28/07/2017 10:29, Report by Adam Higgins and Fin Maciver

Manchester United and Everton have produced many intriguing spectacles down the years and, with the new Premier League campaign just a couple of weeks away, the sides will soon lock horns again.

After facing Stoke City immediately following the first international break, the Reds welcome the team from the blue half of Merseyside to the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday 17 September, with the return clash at Goodison Park currently scheduled for New Year's Day (1 January 2018).

There has already been some business between the clubs this summer, with Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku joining the Reds and Wayne Rooney re-joining the club where he began his career after spending 13 successful years at Old Trafford. Ahead of the big kick-off, check out our factfile on the Toffees below...

EVERTON

Manager: Ronald Koeman made his name as a coach at Ajax and PSV before catching the attention of Southampton – where he led the Saints to sixth and seventh finishes in the Premier League respectively in his two seasons at St Mary's, guiding the south-coast club to their highest-ever points total in the top flight and to European football. In his debut season at Everton last term, the former Netherlands international also steered the Toffees to Europa League qualification by finishing seventh in the league after a progressive debut campaign in which youth development was a key factor, with a number of young players breaking into the first team. Koeman is one of few professional football managers who keeps in touch with fans on social media through his own personal Twitter account.   

Stadium: Although Everton are still actively pursuing a move to a new stadium, Goodison Park remains one of the oldest and most atmospheric grounds in the Premier League and world football alike, having first opened in 1892. The Walton-based stadium has been used to hold a number of other high-profile football matches in the past, including the 1894 FA Cup final and five games at the 1966 World Cup, in which hosts England famously triumphed. With a capacity of 40,157, it will be the ninth-biggest venue in the top flight next season.

Last season: After successive 11th-place finishes under Roberto Martinez, the Toffees returned to their accustomed top-half position in 2016/17 under Koeman's stewardship. Although it was a forgettable year in the domestic cup competitions after third-round exits in both the EFL Cup and Emirates FA Cup, the league campaign offered plenty of hope. After four wins in a five-game unbeaten start, a surprise defeat at Bournemouth heralded a difficult autumn, which included a 5-0 hammering at eventual champions Chelsea. But, with the emergence of young talent such as highly-rated teenage midfielder Tom Davies, Koeman's men embarked on an impressive run that saw them lose just three league games in five months, with eye-catching wins over Arsenal and Manchester City along on the way. Even a sticky spell of three defeats from their last four matches couldn't prevent the Merseyside club from comfortably securing European football for the first time since 2014/15.

Last meeting: Our most recent clash against the Toffees came in April at Old Trafford and was dramatic right up to the final whistle. Phil Jagielka opened the scoring for Everton midway through the first half and, just when it looked like the Reds would be on the losing side, Toffees defender Ashley Williams was sent off for blocking Luke Shaw's shot with his hand in the box and Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted from the penalty spot in the 94th minute to ensure the points were shared.

Head to head: Both meetings between the sides last season ended in 1-1 draws, with April's dramatic encounter at Old Trafford marking the 50th Premier League battle between the sides. The Reds have won 33, drawn nine and lost eight overall, with one of those defeats coming in the first meeting, in August 1992 – the first month since the Premier League's inception – when Everton ran out 3-0 winners at Old Trafford. United's biggest Premier League win over the Toffees was a 5-1 home success in December 1999, in which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer grabbed the headlines with four goals and Denis Irwin also scored from the penalty spot.

Played for both: There are a number of well-known faces who have graced the stage for both clubs down the years, including Mark Hughes, Louis Saha, Phil Neville, Tom Cleverley and Tim Howard. More recently, Rooney left the Reds to re-join boyhood club Everton, having become United's all-time leading scorer with 253 goals, while current first-team stars Lukaku, who scored his first Reds goal against Real Salt Lake on Tour 2017, and his Belgian compatriot Marouane Fellaini have also turned out for both teams. 

Tickets for our home game against Everton are on sale to Official Members.