Robin van Persie
The arrival of Robin van Persie provides a selection headache for manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Reuters

When and where: The Premier League clash kicks-off from Goodison Park at 3 p.m. ET. Coverage will be provided by ESPN2, with a live stream available on ESPN3.

Preview: Manchester United's opening game of the Premier League season is always eagerly anticipated, but the signing of Robin van Persie has ramped up the excitement to fever pitch.

Van Persie completed his transfer from Arsenal on Friday to become the most high-profile recruit by United in several years. Now that the speculation has become reality, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is faced with the difficult task of finding the best attacking blend with the numerous options now at his disposal.

Specifically, there is much interest to see how the Dutchman's arrival will impact United's other big signing of the summer, Shinji Kagawa.

The Japan international had been signed to provide the creativity from an orthodox No. 10 role, a position that now looks compromised if, as expected, Van Persie lines up alongside Wayne Rooney. That problem may be temporarily avoided against Everton, though, with Van Persie's fitness in doubt having made just a solitary substitute appearance in preseason for Arsenal.

While there are plenty of options for Ferguson going forward, the same cannot be said when looking at the other end of the pitch. Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are all definitely ruled out with injury, while Jonny Evans is also likely to be out for a few more days.

The one piece of good news is that Nemanja Vidic will return after being out since December with knee ligament damage. The Serbian could be partnered by midfielder Michael Carrick at the back.

While United's transfer business has made headlines of late, Everton boss David Moyes may be quietly pleased with his summer dealings.

While midfielders Tim Cahill and Jack Rodwell have departed, there is a sense that Moyes will not be too disappointed to lose the duo, especially with the money it has freed up to invest elsewhere.

Steven Pienaar has returned to Goodison Park on a permanent deal from Tottenham to add some much-needed creativity. So long a problem at Everton, Moyes has also made positive efforts to increase the team's scoring threat. Impressive January recruit Nikica Jealvic will now be joined by his former Rangers teammate Steven Naismith as well as Belgium forward Kevin Mirallas.

The former Olympiacos star signed too late to be included against United, meaning Jelavic and Naismith should start up front.

Everton (probable)

G: Howard

D: Hibbert, Jagielka, Heitinga, Baines

M: Osman, Neville, Fellaini, Pienaar

F: Naismith, Jelavic

Manchester United (probable)

G: De Gea

D: Rafael, Carrick, Vidic, Evra

M: Scholes, Cleverley

Valencia, Kagawa, Young

F: Rooney

Prediction: Memories of Everton's dramatic 4-4 draw at Old Trafford toward the end of last season will still be fresh in the memory with it effectively costing United the Premier League title. Despite the excitement surrounding their prospects, Ferguson certainly won't be taking Everton lightly.

United's weakened back line certainly makes them vulnerable and Jelavic will be confident of starting in the same prolific form that he ended last season. But with Kagawa, impressive in preseason likely to be linking up with former Toffee Rooney and Van Persie likely to be an option off the bench, United should just have too much attacking threat.

Everton 1-2 Manchester United