In the words of the gaffer it’s time to “kick-on” following last week’s Derby loss to City and get back to what United know best – winning.

United face a trip to Goodison this weekend to take on David Moyes’ Everton, and Sir Alex has challenged Wayne Rooney to lead the fight back from the sides derby mauling by putting his old club to the sword.

If the stats are anything to go by then the game represents a good opportunity for United to bounce back and bag all three points.

Since winning the first ever Premier League meeting the two sides, Everton have gone on to win just three of the other 37 encounters. United have triumphed on 28 occasions and there have been just six draws.

The bookies make United odds-on shots at 1.8 to enhance their excellent record against the Toffees, and that looks about right.

They have lost just one of their last 8 away games, and although Everton have lost just two of their last 15 games at home those losses have both come in the last four games.

Rooney, who was left out of the starting line-up in United’s 3-0 win over Aldershot in midweek, is sure to be fresh and eager to put one or two past his old club and he is not surprisingly favourite to break the deadlock and score first at a standout top price of 5.5 with Betfred.

He is an obvious starting point for anyone who bets in that market, along with Chicharito who can be backed at 6.5 with Betfred, Boylesports and Paddy Power.

However given that this is a tough away tie, a safer option is surely to back either in the anytime goal scorer markets.

Both are odds against with Rooney on offer at 2.2 with Betfred and Chicharito at 2.88 with Boylesports.

Given that a win by any score line will be welcomed by club and fans, I am not going to attempt to predict the score line in this one.

However given that United have worryingly kept just three clean sheets in their last 13 Premier League matches, I am going to suggest that the 1.8 on offer with bet365 for both sides to score is worth an interest.