Best Of Bets

Tag: Old Trafford

  • Premier League | Back Evs Luton to score at Old Trafford

    Premier League | Back Evs Luton to score at Old Trafford

    As Premier League Gameweek 12 rolls into view this weekend, Manchester United host Luton Town going into the latest international break.

    With Erik ten Hag remaining under fire in the Old Trafford hotseat, a home clash against the Hatters presents the perfect chance for United to record back-to-back league wins for just the second time this campaign.

    On paper, at least.

    After scraping three points away to Fulham last weekend, the Red Devils welcome Rob Edwards’ men, who seek precious away points after holding Liverpool last time out at Kenilworth Road.

    United will be strong favourites to take the spoils into the fortnight hiatus, but Luton could yet be plucky opposition.

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    Finding their feet

    For a team that every man, woman, child and their respective pet gave little chance to survive their first top-flight season in over 30 years, Luton have began to hit some form.

    Having been thumped 4-1 away to Brighton on opening day and again 3-0 at Chelsea a few weeks later, since then, the Bedfordshire side have settled.

    Recording their first-ever Premier League victory by upsetting an improving Everton at Goodison Park, the Hatters have picked up six points in as many games.

    Interestingly, four of those have come away from home since the end of September.

    Furthermore, when Luton have lost, they have found the net, scoring in seven of 11 league games played thus far, netting at Brighton, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa.

     

    Ten Hag on brink?

    Up until mid-way through the first half in Copenhagen on Wednesday night, there were signs that United could finally be putting together a run of form.

    After picking a win last weekend – albeit a narrow one – following Rasmus Hojlund notching a Champions League brace, Marcus Rashford’s unfortunate dismissal sent the Red Devils into an eventual tail-spin.

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    In the league, the records read three wins in four outings, but at home so far this term, United have lost half their games.

    Losing to Brighton and Crystal Palace, that must given Luton optimism for the weekend, with United on the verge of crisis.

     

    BTTS Evs

    A walloping 8/1 to win with Betfred, punters might reconsider a smarter stake for Both Teams to Score at Old Trafford.

    Hovering around the evens mark, the best price at time of writing is very much now odds-on, with PariMatch offering up 10/11 odds, but this could change nearer kick-off.

    Even if Luton go on to lose, in six of 11 games this term, United have conceded first.

    Therefore, another punt worth a look is for Carlton Morris to score first at a whopping 11/1 with BoyleSports, or Luton’s three-goal striker to net anytime at 3/1 with BetUK.

     

    Manchester United host Luton Town at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, kick-off 15:00 GMT.

  • Premier League | Alvarez can again shine in Manchester derby

    Premier League | Alvarez can again shine in Manchester derby

    After Matchday 3 in Europe this past midweek, attentions once more turn to league affairs as the Manchester derby headlines the weekend’s Premier League action.

    As the gap threatens to widen between the two sides that divide the city, the stakes remain high for the duo but for different reasons.

    Having bounced back from successive league defeats, Manchester City go in chase of unlikely leaders Tottenham.

    United, meanwhile, continue to scratch around for form after an underwhelming midweek win.

    That, off the back of a nervous 2-1 win away at Sheffield United, as boss Erik ten Hag remains under fire.

    In recent years, the away side have a more than decent record in this fixture, and with City the clear favourites for bragging rights, Julian Alvarez could again be the star at Old Trafford.

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    Form book

    As hosts United still continue to battle in eighth spot, six points separate the two sides to begin the weekend.

    Despite a run of shaky showings, the Red Devils have built a run of three successive wins in all competitions.

    However we need to go back to the beginning of the year for their last win against a side in the top six.

    Indeed, that last came – rather intriguingly – here at Old Trafford in the derby.

    Goals from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes sealed a somewhat surprising win some nine months back.

    Derby bow

    In what will be the 191st Manchester derby in the fixture’s long history, it looks set to be Alvarez’ first.

    Having been an unused substitute both at Old Trafford last time out in January and at Wembley in the FA Cup final, the Argentine is poised to make his mark.

    As the Cityzens still continue on without the injured Kevin De Bruyne, Alvarez, making his permanent move from River Plate in July of last year, has been a beacon of light.

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    The World Cup-winner was already being touted to play a number 10 role behind Erling Haaland pre-season, but without KDB, Alvarez has been arguably City’s most influential player.

    With four goals and five assists in nine league games, the forward has also three goals in as many Champions League games this term.

    The ICT Index also indicates Alvarez is in the top 13 players in the Premier League in terms of creativity – ahead of both Mo Salah and James Ward-Prowse.

    Alvarez betting

    Sunday’s derby encounter should afford Alvarez plenty of chances to impress once more.

    To score anytime, the Argentine is 2/1 with most bookies, whilst an Erling Haaland goal assisted by either Alvarez OR Phil Foden fetches tidy 5/2 odds with William Hill.

    One other option that might interest if the game becomes a cagey affair with United keen to avoid a thumping, 2+ Alvarez SOT with Betfred is a still decent 13/8.

  • Ashes 2023 | Faith in Bazball remains for pivotal Old Trafford Test

     

    Has the 2023 Ashes ruthlessly exposed Bazball as a weakness under the umbrella of Test Cricket?

    For now the jury is out, but as the Fourth Test of an exhilarating Ashes summer begins on Thursday at Old Trafford, England once more find themselves on the brink.

    Finally on the board at Headingley, the hosts need to win in Manchester to keep their Ashes hopes alive.

    Can England level the series?

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    Crunch time, again

    As the returning Mark Wood and Chris Woakes rode to England’s rescue in Leeds, the duo who have waited for their Ashes moment, delivered.

    However, Australia retain the upper hand and England’s task of winning three back-to-back Tests to regain the urn remains a tall one.

    Skipper Ben Stokes’ perennial heroics may have given the hosts a much-needed shot in the arm, but whilst beating Australia in successive games may now feel more attainable, England’s fight this week is against something far more worldly.

    Mother nature.

     

    Bazball can shine through gloom

    Following three scintillating games that have reached a suitable conclusion, Old Trafford is up against the elements.

    As Southern Europe melts in record-breaking heat, Manchester looks set to live up to an oft-disproven myth as ‘the rainiest city in England’.

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    Whilst for the moment Thursday looks dry, the same cannot be said of the other four days.

    Bazball might yet come into its own.

    England will need their accelerated, aggressive approach more than ever and arguably skipper Ben Stokes must win the coin flip.

    If successful, however, England can write the playbook for what is likely to be a truncated Test.

     

    Keeping faith

    Despite victory, the clamour for Ben Foakes to take the gloves from an errant Jonny Bairstow were loud.

    However, those calls have once more been ignored.

    With minimal changes made, England’s hierarchy are bent on keeping the faith.

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    James Anderson returns for his home Test with the hope that bowling from his own end will resurrect his summer.

    Moeen Ali’s move up the order to no.3 is the bolder move but whether it gives England’s batting order stability remains to be seen.

    For the tourists, the absence of Nathan Lyon is proving a predictable issue.

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    Todd Murphy left the Baggy Greens exposed at Headingley and coach Andrew McDonald is reportedly toying with an all-out seam attack.

    Following Mitch Marsh’s successful return to the fold, a fit-again Cameron Green could come back in with the forecast swaying any argument.

    But despite Australia tinkering with their line-up, the onus remains firmly on English shoulders.

     

    Can England level the series?

    The hosts are marginal favourites at 6/4 with Betfred for the win, with Australia 7/4 with William Hill.