Martial on a mission against Merseysiders

Thursday 05 January 2023 12:00

Anthony Martial hopes to be fit to face Everton on Friday in the Emirates FA Cup as he bids to continue his outstanding record against the Toffees.

Our no.9 suffered a knock when trying to convert a teasing centre by Casemiro during the second half of Tuesday night's 3-0 win over Bournemouth, and was withdrawn in the 69th minute, with Anthony Elanga coming on in his place.

However, manager Erik ten Hag suggested he expected the Frenchman to be available for the third-round clash with Frank Lampard's Merseysiders at Old Trafford.

Video
Anthony Martial just loves scoring against Everton!

The 27-year-old striker has scored more times against Everton than any other opponents, with seven goals in 14 games, in all competitions.

Although he was forced off in the first half of the 2-1 away win earlier this season due to injury, Martial scored in our last Old Trafford meeting with the Blues, netting just before half-time in the 1-1 draw in October 2021.

If he plays in the 20:00 GMT kick-off, it will also mean he has come up against the Goodison outfit more than any other club, except Manchester City (also 15 times).

 

When his exceptional past form against Everton was put to Martial, he told United Review, the official matchday programme: “I must admit it’s not something that I watch closely but you’re right, I do have a good stats record against Everton, and I’ll be doing everything I can to keep that going.

“Clearly, this is not going to be an easy match. It is up to us to do everything we can to turn the match in our favour.

"[But] it’s always that bit better for us, playing at home, and with the 12th man of the supporters right behind us."

The centre-forward singled out his late semi-final winner against Everton in 2016 as his favourite cup memory, as he latched onto a pass by Ander Herrera to settle a tense clash in extra-time.

Louis van Gaal's side went on to lift the trophy, beating Crystal Palace 2-1 in the final.

“I would say the semi-final match we played against Everton," he volunteered as his finest cup moment. "Which was an incredible game. It was just amazing and I would say it was one of the most memorable moments of my professional career.”

“It [the celebration] was not planned, no. It was very much in the moment, as the goal came just before the end of the match, and I just wanted to share that moment with the fans, as they had been incredible throughout the match.”

Video
Recall how United overcame Everton in the 2016 FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Repeating that triumph in 2016 is, of course, the plan for the Reds under Ten Hag.

Martial is certainly determined that the current side lands some silverware this year as we bid to maintain our impressive run of form since the resumption of domestic football.

"It was great," he said of winning his first major trophy back in that 2016 final against Palace. "As we always set out to win trophies and victories like that are very important for us.

"As I’ve said, we always want to win as many trophies as possible, and this is a competition where we are still on track to progress. We are going to give it everything we can to win it.”

Read the exclusive interview with Anthony Martial in full in Friday's United Review, the official matchday programme.

Recommended: