21st September 1986: Everton v Manchester United

The new strike partnership of Frank McAvennie and Tony Cottee formed last season helped West Ham into third position in the league, their highest finish. Between them the two young internationals scored 54 goals for the Hammers, and they are on target again this season, with Cottee well on schedule to reach the tally of 30 he has set himself. Everton's treatment room has been filled by this season's most celebrated injury list. It is a measure of their squad strength that, though permanently below full compliment - and with last season's 40-goal Gary Lineker now exiled in Spain - they stayed unbeaten longer than any other First Division team at the start of 1986-87.