Alan Pardew is under pressure at Palace, José Mourinho must back his midweek stars and the omens are there for Manchester City to end Chelsea’s winning run
One of the biggest accusations aimed at José Mourinho down the years has been that he favours workmanlike players who can follow instructions over unpredictable talents who are harder to control but more likely to decide a game with a moment of genius. Mourinho’s treatment of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial at Manchester United has provided his critics with more ammunition. But now is the time for the United manager to give both of them a proper run in his strongest side. Mkhitaryan created Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s early opener in Wednesday’s League Cup win over West Ham with a silky backheel, before Martial scored two emphatic goals in the second half. Although it was a cruise for United against mediocre opposition, both players did enough to keep their places for Sunday’s tougher trip to Everton. JS
• Mourinho praises Mkhitarayan after win over West Ham
• United glad to have Schweinsteiger back says Carrick
• Everton slump to defeat after Austin’s early strike
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