Sir Alex Ferguson has previously forewarned Manchester United of the “nightmare” that lies ahead.

This weekend, following the international break, Manchester United travels to Goodison Park to face Everton.

Everton have called Goodison Park home for more than a century and a half; it is renowned as one of the most magnificent stadiums in England and is replete with history.

Over the years, Manchester United has paid Goodison several visits that will never be forgotten. Sir Alex Ferguson, who once compared the playing surface to a “nightmarish place,” was cognizant of the opposition’s dire situation there.

“Visiting that location is perpetually a nightmare, regardless of whether Dixie Dean was representing us,” Ferguson stated in 2010. “The ambiance is sublime; however, we have managed to navigate it without any discernible impact on our performance.”

After those remarks, United and Everton drew 3-3, and United lost their subsequent visit to Goodison the following season. This demonstrates why Ferguson was correct to caution against complacency when playing in front of a partisan crowd.

Twelve travels to Goodison have been undertaken across all competitions since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. The outcomes of these visits have been inconclusive, with United emerging victorious six times, falling four times, and drawing twice.

Despite the fact that Everton’s 4-0 victory in April 2019 has passed for more than four years, the memory of the humiliating loss suffered by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad remains vivid.

The honeymoon period of Solskjaer had already concluded prior to that trip to Everton; however, United had lost six of their previous eight games as a result of that abysmal performance, which also condemned them to a fifth consecutive away loss.

It also revealed the magnitude of the challenge that Solskjaer, who inherited a damaged locker room and was appointed permanent manager of a group reverting to poor practices, would face.

Since that momentous triumph over United, Everton have exhibited a consistent decline as a collective entity. Following two consecutive relegation struggles, the club has been remarkably fortunate to maintain its Premier League status over the past two seasons.

Frank Lampard was their savior in 2021/22, and Sean Dyche’s record of overachieving with Burnley suggested that he should be appointed manager, as he was able to maintain them in the league last season.

Dyche transformed water into wine at Burnley, and he operates in a similar financial environment with Everton. However, his squad has begun to show indications of improvement since a shaky start to the current campaign.

Before the international break, Everton defeated Crystal Palace 3-2 away, and they will be flying high in confidence as they welcome United this weekend, particularly since Goodison is predicted to be a pit pit.

An independent commission determined on Friday that Everton had violated the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations, and the club was immediately docked 10 points.

An unprecedented points deduction in the Premier League has infuriated Everton supporters, who consider their punishment unjust in comparison to Manchester City, which is saddled with more than 100 charges.

“The club will additionally closely observe the resolutions reached in any additional matters pertaining to the profit and sustainability regulations of the Premier League,” Everton wrote in an official club statement.

Everton has been demoted one point and is now in danger of relegation; their enraged supporters have pledged to generate a raucous environment on Sunday in an effort to vent their ire at the Premier League.

An Evertonian even gained notoriety for storming the Premier League’s central London offices while hurling obscenities at the structure. This weekend, thousands of individuals similar to that will be in attendance.

United will be under pressure, and it’s no secret that this group of players has a propensity to dim in crowded stadiums, as evidenced by their lackluster performances away against Liverpool, Newcastle, and Sevilla last season.

This weekend will be a living nightmare at Goodison Park, and Manchester United will have to contend for a victory.