on to lose eight of their 12 league games since, including five from six at home, but the new manager will hope he can tap into the club's fine record against Everton to seal a third straight win at Goodison.

Last season's meeting here gained huge attention as it came just after Everton's 10-point deduction, leading to huge fan protests both outside and inside the stadium, but that fell flat within three minutes when Alejandro Garnacho scored his Puskas Award-winning overhead kick on the way to another slightly flattering 3-0 win.

That win gives United the chance to win three in a row at this venue for the first time since 2007, while they have also not kept back-to-back clean sheets at Goodison since the mid-1990s.

Few neutrals will fancy the visitors in this one though, as they inexplicably find themselves one point and one place below Everton after their 1-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Attack has been the biggest problem, with Rasmus Hojlund now without a goal in 15, and Joshua Zirzkee on a 12-game drought in the league, with his last goals coming in the reverse fixture back in November.

Only Everton (12) have fired as many blanks as Man United this season (10), and that is the joint-most occasions the Red Devils have failed to score in a game in their Premier League history, and there are still 13 games to play.

The two sides are down to the barebones due to mass numbers of injuries, with both naming very inexperienced benches last weekend, including United, who had eight teenagers in their squad to face Spurs.

Everton will be able to welcome Abdoulaye Doucoure back from suspension, but after Alcaraz's impact on his full debut, it is not a given that the Malian will win his place back.

Key player Iliman Ndiaye remains out with a MCL injury, and he could miss the next six-to-eight weeks, so Jack Harrison is set to deputise again after coming into the side at Palace.

Seven more players are sidelined for the hosts, including Dwight McNeil after knee surgery, and attacking trio Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti, but the form of Beto has alleviated that issue, after he netted his seventh goal of the season at Selhurst Park, and the Guinea-Bissau international is averaging a goal every 114 minutes in the Premier League.

United's list of injuries is just as endless, but Amorim should be able to welcome Leny Yoro, Christian Eriksen, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer back here, after their setbacks with illness and minor knocks.

There will be no Amad Diallo for the rest of the season after he sustained a serious ankle injury, but it is in midfield and defensive areas where the visitors are most stretched, with Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount both out.

A return for Yoro would be important, because United are without Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Jonny Evans at the back, but Victor Lindelof is available, and was the only senior player on their bench in North London last weekend.

Everton possible starting lineup:

Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Lindstrom, Gueye, Garner, Alcaraz, Harrison; Beto

Manchester United possible starting lineup:

Onana; Dalot, Mazraoui, Maguire, De Ligt, Dorgu; Fernandes, Casemiro; Zirkzee, Hojlund, Garnacho