Man Utd host bottom club Tottenham at Old Trafford as both sides seek vital 3 points to kick start Premier League action post-International Break.
Manchester United host Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, with both sides desperate for a result after difficult starts to the Premier League season and plenty of pressure building around the fixture. United have taken just five points from their opening five league games, while Spurs remain winless and have only recently opened their league scoring account, setting up an intriguing meeting between two teams who have plenty to prove. Kick-off is at 17:30 BST.
Who is the Favourite to Win in Man Utd v Tottenham?
Manchester United go into the game as clear favourites, with the home side priced around 15/8 to win, while the draw is available around 15/4 and Tottenham are out at roughly 6/1.
Man Utd v Tottenham Best Betting Tip
Best Bet: Man Utd to Win & Both Teams to Score
Best odds: 19/10 (William Hill)
Stake: 1pt
Manchester United to win and both teams to score is the standout angle for this fixture, with the combination making more appeal than simply backing the hosts in the match-result market.
United have been scoring regularly this season, but their defensive record has been far less convincing, and they have now gone three games without keeping a clean sheet, meaning there is a clear route for Tottenham to contribute even if the hosts ultimately come away with all three points.
Spurs' defensive numbers provide another reason to expect goals, with Ange Postecoglou's side failing to keep a clean sheet in two of their last three games, while their most recent Premier League outing against Aston Villa finally saw them score for the first time this season.
Tottenham managed two late goals in that 3-2 defeat, and although the result was another setback, it should at least give their attackers some confidence after four consecutive league blanks.United therefore look capable of doing enough to win at Old Trafford, but their own defensive vulnerability makes the BTTS element particularly appealing, especially with Tottenham now having demonstrated that their attack can finally find a way through.
Man Utd v Tottenham Bet Builder Tip
Here's our Man Utd v Tottenham Bet Builder Tip for Saturday's game:
- Man Utd to Win
- Bryan Mbeumo - Anytime Goalscorer
- Sandro Tonali - Over 1.5 Tackles
- Omar Marmoush - Over 1.5 Fouls Won
Best odds of 35/4 at bet365 while publishing.
Both teams are struggling for form, but Manchester United have still started the season considerably better than Tottenham and have at least shown an ability to put points on the board, whereas Spurs remain without a league victory after five matches. United's record currently stands at one win, two draws and two defeats, while Tottenham have taken just two points from their opening five games.
The visitors have only just scored their first league goals of the campaign, with Conor Gallagher and Jan Paul van Hecke finding the net against Aston Villa, but that 3-2 defeat still left Spurs winless and searching for their first league points of the season. A trip to Old Trafford therefore looks like a difficult place to try and turn that around, particularly against a United side who have already beaten Tottenham 2-0 at this ground in their most recent meeting.
United have plenty of problems of their own, but the home advantage and superior start make them the logical foundation for this builder.
Bryan Mbeumo has arguably looked like Manchester United's most dangerous attacking player in front of goal this season, and his shot volume gives plenty of reason to believe he can cause Tottenham serious problems again.
Mbeumo has registered at least one shot on target in each of his last five appearances, while he has attempted four or more shots in three of his last five Premier League appearances, underlining just how consistently he is getting himself into shooting positions. Current season data has him on two Premier League goals, while Opta's player database also has him at the same total after five league appearances.
There is also a very obvious historical reason to like this selection. Mbeumo has scored six career goals against Tottenham in nine Premier League appearances, making Spurs the joint-most prolific opponent of his career, and he has already scored against them twice in his Manchester United career.
With Tottenham struggling defensively and Mbeumo continuing to generate shots, the anytime goalscorer market looks one of the most attractive player angles in the game.
Sandro Tonali is another appealing addition to the bet builder, particularly because this fixture should produce plenty of midfield contests with both sides likely to have spells where they compete aggressively for possession.
Tonali is averaging 2.31 tackles per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, and has already recorded 11 tackles across his current five-match sample, giving him a strong statistical foundation for a line set at just 1.5.
The Tottenham midfielder is also expected to have an important defensive role against a Manchester United side that have plenty of pace and direct running in their attacking areas, so there should be enough opportunities for Tonali to get involved in challenges throughout the match.
The line therefore looks modest relative to his season average, making Over 1.5 tackles an appealing leg for the builder.
Omar Marmoush provides the final attacking prop in the builder, and his ability to draw fouls through his pace, dribbling and direct running makes this an interesting angle against a Manchester United side that have shown a willingness to stop attacks through contact.
Marmoush has won 1.88 fouls per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, while he has also attempted to take players on regularly and is currently averaging close to three dribbles per 90.
United's defensive personnel can also create favourable conditions for this market, with players such as Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martínez all capable of being dragged into physical duels when opponents attack them directly.
Marmoush therefore looks capable of getting over the 1.5 line, particularly if Tottenham spend periods of the game attempting to counter quickly through him.
Man Utd v Tottenham Player Prop Bet
Best Bet: Luke Shaw - Over 1.5 Fouls Committed
Best odds: 12/5
Stake: 1pt
Luke Shaw's Over 1.5 Fouls looks like an interesting player prop for Manchester United's clash with Tottenham, particularly when you consider both his historical numbers at Old Trafford and his overall foul record from last season.
Shaw's last 10 starts at home have produced 0, 4, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 1, 2 and 2 fouls, meaning he has cleared the 1.5 line in six of those 10 games, while he has committed at least two fouls in five of his last six home starts within that sample.
His wider numbers are even more encouraging, with Shaw having committed 51 fouls since the start of last season, the most among defenders over that period. He also leads all defenders for fouls committed at home during the same timeframe, with 30, highlighting how frequently he gets involved in physical duels when playing at Old Trafford.
The matchup with Tottenham should give him further opportunities to get involved defensively, particularly against an opposition attack that can be dangerous when moving the ball quickly into wide areas. With United also struggling to keep clean sheets and Tottenham finally showing some attacking life in their last outing against Aston Villa, Shaw could be forced into a number of challenges throughout the 90 minutes.
