Everton boss David Moyes admits his team selection for the midweek Carling Cup tie against Chelsea appears to have backfired, as he prepares his side to face Manchester United.
Moyes fielded a strong starting XI for the fourth-round clash at Goodison Park on Wednesday, but in extra time Toffees winger Royston Drenthe was sent off before Daniel Sturridge's goal secured a 2-1 win for the visitors.
Drenthe is now suspended for meeting with United, and Everton will also be without captain Phil Neville, substituted at half-time in the Chelsea game with a hamstring problem, and Tim Cahill, who completed the full 120 minutes but was carrying an injury.
Many managers have put out weakened sides in the cup competition and Moyes concedes that he took a gamble which did not pay off.
"We took a chance by playing a strong side against Chelsea, to try to get through in the cup," Moyes said.
"I thought that game was the important one at the time and we wanted to do it, but you are always running the risk of losing players through injury."
On Drenthe's ban, Moyes said: "That is another reason (it is a risk) - you put people out and they get booked or sent off.
"That is maybe why when it comes to Premier League managers, they see the league as being the most important thing and sometimes the games in the League Cup come second to it.
"We didn't and went out with a strong team, but it has sort of backfired on me because I've had somebody sent off and a few injuries from it."
The build-up to this weekend`s game may have been far from ideal for Everton, but it has not been the easiest week for United, who were thrashed 6-1 by Manchester City last weekend.
Moyes, however, is concentrating on his own team.
"I was more interested in our result than that one," he said.
"It doesn't happen very often and that is why you are all very surprised by it.
"Manchester United have been incredibly consistent and reliable in their results most of the time, so it was a shock."
Sir Alex Ferguson is banking on Wayne Rooney brushing off the usual hostile treatment from Everton fans as United look to put the shock of their 6-1 defeat by Manchester City behind them.
Rooney has been vilified by the fans of his former club, and in one previous Goodison Park match Ferguson admitted he had to substitute the England striker for fear the crowd would get him sent off.
Ferguson needs Rooney on top form if United are to show once again that they can suffer heavy defeats and still bounce back.
The United manager said: "He's had mixed success going to Everton. He's scored a couple of goals in previous games and gets booed as normal.
"He got booked in one game and I took him off because he'd been booked and there was no way I was going to give the referee an opportunity to send him off.
"That's where the hype around the ground in terms of him getting booed every time he makes a challenge comes into it. He's had mixed fortunes there but he's scored a couple of goals and done well in some of the games and hopefully that will be the case tomorrow."
Ashley Young is a doubt for United with a toe injury.
The England winger will be assessed before the match but Nemanja Vidic and Tom Cleverley are both in contention after playing against Aldershot in the Carling Cup in midweek.
Rafael is back in training after an operation on a shoulder injury but needs some reserve games under his belt before he is considered for the first team again.
Source: DSG
Source: DSG