Throughout the last 20 years, a trip to Old Trafford has been about as daunting as sharing a ring with both Klitschko brothers. At the same time. You just knew it would hurt, and that you'd end up defeated.

However, Everton midfielder Gareth Barry believes that is no longer the case.

"I think it has (lost that fear factor)," Barry said., external "I can speak from my own experience and obviously Everton's as well.

"It was fantastic to win there last season. Everton hadn't won there for many years and there was a great feeling in the dressing room afterwards to break that duck and put in a great performance at a fantastic stadium and a great team.

"It took me probably 12 or 13 years to win a Premier League game there."

Everton boss Roberto Martinez on the importance of their late equaliser against Liverpool, speaking on BT Sport: "In football there are many aspects but one is character and an attitude of never giving up, that goal gave a sense of reward and there is a different feel now. We had a good trip to Russia and a good experience in the Europa League, the squad is ready and it is not a question of too many games. Coming to Old Trafford is one of the glamorous places and we cannot wait."

Thanks Mandeep. You've got to be up and at them early on a Sunday morning to beat Sanghera to the start of a live text. Sterling work.

Anyway, are we all pumped for the next six or so hours of Premier League football? It's a feast of football that we will gorge on - rather like going out for a nice meal at noon, nipping to a carvery at 2pm and then sneaking in a few cheeky desserts at 4.15pm.

Or something like that.

It's been a short and sweet stint this morning as it's now time to hand over the live text reins to the boy Marc Higginson.

He'll be keeping you entertained for today's Premier League matches so enjoy.

Football Focus
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

England U21 manager Gareth Southgate: "Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has been a great signing for Chelsea. With the players they have brought in in the summer, and Jose Mourinho in charge, they are the team to beat this season."

QPR midfielder Joey Barton
BBC Radio 5 live

"Nobody can criticise Arsene Wenger on the job he has done to build the infrastructure at Arsenal to a fantastic level. But it's probably been sacrificed at the cost of trophies and challenging at that level.

Image source, Getty Images

"You think of his teams of [Emmanuel] Petit, [Patrick] Vieira, [Tony] Adams, [Martin] Keown and all those kind of warriors. You look around the Arsenal dressing room now, the people who would win you those kind of games against the top four clubs - they don't really have an abundance of them.

"At the latter stages of a season they come unstuck because of that lack of - I hate to say it - a real lack of character or spine within the team."

Kane Murphy:, external Arsenal need to win this today to stop them from running ahead because if Chelsea win, dare I say it, but no-one will catch them. Not even Man City.

David Allum:, external Simply put, Arsene Wenger can make a player, Jose Mourinho can only buy one. Give me £500 million to spend and I'll win you the league. Mourinho needs massive money. That's not a good manager.

Ifeanyichukwu Joseph:, external Huge work for Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny today.

Let's digress from Manchester United v Everton for a while and have a look at Chelsea v Arsenal.

There's plenty at stake when these two London giants meet this afternoon - including a jinx which has seen Blues boss Jose Mourinho go undefeated in 11 matches against Arsenal and their manager Arsene Wenger.

BBC Sport's Amy Lawrence has been analysing the Gunners' hoodoo, and ex-Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn believes he has the answer.

"Recently Arsenal have been there (to Stamford Bridge) and have been bullied and overrun. It seems stacked massively in Chelsea's favour. It depends what kind of belief you have in yourself," says Winterburn.

"This is the first big away game - everyone will be looking to see how Arsenal react. If they concede early, the pressure is going to be rising."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, speaking to BT Sport: "I have to say we played very good in the first half [against West Ham] and we have fought in the second half. We could have done better, we can also play more compact but I hope we shall attack like the first half against West Ham, that is our aim. We have to also entertain our fans.

"Yes [the relationship between Robin van Persie and Falcao] has to be growing but they are playing very good together, they make goals and that is also important I think. It shall be better after a while, because also that needs time.

"I like [the way Everton play], the coach is implementing a very attractive playing style, we have to wait to see if he does that also against us

"[We have to] not only keep ball possession but also to score goals, we have a clot of creative players, and they also have to look for the balance. When you lose the ball you have to defend and that is my message."

Matthew Penistone:, external Man United lose at home to Everton for the first time in the Premier League. Arsenal get thumped at the Bridge… What does this season bring?

Nick Belfitt:, external United win today could put them above both Arsenal and Liverpool and yet the media will still say we are in crisis.

SafiWardak:, external If Arsene Wenger beats Jose Mourinho today I will name my son after Arsene.

Manchester United have forward Wayne Rooney suspended and playmaker Juan Mata comes into the side. Centre-back Paddy McNair, 19, keeps his place, while Antonio Valencia comes in for the injured Ander Herrera.

Everton are without centre-back Sylvain Distin, right-back Seamus Coleman, midfielder James McCarthy and forward Kevin Mirallas. Midfielder Steven Pienaar plays as he makes his first start since a 2-2 draw with Arsenal on 23 August.

Man Utd XI: De Gea; Rafael, McNair, Rojo, Shaw; Blind; Valencia, Di Maria; Mata; Falcao, van Persie.

Everton XI: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka (c), Stones, Baines, Barry, Besic, Pienaar, McGeady, Naismith, Lukaku.

Image source, Getty Images

The last time Manchester United and Everton played against each other was in April earlier this year and a certain David Moyes was in charge of the Old Trafford club.

The Scot took the Red Devils to his former hunting ground of Goodison Park and saw his already struggling side get beat 2-0.

It turned out to be the final straw for the Old Trafford hierarchy as two days later Moyes was sacked after 10 months in charge.

Matthew Le Gallais:, external Juan Mata will flourish without Wayne Rooney today, the number 10 role was pretty much made for him!

Paul Gourley:, external Winning against Everton isn't enough, we want to send out a message. No mercy.

Alastair Moulton:, external An Everton win today please, but I think it might be a tough one with a Man Utd side beginning to turn the corner.

Let us know your thoughts on Saturday's results and what you are expecting from today's action-packed schedule using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, 81111 on text (UK only), or via the BBC Sport Facebook page, external and Google+ pages., external

In The Sun (subscription required), external Harry Redknapp, whose QPR side play his former club West Ham today, says he would rather watch the world's oldest soap opera Coronation Street than England against San Marino next week.

"No one watches more football than me, I love it," he says. "It's in my blood and I'll watch most games. But I'd rather watch Coronation Street with my missus Sandra than England against San Marino.

"And I haven't watched Corrie since they had that busty old barmaid Elsie Tanner working in the Rovers Return."

Image source, Getty Images

Agubata Odinaka:, external Papiss Cisse keeps doing just enough to keep Alan Pardew in his job. He probably feels he owes the manager for bringing him to the Premier League.

Cisse scored twice as Newcastle twice came from behind to draw 2-2 away to Swansea on Saturday.

Sam Willson:, external Desperate for a QPR win v West Ham today, our away form in the Premier League has been nothing short of embarrassing in recent years.

Jamel McFarlane:, external I expect Man Utd, Chelsea, Southampton to win today. West Ham and QPR is gonna be a draw.

Let us know your thoughts on Saturday's results and what you are expecting from today's action-packed schedule using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, 81111 on text (UK only), or via the BBC Sport Facebook page, external and Google+ pages., external

MOTD2 Extra

BBC Sport begins its television coverage of the day's footballing action at 12:30 BST with Match of the Day Extra 2, which you can also follow online or on BBC Radio 5 live.

Host Mark Chapman will be joined by Trevor Sinclair, Martin Keown and Andy Dunn.

Then later you can watch highlights of today's games, plus a round-up of Saturday's action, on Match of the Day 2 from 22:30 on BBC One, and from 23:15 for viewers in Scotland.

Image source, other

The Daily Star, external report that Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has introduced a string of changes at the club's Carrington training HQ with triple training sessions featuring conditioning work in the gym, including the use of exercise bikes.

Let us know your thoughts on Saturday's results and what you are expecting from today's action-packed schedule using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, 81111 on text (UK only), or via the BBC Sport Facebook page, external and Google+ pages., external

Rajesh Nair:, external Man Utd need to undo all bad records they set last season, including teams like Everton winning at Old Trafford, starting today.

John McEnerney:, external The Mourinho machine will be too much for Arsenal. Expect them to play out of their skins (Mesut Ozil too) and put it up to Chelsea but it won't be enough!

David Robinson:, external I liked the Liverpool performance yesterday. Nothing spectacular but they dug deep which they haven't in recent weeks.

Liverpool beat West Brom 2-1 at home on Saturday, with goals from Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson.

The Manchester United and Everton players have stepped off their coaches and are now in situ at Old Trafford for the club's game against Everton.

A certain Marouane Fellaini and his hair are one of the United contingent but I'm not sure he will figure against his former club as he has only played one game for the Red Devils so far this season.

Image source, Reuters

The Sunday Mirror, external has an exclusive interview with West Ham's £4.5m summer recruit Diafra Sakho, 24, who realised he had to financially provide for his family at the age of 18 after his father suddenly passed away.

"To lose my father was terrible for me but I knew what I had to do for my mother and my two brothers and sister. It was up to me to provide for them. That was my role, my duty. It gave perspective in my life," he says.