Man Utd

Manchester United V Wolves

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 10 December 2011 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Old Trafford

Preview

Embarrassed by Crystal Palace, humbled in Basel. What next for the reigning Premier League champs? Surely they won’t sink to such depths as losing at home to lowly Wolves? But with numerous key players out injured – the latest being Nemanja Vidic – perhaps the upset is a genuine possiblity?

Personally, after watching Wolves’ pitiful display away at Chelsea recently, the upset looks extremely far-fetched. Nevertheless, few could argue that this weekend is a better time than any to face United, who within the space of a fortnight have bowed out of two separate competitions and now face the ignominy of spending the second half of the campaign in the Europa League.

Europe’s second tier tournament may await United but the Championship is fifth from bottom Wolves’ likely destination, that is unless they add some continuity to their results. Last week’s narrow win at home to Sunderland was only their fourth of the term, a term littered with eight defeats; only the bottom two in the table – Blackburn and Wigan – have racked up more losses.

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

League Form: WWWDW

Responding to adversity is what Manchester United do better than most; it’s one of main reasons why they’ve dominated English football ever since the inception of the Premier League back in 1992. The other being the manager. Sir Alex has seen tougher times so he’ll know exactly where to go from here, and he will be telling his players to go out and prove a point at home to Wolves on Saturday.

United bowing out of the Champions League before the knockouts has come as a shock to us all, but to the team it will feel an awful lot like humiliation. So there will be a fair few bruised egos in that dressing room before Saturday’s hugely significant fixture with struggling Wolves, significant for the simple fact Man City go to Chelsea on the Monday, meaning there’s every chance of the trailing pack – United especially – reducing the arrears on the long-time leaders.

As if exiting the most exciting club competition in the sport wasn’t demoralising enough, United must also come to terms with being in the Europa League. That means a lot of games, a lot of travelling and plenty of fixture congestion. On top of this, it would appear they’ve lost the services of their best defender, with Nemanja Vidic set for yet another lengthy spell on the sidelines after injuring his knee in Basel.

So much doom and gloom. There isn’t a whole lot to be excited about, that’s why. Even in the league, where they have actually been enjoying a decent spell of form – winning four of their last five in an unbeaten sequence, folk are still to be convinced. That’s because all four triumphs were by the narrow margin of one-goal, 1-0 to be more precise, while they haven’t conjured more than one goal in any of their last seven.

Combine their lack of cutting edge in the final third with the absence of unquestionably their most accomplished defender in Vidic, and what you could very well have is a recipe for disaster over a hectic festive period.

Wolves

League Position: 16th

League Form: LWLLW

Although their record at Old Trafford is horrific, losing all seven league and cup matches there since their last triumph back in 1980, Wolves have rarely left disgraced. It took a last-gasp winner from Park Ji-Sung to deny them what would have been a deserved share of the spoils there last season, while no Wanderers fan will ever get their team’s stunning fightback in the reverse encounter at Molineux.

Goals from George Elokobi and Kevin Doyle sealed a fine win over the soon-to-be champions back in February. Wolves fought tooth and nail, worked tirelessly all over the pitch, and in the end earned their just rewards. They did nothing of the sort away at Chelsea recently, but they did do something very similar at Liverpool in September and a repeat performance could see them give the defending league champions another run for their money in Manchester.

However, based on form alone, Wolves will consider themselves fortunate if they avoid a hiding. Their 3-0 loss at Stamford Bridge to Chelsea at the end of November was their fifth straight away defeat in the league, and the third occasion they failed to locate the back of the net on their travels. Only three teams have actually scored fewer goals away from home this season than Mick McCarthy’s toothless travellers, who have netted five themselves.

Jamie O’Hara missed the defeat at Chelsea a fortnight ago through suspension, and boy was his absence obvious. The Wanderers midfielder pulls all the strings in the middle of the park and without him, Wolves struggle. Full-back Kevin Foley remains on the sidelines, as does the experienced Jody Craddock. Steven Fletcher should spearhead the Wolves attack with the Scot searching for his sixth goals of the campaign, having netted both his team’s goals in last Sunday’s pivotal win over Sunderland.

Match Pointers

- Wolves haven’t won away at United since 1980, with Manchester United winning the previous seven competitive meetings at Old Trafford.

- United have lost only once at home in the Premier League in 28 games, winning 25.

- The Red Devils sit second in the table having won 10 of their opening 14 league games (W10 D3 L1), going their last five unbeaten (W4 D1).

- Each of United’s last four league wins were by a 1-0 scoreline; they’ve not mustered more than one goal in a single Premier League game since beating Norwich 2-0 on 1 October (7 games).

- Wolves climbed up to 17th in the league (W4 D2 L8) after their hard-fought 2-1 win at home to Sunderland.

- Wanderers have lost their last five consecutive away games, three of which were at Chelsea (3-0), Liverpool (2-1) and Man City (3-1).

Betting

United have often been described as a ‘wounded animal’ in similarly testing times, but back then they knew how to bite back. They’ve been toothless for the best part of two months now, scoring precisely one goal in each of their previous seven league matches, and so all it takes is some clinical finishing from their opponents to really put them on the back foot – and as we realised on Wednesday, that is when United are at their most vulnerable.

The thing with Wolves is, they do have a gritty performance in them. However, I haven’t had the best of luck opposing the overwhelming favourites this season, particularly of late, so a lack of courage has swung my tentative vote in the direction of the hosts, a United side who simply must register maximum points what with league leaders City facing Chelsea on Monday night.

I suspect Wolves will make a fist of things yet again though, and With Nemanja Vidic out injured, a commanding presence in the air as well as a natural leader, it could pay to take a chance on the in-form Steven Fletcher continuing his purple patch.

Prediction: Manchester United to WIN – 2/9 Bet365

Value Bet: Steven Fletcher (Wolves) to Score – 5/1 WilliamHill

Match Odds

Manchester United – 2/9 Bet365

Draw – 11/2 StanJames

Wolves – 16/1 VictorChandler

Aston Villa V Manchester United

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 3 December – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Villa Park

Preview

Villa Park has been a happy hunting ground for Manchester United over the years, with the Red Devils winning nine and losing none of their previous 15 visits in the Premier League. Their last defeat there occurred way back in 1995. Yet I could not touch them with a proverbial barge pole on Saturday, when they tackle Aston Villa in the live tea-time clash on ESPN.

It’s been sixteen years since Aston Villa last recorded a win at Villa Park over Manchester United in the Premier League – but their barren run has every chance of coming to an end on Saturday. Alex McLeish’s team could not of wished for an opportunistic time to face the defending champions, right on the back of two retched results; their first coming in the league at home to Newcastle, dropping two valuable points in a 1-1 draw, though Wednesday’s exit from the Carling Cup was far more humiliating.

In years gone by, punters would put their life’s savings on United bouncing back. They coined the phrase ‘bounce-back ability’. But this is no vintage crop. This is a young side very much in transition, while there are still question marks over certain individuals/positions. So much so that at this moment in time, with United lacking combative numbers in the middle of the park, Sir Alex Ferguson has resorted to using Wayne Rooney – the most influential figure in the side, from an attacking point of view – as a makeshift central midfielder.

Dropping Rooney back has paid dividends, although only by virtue of Javier Hernandez’s clinical instincts. United have only mustered six goals in as many league games and four of those were netted by the Mexican starlet, who just so happens to have scored in each of his team’s last three away matches. Had it not been for his tap-ins, many would be questioning Ferguson’s decision regarding Wayne Rooney’s new role.

On the plus side, goalkeeper David de Gea isn’t being called upon as regularly as he once was. In fact, Demba Ba’s converted penalty last weekend – which should never have been – was the first goal he had conceded in over six-and-a-half-hours of Premiership football. The drawback: any team competent in defence could spring a surprise with a clinical performance of their own against a goal-shy Manchester United side.

Villa certainly fit the above description. Manager Alex McLeish does try to make his team as difficult as possible to beat, even if it hasn’t always paid off. Comprehensive defeats away to Man City (4-1) and Tottenham (2-0) being prime examples. At home, though, Villa are usually a different proposition; they’ve scored 10 of their 16 goals at Villa Park, and conceded five goals fewer than on their travels.

Villa Park is also where Darren Bent has tended to spring into life this season; all five of his Premier League goals for the term where netted on home soil. Of course, Bent no longer has Ashley Young and Stewart Downing assisting him on the flanks, and that is having a detrimental effect on the number of chances he gets.

However, wingers Gabriel Agbonlahor and Charles N’Zogbia, as disappointing as they’ve been so far this season, are incredibly talented – both have bags of pace, while the pair of them are equally adept at beating markers and supplying decent service to the frontman. Their respective battles with Chris Smalling and Patrice Evra will have a significant bearing on how Villa fare in this fixture, although Smalling has only just returned from injury while Evra has looked shaky all season.

So, far from a foregone conclusion this. United deserve to be favourites; they sit second in the table, have won four and lost none of six away from home, while their record away to Aston Villa is imperious – even though they’ve drawn on their last three visits. Villa, meanwhile, have been extremely hit and miss and haven’t been the reliable sort this season. Nevertheless, I personally see a lot of value in the hosts.

Match Pointers

- Since the 1996/97 season, Aston Villa have beaten Manchester United once in 30 Premier League meetings – a 1-0 win at Old Trafford during the 2009/10 campaign.

- The previous three league encounters at Villa Park have all ended in draws, with United clawing back a two-goal deficit there last season to draw 2-2.

- Aston Villa have won only one of their last six league games, suffering three defeats during this spell (W1 D2 L3).

- Darren Bent has scored all five of his Premier League goals this season at Villa Park, netting in each of Villa’s previous three home games.

- Manchester United have scored precisely one goal in each of their last four away Premier League games, winning the previous two 1-0.

- United boast the strongest away defence in the top flight, conceding just three goals whilst keeping three clean sheets.

- Javier Hernandez has netted five of his six league goals away from home, scoring in each of United’s last three away fixtures.

Betting

I do genuinely believe an upset could be on the cards here. Manchester United are going through a tough spell at the minute, with Wednesday’s embarrassing exit from the Carling Cup at the hands of Crystal Palace only compounding last week’s setback at home to Newcastle. Goals have seriously dried up and while they have improved no end defensively, their lack of goals leaves them vulnerable against any teams with a strong defensive rearguard.

Just two teams have conceded fewer goals at home this season than Aston Villa. Their wingers simply have to make an appearance if there is to be an upset, but in striker Darren Bent you know Villa have a goal or two in them, and on current form, with United failing to score more than one goal in each of their last six league matches, that’s enough to entice me.

I’m sold. Aston Villa to win, with Darren Bent netting the first goal. Both are handsomely priced.

Match Outcome: Aston Villa to WIN – 19/4 StanJames

Value Bet: Darren Bent First Goalscorer – 13/2 VictorChandler

Match Odds

Aston Villa – 19/4 StanJames

Draw – 14/5 StanJames

Manchester United – 8/11 PaddyPower

Manchester United V Newcastle United

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 26 November 2011 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Old Trafford

Preview

A fixture that oozes nostalgia as Manchester United renew their rivalry with former adversary Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Saturday, with the visiting Magpies keen to capitalise on United’s miserable week in Europe by achieving a feat only one team has managed in over a year – beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils at the Theatre of Dreams.

Manchester City were, of course, the last team to win at the famous home of Manchester United, thumping their fiercest rivals 6-1 on 23 October. The response from United since has been admirable, churning out three successive 1-0 wins against Everton, Sunderland and Swansea, though their performances in all three were largely unconvincing. It was a similar story on Tuesday in the Champions League, as the three-time European champions drew 2-2 with Benfica at Old Trafford to leave their qualification hopes on a knife-edge.

So, are the defending Premier League champions vulnerable going into this weekend’s clash with Newcastle, whom they’ve not lost to at Old Trafford to since 1972? Certainly. Not only are their performances falling well below the standard we’ve all come to expect from Fergie’s boys, Newcastle are playing superb amidst their best ever start to a season in the Premier League era.

Further cause for optimism – if you’re a Newcastle fan that is – comes in the form of news surrounding United’s top goalscorer. No it isn’t that Wayne Rooney has gone over two months without scoring in the Premier League, it’s that United’s star man is a major doubt for the fixture because of an hip injury he sustained in last week’s narrow win at Swansea.

You almost sense a shock is in the air, can’t you?

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

League Form: DLWWW

By hook or by crook, Manchester United are the closest resemblance to a challenger league leaders Manchester City have. The Red Devils trail their arch local rivals by five points before this weekend’s round of matches, with a string of 1-0 wins helping to ease some of the pain sustained in last month’s humiliating 6-1 loss at home to the aforementioned. Victory over Newcastle on Saturday would serve as a more potent healer, though, especially if it should come with a side of defeat for City, whom go head-to-head with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Because Manchester City travel to Liverpool for Sunday’s titanic clash on Merseyside, there is a real possibility of the runaway leaders dropping points for only the second occasion this season. That would of course leave the door ajar for United, who themselves know full well how difficult playing at Anfield can be having scraped a draw there just last month.

A window of opportunity then for the defending league champions, which means a heap of pressure on a team who are hardly brimming with confidence. While they may have taken maximum points from each of their last three league matches, victories over Everton (0-1), Sunderland (1-0) and Swansea (0-1) were anything but convincing. It was a similar story on Tuesday as well in the Champions League as United slumped to a 2-2 draw at home to Benfica, a result which leaves their qualification hopes on a knife-edge.

To compound the many problems facing manager Sir Alex Ferguson, like how his defence still looks fragile despite a run of three successive clean sheets in the league, star man Wayne Rooney, who really has been the fulcrum in United’s revival in fortunes since last month’s humbling in the Manchester derby, is a major doubt due to the hip injury he sustained in last week’s 1-0 win at Swansea. On a positive note, Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic, Anderson and Danny Welbeck are all available.

Newcastle United

League Position: 4th

League Form: DWWWL

The Toon bubble was well and truly burst last week, as Newcastle crashed to their first defeat of the campaign away at Manchester City. It put an end to their best ever start to a Premier League season of eleven games without defeat, winning seven, though they remain in fourth – a whole three points above a handful of sides – meaning that, despite relinquishing their unbeaten record, Newcastle won’t be short of motivation when they take to Old Trafford seeking to end a 49-year wait for a win.

Not since 1972 have Newcastle celebrated victory at the home of Manchester United, whom have triumphed in five of the last six league meetings at Old Trafford. Ending that run would normally take some doing – and it still will be – but this is arguably Newcastle’s best chance to get one over on a former adversary of theirs.

Away from the fact United haven’t been playing their best football in recent matches, or that they might have to cope without Wayne Rooney, Newcastle can take plenty of heart from their own achievements this season. This has been their best ever start to a Premier League campaign, away from home they are still to record a loss, winning three of five, while even in defeat last weekend the Magpies were far from disgraced.

Only a team in imperious form could slay Alan Pardew’s resilient charges, a team who have scored goals for absolute fun this season and have threatened to run away with the league. So the fact Newcastle held their own at Eastlands last week can only be positive. Chances were created, a couple really were gilt-edged, while it was City’s class in the final third which eventually took its toll on a defence which had previously conceded the fewest number of goals.

The manner in which Newcastle continued to fight on at Man City last week would suggest the loss won’t be as devastating a blow as we all might think. To lose their magnificent run will hurt, that goes without say, but they didn’t trudge of the pitch looking discourage. You sense they’ll be stronger for it, if anything.

Match Pointers

- Five of the last six Premier League meetings at Old Trafford were won by Manchester United, with Newcastle still to record a win there during the Premier League era; their last win at Old Trafford, in any competition, dates back to 1972 during the old First Division.

- Manchester United are five points off league leaders Manchester City going into this weekend, despite winning all three previous league games, but are four clear of third in the table Tottenham.

- A third 1-0 victory in succession at Swansea last time out, to go with their narrow victories over Sunderland at home and Everton away, means it is now three league wins on the bounce for United since their 6-1 drubbing in the Manchester derby.

- United have won five of their six Premier League home games this season, scoring 18 goals – the second-highest tally in the league – and conceding nine.

- The Red Devils have scored precisely one goal in six of their previous eight Premier League games.

- Wayne Rooney, Man Utd’s leading marksmen for the season with 9 Premier League goals, hasn’t scored in the league since 18 September. United have played seven league matches since then.

- Newcastle suffered their first league defeat of the season away at Manchester United’s arch rivals last weekend, losing 3-1 at Man City.

- The Magpies still sit fourth in the table though, three points clear of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool who are all right behind on 22 points.

- Striker Demba Ba has four goals in Newcastle’s last three away matches, eight for the season, and did have chances to score in his third consecutive away appearance at Man City last week.

Betting

Only the bravest of punters would back United after seeing them come a cropper in Europe on Tuesday, conceding for the first time in four matches, and it just so happened to be in the game Wayne Rooney played no part in. The hugely influential forward is doubtful for the visit of Newcastle, which could prove significant.

In contrast, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will receive several welcome boosts in personnel. The always combative Cheik Tiote has recovered from the knee injury which kept him out of last week’s loss at Man City, a game which neither Gabriel Obertan or Leon Best featured in. Both are also expected to return at Old Trafford, providing Pardew with more options.

Knowing United like we all do, they will probably find a way to win this contest, as they did away at Everton and Swansea, as well as at home to Sunderland, recently. They have to. With City taking on Liverpool 24 hours later, it’s imperative United pile on the pressure. And pressure is exactly what they’ll be feeling on Saturday, with the onus well and truly on them to take proceedings to the visitors, who before last week’s 3-1 defeat to Man City boasted the league’s strongest back-line.

United haven’t exactly thrived under pressure of late, despite winning most of their matches, and I suspect the absence of Wayne Rooney will be huge. So Newcastle, who boast an abundance of resilience, industry and a fantastic work ethic, are well capable of recording a rare result at Old Trafford. They’ll also pose plenty of problems out on the flanks, where Jonas Gutierrez and Gabriel Obertan will look to use their pace to get in behind the United full-backs and supply a goal-hungry Demba Ba, whom has eight goals for the season.

It’s a bold pick, but I do genuinely believe the Magpies have a shout. I certainly couldn’t advise backing United at those odds.

Match Outcome: Newcastle United to WIN – 10/1 StanJames

Value Bet: Newcastle to score 2 or More Goals – 4/1 PaddyPower

Match Odds

Manchester United – 4/11 PaddyPower

Draw – 4/1 Bet365

Newcastle United – 10/1 StanJames

Manchester United V Benfica

Date & Kick-Off: Tuesday, 22 November 2011 – 19:45 GMT

Venue: Old Trafford

Preview

We have a winner takes all contest at Old Trafford on Tuesday between Group C joint-leaders Manchester United and Benfica.

Both can almost reach out and touch the last-16; however, qualification as section winners is the real prize at stake in Manchester – a draw would send both clubs through to the knockouts provided FC Basel lose out in Romania to Otelul Galati, but victory at Old Trafford would secure top spot for the victorious party courtesy of a superior head-to-head, as their reverse meeting in Lisbon on Match Day 1 ended 1-1.

The hosts are firm favourites to secure all three points and the win that would rubber-stamp their inclusion in the knockout stage of the competition for the sixth season running, with visiting Benfica sizeable underdogs to become the first team since Besiktas, in November 2009, to win a Champions League match at Old Trafford.

For starters, United have never been beaten by Tuesday’s opponents, who themselves have a rather lousy record on English soil (W3 D0 L9), with the reigning English champions winning six of the pair’s previous eight meetings. That isn’t all, though. Sir Alex Ferguson’s many different charges over the years have put together a formidable home record in Europe that has seen them lose only once at the ground dubbed the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ in 34 Champions League games. A staggering 25 of those were victories.

However, United haven’t been at their fluent best recently. Saturday’s hard-fought win away at Swansea maintained their winning momentum, which was all-important, after winning for the fifth match in a row in all competitions, but it was yet another highly unconvincing display from the Red Devils, who have scored an uncharacteristic five goals in their last four games – though it has been over seven hours since they last conceded.

Solid and unspectacular would certainly be a fitting way to describe Sir Alex’s men of late, and while their efficiency can be lauded, because they have been winning games, you sense there is an element of vulnerability about them.

Defensively they have been very sound, thanks in no small part to Ferguson deploying Wayne Rooney in a deeper role in an audacious bid to add some steel and combativeness to a midfield which was overrun by Man City last month in that infamous 6-1 loss at Old Trafford; they’ve not conceded a single goal in five games since. However, going forward they haven’t been as menacing as they were in the early stages of the campaign, when they were blowing teams out of the water with their goalscoring prowess.

So a mixed bag really with United. If you’re a fan, you’ll be delighted with their response to the Manchester derby defeat in that they’ve since embarked on a five-game winning run, but the lack of goals – and entertaining football to some degree – will come as a frustration.

Benfica are ideal opponents for United as they look to gauge how far they have come since suffering their first loss of the season, as the Portuguese side remain undefeated in 2011/12, winning 13 of 17 in all competitions, and those include back-to-back away wins in the group at FC Basel (0-2) and Otelul Galati (0-1). And, like United, Benfica too have a knack for keeping clean sheets, doing so in six of their previous nine.

We should be in a highly competitive affair, then. Based on their respective statistics, one goal may settle this as a contest, and, ultimately, who goes through to the last-16 as Group C winners.

Match Pointers

- Victory for either at Old Trafford would seal top spot in the section, as well as qualification, with the two sides locked together at the Group C summit on eight-points. Their first encounter ended 1-1 in Lisbon, Portugal meaning a win would secure qualification as section winners via a superior head-to-head record.

- Manchester United’s record versus Portuguese sides at home in Europe, and especially Benfica, is exceptional: they’ve never lost to either, winning six of eight versus Benfica (W6 D2 L0) and eight of ten versus Portuguese teams in general (W8 D2 L0).

- Meanwhile, Benfica have succumbed to defeat on nine of their twelve visits to England, winning only three times (W3 D0 L9).

- Domestically, both teams sit prominently in the English Premier League and Portuguese Liga Sagres respectively, with Manchester United winning their ninth match of the season (W9 D2 L1) away at Swansea (0-1) on Saturday whereas Benfica weren’t in action and thus retained their unbeaten start of seven wins and three draws.

- United have lost just one of their previous 34 home UEFA Champions League matches, however, Benfica are unbeaten on their travels in this season’s competition winning both of their away fixtures in the group at FC Basel and Otelul Galati.

Betting

In the knowledge that qualification as group winners would be assured with victory on Tuesday, you’d like to think Sir Alex will field his strongest possible eleven. But the United legend tends to have his own unique way of thinking when it comes to group matches. Still, I’d expect most of the big names to be involved – which is just as well as Benfica are no mugs. The Portuguese sides are compact, extremely well-organised, fantastic on the ball and a huge threat on the offensive and they’ll be huge players in this fixture, make no mistake about it.

Having watched a lot of United during this five-game winning streak of theirs, it’s clear Sir Alex has gone to town on both his defence and midfield. Dropping Wayne Rooney back has had mixed results. Yes United aren’t conceded the alarming number of chances they were beforehand, but at the same time they aren’t creating a great deal themselves, either. Against Benfica, a side who retain their shape and will approach this crucial match with a clear game-plan in mind, United will far more guile and craft going forward if they’re to be successful.

Home and away, I haven’t been impressed with Manchester United. They’ve managed to ground out ugly victories, important ones, mind, but the fact they aren’t scoring many goals leaves them susceptible up against the sides who do actually know where the goal is, and how to locate it. Benfica do. They can also defend, which only adds to their appeal.

I feel there could be a shock on the cards here, although United always show tremendous character through adversity, so should Benfica take the lead, I’d expect to see a typically dogged fightback from Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges. A score draw in what I hope, and believe, will be a thoroughly entertaining contest.

Match Outcome: Draw – 10/3 SkyBet

Value Bet: 2-2 Draw (Correct Score) – 20/1 Ladbrokes

Match Odds

Manchester United – 4/7 WilliamHill

Draw – 10/3 SkyBet

Benfica – 13/2 Ladbrokes

Swansea City V Manchester United

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 19 November 2011 – 17:30 GMT

Venue: Liberty Stadium

Preview

For enigmatic Swansea fans, there will be no bigger fixture all season than Saturday’s evening clash with reigning Barclay’s Premier League champions Manchester United. And it’s a fixture which should hold no fear for those graceful Swans; United have never beaten Swansea in Wales in eight previous attempts, losing six, while no visiting team has won at the Liberty Stadium so far this season – Bolton are the only team to have scored there.

It isn’t as though the Red Devils have been firing on all cylinders of late, either. They were, but not any more. The goals have well and truly dried up, that despite registering in all eleven league matches thus far, as, after plundering 21 goals in their first six games, United have managed a miserly sum of four in as many games.

Should United fail to end their four-match sequence of scoring precisely one goal, Swansea have every chance of recording a famous result. The Swans are in form – currently unbeaten in three but having also won as many games in a row at the Liberty Stadium, where they boast the best home defensive figures in the Premier League (Played 5, Conceded 1, Clean Sheets 4) – while in their last high-profile fixture they held the mighty Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield. They’ll be brimming with confidence.

So, at odds of 1/2, are Manchester United really worth the bother. At 7/1, are Swansea capable of toppling Sir Alex’s champions? The draw may well prove a popular betting selection at 7/2, considering United’s recent scoring plight and Swansea’s staunch defence.

Swansea

League Position: 10th

League Form: WLDWD

This is thee game of the season for Swansea and their supporters. The Liberty Stadium is always a sell-out, always rocking on match day, but the atmosphere will be something special on Saturday for the visit of Manchester United. However it is important the occasion doesn’t get the better of them, as this is by no means a fixture whereby Swansea have nothing to lose and plenty to gain.

Protecting this aura at the Liberty Stadium could be paramount to Swansea staying up, as away from home points will come at a premium for Brendan Rodgers’ side. The Swans have registered 11 of their 13 points at home, where they have won their previous three matches, while Bolton are the only visiting team to have scored there this season.

Confidence in camp will be high however following their thoroughly impressive performance and result away at Liverpool before the break. The goalless draw did not flatter them either. Swansea actually dominated for periods, monopolising possession at a ground where most newly promoted teams barely get a touch of the ball, while some of the chances they carved out were gilt-edged. It could so easily of been a famous victory.

United at home will be a different kettle of fish though. Liverpool are still going through somewhat of a transitional period whereas Sir Alex’s men have enjoyed their third-best start to a Premier League campaign, even though their form has dipped slightly in recent weeks. Nevertheless, there is a lot to like about Swansea, especially their odds. Defensively they are exceptional; supremely well-organised and so resolute; I don’t think there’s a team in the land who retain possession better, while going forward they boast pace on the flanks (Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer, the latter was in sparkling form at Anfield) and a predatory striker in front of goal in form (Danny Graham has 4 goals in his last 5 appearances).

The return to fitness of Kemy Agustien is also a major boost for Rodgers, while Steve Caulker and Stephen Dobbie are also closing in on a return to first-team football. Scott Sinclair will start on the right-hand side of a three pronged after only making the substitutes bench at Anfeld due to illness.

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

League Form: WDLWW

You can only sit back and admire Manchester United as a footballing model. Many teams would have crumbled after losing a local derby by a five-goal margin on their own patch. Not United. Not under Sir Alex Ferguson’s watch. The club has regrouped, winning their subsequent two league games as well as a UEFA Champions League group match, and although this renaissance of theirs hasn’t been explosive or spectacular, the professionalism displayed is phenomenal – and you certainly wouldn’t put it past them becoming the first team to win a Barclay’s Premier League match in Wales on Saturday.

Five teams have tried and still we await the first visiting team to win the first official Premier League fixture in Wales. Step up the defending champions. United, though, haven’t been at all convincing away from home this season, or last season for that matter, despite winning three of five. I felt they were extremely fortunate to take five points from their last three away contests at Everton (0-1), Liverpool (1-1) and Stoke (1-1), particularly the latter two where, if truth be told, they were thoroughly outplayed.

Still, it’s a results business and few churn out more points on their travels than Sir Alex’s men. But their form has tailed off recently, while the level of their performances hasn’t been anywhere near satisfactory. Just four goals scored in as many games is a truly remarkable statistic when you consider how United began the term like an repress train, banging in 21 goals in their first six matches. Key offensive figures have well and truly gone off the boil, wingers Ashley Young and Nani among them, but none more so than Wayne Rooney.

Wayne Rooney was the early pacesetter for the Golden Boot, but no goals in six has allowed the chasing pack, namely those from across the City, to eat into the deficit. The forward by trade has been deployed as a makeshift midfielder in recent games, possibly in a bid to add some backbone to a midfield which does lack a natural leader. You have to say the switch has work because United are back to winning ways, but we’re not seeing the best of a player who when in form, and when asked to play in his favoured role just off the striker, can be unplayable.

In summary, you’d still give the edge to United. Unconvincing they may be but winning games is a wonderful habit and they have just that at the minute, after four straight victories in all competitions. They are, however, shorn of several key individuals who would come into contention had they otherwise been fit. Defender Chris Smalling, Brazilian midfielder Anderson and winger Ashley Young are all absent.

Match Pointers

- First competitive meeting for almost 30 years, since Swansea’s last stint in the top flight back in 1982/1983. Swansea are, however, unbeaten in eight versus Man Utd over in Wales (W6 D2), having never lost a home fixture with the Red Devils.

- Swansea haven’t lost any of their last nine matches at home in league competition, winning three and drawing two of their Premier League games in Wales this season; they’re currently on a run of three consecutive wins.

- Only Bolton have scored at the Liberty Stadium this season, with the Swans boasting the strongest defensive figures at home in the Premier League, keeping four clean sheets and conceding just the one goal.

- Manchester United have scored exactly one goal in each of their previous four league matches, and in each of their last three away from home.

- Danny Graham has four goals in his last five appearances for Swansea in the league.

- All four of Javier Hernandez’s goals this season have been netted away from home, with the Mexican scoring in three of the four away appearances he has made.

Betting

There aren’t too many goalkeepers who have had more shots rain down on their goal than United shot-stopper David de Gea, which should tell you everything you need to know about United’s inability to break down opposition attacks, and why Sir Alex has tried to counter this by deploying Wayne Rooney as a makeshift central midfielder. Moreover, goals have been at a premium. It’s now four in as many league games, while they only managed two at home to Otelul Galati in the Champions League.

So are the defending champions vulnerable in Wales, where they’ve never beaten Saturday’s opposition? Most certainly. Swansea are in terrific form, winning each of their previous three at home, have a staunch defence which has kept four clean sheets in five at the Liberty Stadium, while in wingers Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer boast individuals who can trouble a United defence that is still conceding far too many chances.

Nevertheless, I’m sticking with the champions. As impressive as Swansea’s statistics at home are, they’re based on results earned against far inferior opposition. The class of United should tell. Could be another tight one though.

Match Outcome: Manchester United to WIN @ 1/2 Bet365

Value Bet: Manchester United 2-1 (Correct Score) @ 8/1 Ladbrokes

Match Odds

Swansea City – 7/1 StanJames

Draw – 7/2 Ladbrokes

Manchester United – 1/2 Bet365

Manchester United V Sunderland

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 5 November 2011 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Old Trafford

Preview

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will celebrate 25 years in the Old Trafford hotseat on Sunday, but not before welcoming a former student of his to the Theatre of Dreams, with Steve Bruce and Sunderland out to spoil the party in Manchester this weekend.

He is the most successful manager in British history, with a trophy haul of 48, but for Sir Alex Saturday isn’t about salivating over a superb 25-year managerial career, it’s about three points and ensuring, at the very minimum, that United don’t lose further ground on their neighbours, Manchester City, as they pursue a twentieth English league title. Standing in their way are a stubborn Sunderland side who while they may reside in the lower echelons of the Premier League, have held United to a draw on at least one occasion in each of the previous two seasons.

United go into the weekend as City’s closest pursuers in second, however they are five points off the pace of the team Ferguson once dubbed ‘noisy neighbours’. So far it has been those pesky neighbours doing all the shouting in Manchester, something Sir Alex is hell bent on changing. Only victory over Sunderland would achieve that goal, although even then they would require a favour elsewhere, later in the day from QPR, whom Man City visit in the evening kick-off.

We shouldn’t completely ignore the fact that Sunderland do have a significant role to play in Saturday’s proceedings, though their record in this fixture would suggest they may be more of a bystander. Since 1997, the year in which Sunderland last won a Premier League match versus United, the Black Cats have lost thirteen of eighteen meetings – that does include last season’s Old Trafford encounter, which United cantered to victory in winning 2-0.

1968 was the last time Sunderland won a league fixture at Old Trafford, some 43 years ago. So Sunderland will need to rewrite history if they’re to record a famous win, on a day when everyone bar the man in question will be keen to look back through the history books at what has been a sensational 25-year spell at Manchester United for Sir Alex Ferguson.

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

League Form: DWDLW

After the epic drubbing they took in the Manchester derby, it was of huge importance that United bounced back immediately; it didn’t matter how, or by how much, just that they did. And they did, as only they do best. Victory at Goodison Park last week put an end to United’s mini slump of having failed to win two matches in the league – that’s a serious dip in form for them such is the level of consistency they perform at – and now they go in search of successive victories when they host Sunderland on Saturday.

Much of the spotlight will rightly fall on Sir Alex Ferguson, who will celebrate 25 years as United manager on Sunday. However, his only concern is beating Sunderland the previous day, as he won’t want to rely on QPR taking points off of Man City in the late kick-off. Five-points is the deficit United are striving to eradicate, and they’ll do just that with a routine win over a Sunderland side languishing four places off the relegation zone – albeit temporarily.

Their 25-game unbeaten run at Old Trafford in the league may have come to an abrupt end but it still highlights the almost unrivalled consistency of United. And it is games like these which are their bread and butter usually. However, confidence isn’t exactly at an all-time high; they were victorious away at Everton last week but their performance left a lot to be believed, while it was a similar story during the week as the Red Devils moved a step closer to the last-sixteen of the Champions League with a 2-0 win at home to minnows Otelul Galati.

I don’t know about you but for me United haven’t been the same for a while now, even before their spanking in the derby. Their early season swagger has vanished, I wouldn’t like to say the goals have dried up but they certainly aren’t banging them in like they used to, while defensively they remain extremely vulnerable and fragile.

The return of Nemanja Vidic to the back-four should help, however deploying Wayne Rooney, a forward by trade who has ten league goals for the season but has failed to net in his last five Premier League appearances, in a deeper position isn’t doing them any favours. So it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if Ferguson shuffled his pack, with possibly Welbeck losing out as the United manager looks to unleash the formerly prolific Rooney on Bruce’s Black Cats.

Sunderland

League Position: 14th

League Form: LDLWD

You know as a manager that you’re starring down the barrel when a trip to Old Trafford becomes a must not lose assignment, and that is precisely the case for Steve Bruce this weekend, the Sunderland manager who has the unenviable task of preparing his team for an afternoon collision course with defending Premier League champions Manchester United.

Just two wins all season, a second round exit from the League Cup, and of course, who could forget, a loss in the first Tyne-Wear derby of the season and Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is a wanted man in the eyes of the club’s supporters. The mood on Wearside is volatile to say the least and defeat on Saturday, as expected as it may be, especially if its heavy, would only tighten the noose around Steve Bruce’s neck.

Defeat at Old Trafford and Sunderland could spend the next fortnight hovering uncomfortably above the relegation zone, possibly by just a point, depending on how those below them fare. Fans up north won’t like that one little bit, so could you imagine if Sunderland were to get beat convincingly? The phone-ins will be flooded with calls from irate fans demanding the head of Steve Bruce. Considering they’ve lost eight of their previous eleven encounters at Old Trafford, and in amongst all that are a few hammerings, coupled with the fact Bruce will be shorn of several influential figures, I can’t rule it out.

Steve Bruce is sweating over the fitness of David Vaughan and Seb Larsson, while John O’Shea is a major doubt. An even bigger problem lies in goal, with both Craig Gordon and Simon Mignolet sidelined because of injury, which leaves Kieran Westwood as the only experienced goalkeeper fit and available for action – though the 27-year-old did deputise well at home to Aston Villa last week, that in spite of conceding twice. Nicklas Bentdner will continue to lead the attack although Stephane Sessegnon, who has either scored or assisted a goal in each of Sunderland’s last four league games, could be the biggest threat going forward.

Match Pointers

- Manchester United haven’t lost a Premier League match versus Sunderland since 1997, winning 13 of the subsequent 17 contests that have taken place since.

- Sunderland did hold United to a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford two seasons ago, while last season they held them to a goalless stalemate at the Stadium of Light.

- The Red Devils had not lost a league game at Old Trafford for eighteen months (W24 D1) before suffering their worst for 81 years, losing 6-1 to Manchester City in the Manchester derby.

- United (W7 D2 L1) sit second in the table but are five-points adrift of pacesetters Man City, who are still to lose a league game in 2011/12.

- Sunderland (W2 D4 L4) reside in 14th having won only twice this season.

- Four of Sunderland’s five away goals were scored in the second-half.

Betting

Sir Alex Ferguson will receive his fair share of awards and commemorative gifts on Saturday before Saturday’s match with Sunderland, but what he really wants is three points from the fixture itself. His team, though, haven’t produced many accomplished performances of late to suggest they are worthy 1/4 favourites, but then there is enough to dislike about Sunderland. That said, it is rare nowadays for Steve Bruce’s side to take a heavy beating and I suspect his boys may put up a fight at Old Trafford, where United will host their first Premier League match since that heavy defeat in the Manchester derby.

It is asking an awful lot for Sunderland to ground a result out of this fixture. I don’t see too many glaring issues at the back, with several former United stalwarts providing Bruce with some invaluable inside knowledge of their former team-mates and manager, but they need to offer more going forward. I like Stephane Sessegnon, he has lots of natural ability, like an abundance of pace, quick feet, agility, but he’s been disappointing this season. His form has picked up of late, however, while Bentdner has always been the sort to try his hardest when the cameras are around.

Should Sunderland have a spring in their step going forward, I do see value in opposing the home side. Of course, a mammoth performance is required from every singly Sunderland, but we’re getting smashing odds on them causing an upset. I reckon they may sneak a draw here.

Match Outcome: Draw – 11/2 VictorChandler

Value Bet: Nicklas Bendtner to Score – 4/1 SkyBet

Match Odds

Manchester United – 1/4 WilliamHill

Draw – 11/2 VictorChandler

Sunderland – 14/1 StanJames

Manchester United V Otelul Galati

Date & Kick-Off: Wednesday, 2 November 2011 – 19:45 GMT

Venue: Old Trafford

TV Coverage: LIVE on SKY SPORTS 2

Preview

Three-time European champions Manchester United encountered few problems dispatching of Otelul Galati over in Romania a fortnight ago, so their reverse meeting at Old Trafford should go the same way, as the Red Devils seek to return to winning ways after last week’s crushing home defeat in the Manchester derby.

Twice Wayne Rooney was asked to comply from the spot, and twice he did, both times with aplomb. But as comfortable as United were throughout the majority of proceedings, and by that I mean Otelul rarely troubled Anders Lindegaard in the United goal, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson won’t have been at all satisfied with the lack of production in the final third of the pitch. Nor Nemanja Vidic’s red card.

Now, two weeks on, they return to Old Trafford – where they’ve lost just one of their previous 34 Champions League matches, and where they are currently unbeaten in nine in Europe – for the first time since relinquishing their nineteen-month long unbeaten home record in all competitions. That was, of course, their infamous 6-1 loss in the Manchester derby to arch rivals Man City.

Sir Alex described the loss to Manchester City as the worst day of his footballing life, and I sincerely believed him. It was brutal, seeing unquestionably the biggest club in the land made a mockery of on the pitch. Let’s not forget what this famous club is all about, though; they are the most successful club in English football, having been crowned champions nineteen times, while they’re also the reigning Premier League champions and last season’s beaten finalists in this very competition, and they showed exactly why they’ve been champions on numerous occasions when grounding out a narrow victory away at Everton the following weekend.

Bounceback ability has always been a characteristic of United’s teams under Sir Alex Ferguson, and what so many of their domestic rivals don’t boast enough of. It’s also why we expect them to respond emphatically in their first contest at Old Trafford since the Manchester derby, against European minnows Otelul Galati.

Otelul Galati are competing in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history, doing so after clinching last season’s Romanian title. But despite failing to register a single point in their first three matches, they’ve proved already, even after just three games, that they are by no means mugs and that they will at least make the opposition work for three-points.

On Match Day 1, Dorinel Munteanu’s charges were denied a share of the spoils at FC Basel after conceding a late penalty. Then, the following match day, Bruno Cesar scored the only goal of the game as Benfica triumphed 1-0 in Bucharest, where Galati are forced to play their home Champions League matches. While it was Wayne Rooney who settled matters when the Steelworkers took on Fergie’s Red Devils in Romania last time out. Since then, however, they’ve gone on to record three straight victories back home.

Going by their previous results, you’d like to think the Romanians are edging closer to those historic first Champions League points. However they won’t come at Old Trafford, where Manchester United will want to lay down a marker with a comprehensive win on Wednesday, in doing so sending out a message to all their rivals who dare underestimate the Red Devils at Old Trafford after the Manchester Derby loss.

Because of his red card in Romania, Nemanja Vidic will be absent on Wednesday. The Serbian has only just returned to action and Ferguson would have ideally thrown the central defender in from the off against Otelul Galati. Versatile defender Chris Smalling is also unavailable due to a broken toe. Midfielders Darren Gibson and Ashley Young have also been ruled out because of injury, meanwhile Ryan Giggs and Tom Cleverley are both rated doubtful.

Match Pointers

- Two goals from Wayne Rooney, both penalties, sealed a 2-0 victory for Man Utd when the two teams met for the very first time two weeks ago in Romania.

- United suffered their first home defeat for almost nineteen months when losing 6-1 to Man City on 23 October; they were previously unbeaten in 37 competitive matches at Old Trafford.

- In Europe, Man Utd are without defeat in nine at home (W6 D3).

- Otelul Galati have won their last three matches in all competitions, all by one-goal margins.

- There has been just one draw in Galati’s previous 23 away games; however, their last four away defeats have all been by a 2-1 scoreline.

Betting

Although United didn’t create too many chances over in Romania, it was still a comfortable night’s work for last season’s beaten finalists. Otelul Galati are clearly marshalled well in the art of defending, as they were extremely well organised and didn’t allow United to establish any real rhythm or leave any space in which they could exploit. Dorinel Munteanu, the Galati coach, will try to implement something similar at Old Trafford, but I just don’t see his team holding out for as long as they did in Romania. United will be keen to make an example of the first team to enter the Theatre of Dreams since that remarkable Manchester derby, and that teams just so happens to be a small-time Romanian outfit.

There is no value whatsoever in backing Manchester United, but they will win.

Match Outcome: Manchester United to WIN – 1/10 Ladbrokes

Value Bet: Javier Hernandez First Goalscorer – 15/4 Bet365

Match Odds

Manchester United – 1/10 Ladbrokes

Draw – 9/1 Bet365

Otelul Galati – 33/1 VictorChandler

Everton V Manchester United

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 29 October 2011 – 12:00 GMT

Venue: Goodison Park

Preview

Sir Alex Ferguson cut a despairing figure after last week’s 6-1 hammering in the Manchester derby, as his United team slumped to their heaviest ever Premier League defeat at home to Manchester City, conceding six goals at Old Trafford for the first time since 1930. Now we wait with baited breath, and with a slight touch of trepidation, as to how exactly the 19-time champions of England will respond to arguably their most humiliating defeat in their 133-year history.

Progression in the Carling Cup at the expense of Aldershot Town did ease their derby pain ever so slightly, not that we expected anything less against vastly inferior opposition. Not a single United player who featured in Sunday’s mauling at Old Trafford started Tuesday’s 3-0 win at the Recreation Ground, while only goalkeeper David de Gea made the match day squad. So Saturday’s trip to Everton, a fixture United haven’t won for the past three seasons, will be Rooney & Co’s first opportunity to redeem themselves for last week’s disastrous showing.

Everton, meanwhile, are also hoping to bounce back from a loss. The Toffees were dumped out of the Carling Cup on Wednesday after succumbing to a 2-1 defeat at home to Chelsea, this after taking the tie into extra-time courtesy of Louis Saha’s late equaliser. However they were 3-1 winners last time out in the league, away at Fulham.

Everton

League Position: 13th

League Form: WLLLW

Everton manager David Moyes can expect to be peppered with questions regarding his approach to this weekend’s clash with the defending Premier League champions and how he intends to capitalise on his opponents’ supposedly vulnerable state. But he has his own problems to contend with, and none more so than raising the spirits of his own wounded troops following Wednesday’s Carling Cup exit at the hands of Chelsea.

We’ve grown accustom to seeing spirited performances from Everton over the years, usually when they are up against it, as was the case in midweek when they took on Chelsea in the Carling Cup – three days after ending a three-game losing sequence in the league away at Fulham. Unfortunately the Toffees could not sustain their winning momentum, thanks largely to a dismal keeping display from Jan Mucha, losing 2-1 after extra-time.

So, Everton’s wait for a trophy goes on, while another avenue for European football passes them by. Now extra significance is placed on their league form as they boldly set their sights on a top-six finish which, without any investment in January, seems an impossible task. If they continue to take their chances though, as they did at Fulham last time out, and if a bit more luck goes their way, also as it did at Fulham, then who knows – Everton may yet spring a surprise.

A second successive league win would certainly do their top-six credentials no harm and, although they won’t be underestimating United this week, despite their opponent’s fragile frame of mind, they will fancy their chances on the quiet. Everton are unbeaten in their last three Premier League home games versus United, winning one and drawing two. That said, their record against the top-six this season doesn’t give much in the way of encouragement: Everton couldn’t get anywhere near Chelsea (3-1) and Man Cit (2-0) at Stamford Bridge at the Etihad Stadium respectively while in their last home game, the Merseyside derby, they once again came up two goals short, losing 2-0 at home to Liverpool.

David Moyes didn’t exactly rings the changes in midweek either, which is a concern considering his opposite number fielded an entirely different team from the one which was thumped by Man City last Sunday. Of those who were rested, Tim Howard, Phil Jagielka and Leon Osman will all return, as will Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman who featured as second-half subs. Louis Saha, scorer of Everton equaliser, could spearhead the attack while Royston Drenthe, the mercurial Dutchman who scored an absolute stunner away at Fulham last weekend, will sit this one out because of suspension.

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

League Form: WDWDL

Bouncing back from adversity is what Manchester United are renowned for under Sir Alex Ferguson, arguably thee characteristic which sets them apart from all their rivals – and why they’ve been crowned Premier League champions on no fewer than twelve occasions during his 25-year trophy-laden spell at Old Trafford. Yet everyone waits with baited breath, and with a touch of trepidation, as to how they’ll respond to last week’s mauling in the Manchester derby.

Sir Alex described it as his worst day in football. Personally, I thought it was the most compelling spanking that I have ever seen. Never before have I witnessed the mighty Red Devils put in their place so emphatically as on Sunday, when they beaten comprehensively by neighbours Manchester City, losing 6-1 at Old Trafford. The result sent shock waves around Europe, the globe even, while there will be a fair few deflated egos in that United dressing room.

The damage doesn’t stop at a loss image, though. As a result of last week’s defeat to Man City; their first at Old Trafford over over a year, ending their 25-game unbeaten sequence in the process, United now trail their ‘noisy neighbours’ by five points which, although it may not seem a lot, is huge considering City haven’t shown us anything in recent weeks that would suggest a slip-up is imminent. In the meantime, Sir Alex’s men must get straight back on the horse and ensure they keep the pressure on their city rivals, which means making an immediate return to winning ways on Merseyside this weekend.

On their last three visits to Goodison Park in the league, United have registered just two points from a possible nine. Last season they squandered a two-goal lead heading into stoppage time, eventually drawing 3-3, while the season before that they were beaten convincingly 3-1. So it isn’t as though Sir Alex isn’t aware of the threat Everton pose to his wounded team. On the plus side, Ferguson can at least call on the reliable defensive services of Nemanja Vidic. The Serbian hasn’t featured in a league game since the opening week through injury but played the full 90 minutes in Tuesday’s 3-0 Carling Cup defeat of Aldershot.

It wouldn’t be a great surprise to see changes elsewhere as well, with Anderson almost certain to be amongst the substitutes. The Brazilian was heavily criticised for his lacklustre display last Sunday and is set to be replaced in the starting eleven by Tom Cleverley. Danny Welbeck has been Wayne Rooney’s preferred attacking partner in recent games but Javier Hernandez is in line to start at Goodison, alongside Rooney, who is no longer the league’s outright leading goalscorer.

Match Pointers

- Everton and Manchester United have met 38 times in the league during the Premier League era, with Everton triumphant on just four occasions: Everton wins – 4 (three at home), Draws – 6, Man Utd wins – 27.

- The Toffees are, however, unbeaten in their last three at home to United (W1 D2).

- David Moyes’ side have now lost four of their last five league and cup games, including the last two at home to Chelsea (1-2) in the Carling Cup and Liverpool (0-2) in the league.

- Since the beginning of December 2010, Everton have only suffered two league defeats in their last fifteen at Goodison Park (W8 D5 L2).

- Manchester United, meanwhile, have only lost one of their previous eight away from home in the league (W3 D4 L1), but are without a win in six visits to Merseyside (versus Everton & Liverpool).

- Sir Alex Ferguson’s side also arrive in critical shape after last week’s Manchester derby humiliation, in which they lost 6-1 to Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Team News

Everton manager David Moyes rotated his squad for Wednesday’s 2-1 Carling Cup defeat to Chelsea at Goodison Park. Goalkeeper Tim Howard and central defender Phil Jagielka didn’t even make the bench, Leon Osman was an unused substitute, while full-back Tony Hibbert and midfielder Seamus Coleman were introduced in the second-half. Royston Drenthe, scorer of Everton’s first in last week’s 3-1 win at Fulham in the league, saw red for two bookable offences in midweek and will thus serve a one-game suspension. Striker Victor Anichebe remains a long-term absentee.

Sir Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes for Tuesday’s Carling Cup tie with Aldershot, with only goalkeeper David de Gea – an unused substitute – part of the match day squad that featured in Sunday’s Manchester derby humbling. Club captain Nemanja Vidic played the full 90 minutes and will almost certainly start his first league since August on Saturday, alongside a familiar face in Rio Ferdinand. Anderson put in a disappointing performance against City could be replaced in the team-sheet by Tom Cleverley, the central midfielder who featured prominently in the United starting XI before picking up an injury. Danny Welbeck has partnered Wayne Rooney in attack in recent games but Javier Hernandez is tipped to start at Goodison.

Betting

Usually I would have no qualms whatsoever backing Manchester United after a defeat, as more times than not it only serves as motivation. But their loss in the Manchester derby was something else; it was utterly humiliating, like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Even Sir Alex seemed to take it bad, so God only knows how his team took it. To compound matters, their recent record at Everton doesn’t even breed confidence; they’ve failed to win on each of their previous three visits in the league.

Sir Alex’s answer will be to shuffle his pack, which could pay dividends. David de Gea will retain his place in goal despite conceding six – though that was mainly down to a non-existent United defence, one which will be reinforced at Goodison Park by the return of Nemanja Vidic. Tom Cleverley and Javier Hernandez are also set for a return. However, I’m not convinced this will be enough, as in Everton, United have a dogged opponent who, despite a poor record against the big teams this season, do tend to lift their game when the top five or six teams in the country pay them a visit.

If truth be told, neither manager would settle for a share of the spoils beforehand. Everton are five-points adrift of sixth-placed Liverpool while United have allowed Man City to open up a similar gap at the summit. However, I really don’t foresee United winning this; they’ll be tight and nervy after last week’s Old Trafford debacle and may well struggle to find any rhythm at Goodison.

Match Outcome: Draw – 11/4 VictorChandler

Value Bet: 0-0 Draw (Correct Score) – 12/1 SkyBet

Match Odds

Everton – 4/1 BetFred

Draw – 11/4 VictorChandler

Manchester United – 5/6 WilliamHill

Manchester United V Manchester City

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 23 October 2011 – 13:30 (GMT)

Venue: Old Trafford

TV Coverage: LIVE on Sky Sports 1

Preview

The Manchester derby takes centre stage this weekend as United and City battle it out for local bragging rights and, ultimately, three points that come the end of the season could prove decisive in the race to be crowned 2011/12 Premier League champions.

Currently it is Roberto Mancini’s Man City who boast the outright lead, having won seven of their first eight games in an unbeaten sequence made truly remarkable by the sheer number of goals involved: the Citizens have plundered 27 in total, an average of 3.37 per game, conceding just 6. Fourteen of those are credited to this new-look and exciting strike partnership of Argentine Sergio Aguero and Bosnian Edin Dzeko, the pair who have reaped the benefits of playing in front of a couple of world class play-makers in the shape of David Silva and Samir Nasri, who lead the way in assists with five and six respectively.

United, though, are never far off the pace and a 20th successive home win in the Barclay’s Premier League – what would also be their fourth consecutive league victory over Man City at Old Trafford – would see them erase Man City’s two-point advantage and replace them at the summit. They, too, have been in prolific goalscoring form this season, and like their rivals also boast a number of attacking assets: no player has netted more goals than Wayne Rooney this season, 9, while only Samir Nasri has laid on more assists than Ashley Young.

So this truly is an epic battle between the two best teams in the Premier League, according to the league table anyway. I’m sure Chelsea would object to such a claim, and it is they, breathing down the pair’s necks in third, who will prosper either way should there be a decisive winner in the first Manchester derby of the season.

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

League Form: WWDWD

The spectacular rise of Manchester City is threatening the age-old rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United as we know it – a fixture Sir Alex defiantly believes is still the biggest game of the season as far as United are concerned. He may arguably be the greatest manager the sport has ever had, however Fergie isn’t deceiving anyone with his backhanded jibe aimed at the club he once described as merely the ‘noisy neighbours’.

THIS is now the biggest game of the season for United and their fans, not because of bragging rights or local pride but due to the significance and emphasis placed on three points, because, like it or not, Manchester City are genuine title protagonists this season – and there aren’t too many who are, despite mutterings from Merseyside and north London. So I do hope that Ferguson brandishing last week’s clash with Liverpool as the ‘biggest game of the season’ was a ploy, as it’s about time United took this fixture as seriously as their neighbours, who are the ones making all the noise right now as they sit pretty at the summit of the Barclay’s Premier League.

Although United are the ones now playing catch-up, they do hold all the aces. The Red Devils have been red hot for a while now at Old Trafford; they’ve won their last 20 Premier League matches there, two of which were highly impressive victories that occurred this season over Arsenal, who they thumped 8-2, and Chelsea. But they also go into the game feeling as though they have the beating of their rivals: Sir Alex’s men are unbeaten in their last six Manchester derbies, winning five including the previous three at Old Trafford.

It’s also worth making a mental note of the fact 16 of their 25 goals scored in the league this season have come at Old Trafford, while their only concessions there came in those aforementioned games with Arsenal and Chelsea.

Team News – United manager Sir Alex Ferguson named a very strong team for the trip to Romania during the week to face little known Otelul Galati in the Champions League. And the Red Devils were far from convincing either, requiring two converted spot-kicks from Wayne Rooney just to seal their first European victory of the campaign. Nani, Hernandez and Rooney – second-half substitutes at Anfield – all started in midweek, as did Nemanja Vidic, who completed his return to the starting fold by getting sent off. He is, however, set to be thrown in at the deep end right from the off on Sunday, partnering Rio Ferdinand, who didn’t travel to Romania, in the heart of defence. Tom Cleverely is the only doubt.

Manchester City

League Position: 1st

League Form: WDWWW

City are out to consolidate their position at the top of the Barclay’s Premier League at Old Trafford this weekend, but in order to do so they must achieve a feat they’ve not managed for the past three seasons, which is avoid defeat at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’. Better yet, go one further and record only their second ever Premier League victory at the home of the Red Devils – their one previous triumph in this fixture, during the Premier League era that is, occurring four seasons ago back in 2008.

It is often said that there is no better feeling than winning a game of football in the dying embers of the game. We need only examine the clips of Roberto Mancini celebrating Sergio Aguero’s injury time winner at home to Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday to verify the validity of such a claim. The Italian could not hide his elation at City’s first ever victory in Europe’s premier club competition, especially as it puts them right back in qualifying contention in Group A.

Tuesday’s win was a timely boost for City, who have endured a turbulent few weeks. On the field they’ve remained imperious; last week’s comprehensive 4-1 win over Aston Villa at Eastlands was their third in a row domestically, netting twelve times in that spell. Off it, though, Carlos Tevez continues to dominate all the back pages.

Fortunately, Tevez hasn’t disrupted City’s rhythm, if anything it has galvanised the team, in particular Mario Balotelli, who due to Tevez’s exclusion from the first-team squad has been able to capitalise on some rare minutes on the pitch. The Italian has now scored in each of his last four appearances in the league, providing Mancini with a positive selection dilemma ahead of Sunday’s game as to whether he should stick with the form of the temperamental Italian or go with the tried and tested Aguero and Dzeko partnership which has produced fourteen goals this season.

Team News - Midfield enforcer Nigel de Jong is back from injury, the Dutchman who has every confidence that City’s sublime unbeaten run will not be wrecked by second-placed United at Old Trafford. De Jong may well replace Yaya Toure, the Ivorian who has been disappointing of late and does leave gaps with his bulldozing runs forward. David Silva, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko were among those who sat out last week’s handsome league win at home to Aston Villa. All three are expected to start at Old Trafford. Kolo Toure was also an unused sub against Villa, and again in midweek versus Villarreal, with Mancini deciding to stick with the central defensive partnership of Joleon Lescott and Vincent Kompany that has helped City boast the joint-strongest defensive figures after eight games.

Match Pointers

- Manchester United are unbeaten in six league meetings with City, winning five, with the latter’s only away win at Old Trafford during the Premier League era coming in 2008.

- Victory for United would extend their winning streak at Old Trafford in the Premier League to 20.

- Both United (W6 D2) and City (W7 D1) have made eight-game unbeaten starts to the league campaign, but it is Roberto Mancini’s City who go into the game top of the Premier League.

- This fixture also pits the league’s leading scorers against each other as Wayne Rooney (9) and Sergio Aguero (8) go head-to-head at Old Trafford. Edin Dzeko isn’t too far behind on six.

- These two teams have averaged over 3-goals-per-game in the league this season, United netting 25 times to City’s 27.

Betting

Top of the table and boasting the best away record in the Premier League, City unsurprisingly fancy themselves at Old Trafford this weekend especially after the manner of their victory over Villarreal in midweek. In David Silva and Samir Nasri they have two players capable of unlocking a United defence which has allowed more shots on their own goal than any other team in the Premier League bar Bolton, while in Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli, Roberto Mancini has three strikers in rich veins of scoring form. They have, however, conceded five of their six goals away from home, which is perhaps where the combative Nigel de Jong comes into play.

Manchester United’s defence remains their Achilles heels, while their midfield isn’t far off. Both Anderson and Darren Fletcher in the middle are a million miles away from being classed as world class material, while this young and inexperienced back-line has been found wanting against lesser teams of late, namely Norwich and Basel. The return of Nemanja Vidic is positive even though he is prone to injuries and cautions, and the Serbian will form a more stable centre-half partnership with Rio Ferdinand on Sunday. I’m still not convinced they’ll contain City’s dreamy attacking quarter of Silva, Nasri, Aguero and Dzeko.

Home advantage should count for a lot, at least I hope it will as I’m backing the draw even though I see Manchester City as tremendous value. The visitors have the fire-power to trouble any defence in world football, let alone a United back-line which was ripped apart by FC Basel before the international break, and shortly after by Norwich – both at Old Trafford as well. So, at odds of over 2/1, I wouldn’t try to discourage anyone from taking a chance on Roberto Mancini’s imperious charges.

Match Outcome: Draw – 5/2 StanJames

Value Bet: 2-2 Draw (Correct Score) – 14/1 Boylesports

Match Odds

Manchester United – 11/10 WilliamHill

Draw – 5/2 StanJames

Manchester City – 14/5 Bet365

Otelul Galati V Manchester United

Date & Kick-Off: Tuesday, 18 October 2011 – 19:45 (GMT)

Venue: National Arena, Bucharest

TV Coverage: LIVE on Sky Sports 4

Preview

Six Alex Ferguson will take his Manchester United team into unfamiliar territory on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League, a competition they’ve won on three separate occasions – more recently in 2008 – but are yet to win in this season. That’s because his team have been held in both their opening group games, by Portuguese side Benfica and Swiss champions FC Basel, and as a result are playing catch-up heading into Match Day 3.

Domestic champions and European minnows Otelul Galati await the mighty Red Devils on Tuesday in what probably won’t be as partisan a crowd as you might expect. Although the Romanian champions do boast home advantage of sorts, the National Stadium in Bucharest – the venue for Tuesday’s Group C clash – is not their official stomping ground. The club actually originate in the East of the country, but their stadium doesn’t meet the criteria laid down by UEFA hence why all their home games in Europe this season will be held in the Romanian capital.

In theory it should be six bankable points for United, who could do with every conceivable point at this moment in time. Back-to-back draws, first away in Portugal with Benfica – by all means a very creditable point – before almost playing their part in one of the greatest upsets in the competition’s history at home to FC Basel, leaves Sir Alex’s men floundering a little in third. But the gap between them and joint-leaders Basel and Benfica is only two points, a deficit they will bridge, and possibly then some, should they do the expected and dispatch of the Romanians home and away over the next fortnight.

The United manager will have to guard against complacency, however. His team are once again overwhelming favourites, as they were last time out at home to FC Basel when producing an indifferent performance to say the very least – had it not been for a late leveller from Ashley Young, United would have slumped to arguably their most humiliating Champions League defeat. Having said that, even a draw was a massive turn up for the books.

Defensively more than anywhere else, Ferguson will be demanding maturity and professionalism out in Romania. Against Basel, a young and relatively inexperienced back-four was at sixes and sevens throughout – as has often been the case in the league, if truth be told – which is perhaps why Nemanja Vidic, who is set to make his first competitive appearance since August on Tuesday, was held back at the weekend, with Tuesday’s trip to Bucharest in mind.

Serbian central defender Vidic, who recently announced his retirement from international football, wasn’t the only notable absentee from Saturday’s Premier League fixture away to Liverpool. Anderson, Nani, Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney all started on the bench, while only the former wasn’t introduced in the second period. Whether those big-name omissions were a tactical ploy or made with Tuesday in mind remains to be seen – although this weekend’s colossal encounter with neighbours Manchester City at Old Trafford may have something to do with it?

Sunday’s league clash with their noisy neighbours, who just so happen to also set the pace in the Premier League, will undoubtedly take precedent.United, though, can ill afford any more egg on their face.

Finishing top of your group has never been more significant than it is now, as avoiding the formidable likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Round of 16 is almost imperative to any chance of success in this tournament. So only six points from their back-to-back Group C matches with Otelul Galati will suffice if United wish to overhaul Basle and Benfica at the summit.

So who exactly are Otelul Galati? To be frank, I had no idea either before this season – and I’m still not exactly clued up about them. I’ve seen glimpses of them in Europe – and I do mean glimpses – and wasn’t overly impressed with what I saw, in defeats to Basel (2-1) in Switzerland and Benfica (0-1) at home. They do appear very defence orientated, which is probably why they conceded just 25 goals in 34 league games last season, en route to clinching their first championship. Could pose a threat on the counter I suppose.

Match Pointers

- The reigning champions of Romania pit themselves against current and nineteen-time English title winners Manchester United on Tuesday, with both sides still to record a win in Group C.

- Galati have been a little unfortunate in both group games thus far, losing to Basel (2-1) in Switzerland and Benfica (0-1) in Romania by the odd goal.

- United earned a creditable 1-1 draw in Portugal in their first match, away to Benfica, but shown serious signs of complacency on Matchday 2 against FC Basel as Ashley Young scored a stoppage time equaliser in a 3-3 draw.

- Otelul Galati currently lie 9th in the Romania Liga I, winning just three of their first ten fixtures (W3 D3 L4), scoring a meagre eight times.

- Manchester United are unbeaten in all competitions in 2011/12 (W7 D4), scoring 25 goals from their eight league games thus far.

- The Red Devils didn’t concede a single goal away from home in last year’s competition, going 540 minutes of away Champions League action without conceding en route to the final – but it took them a mere 24 minutes to concede their first this time around, away to Benfica on Matchday 1.

Betting

This is a dream come true for small-time Otelul Galati, nicknamed the ‘Steelworkers’. They’ve earned the right to be here after securing their first ever Romanian title last season, going the entire campaign unbeaten at home. However, the fact they aren’t actually playing at home has to be a huge negative, on top of all the other obvious flaws in a potential upset in Bucharest.

Several big names will return to the United XI, many others potentially could as well, so it’s incredibly difficult, almost impossible even, to envisage another United slip-up. Last season they were imperious away from home, winning every one of their group games without conceding, and so long as those selected by Sir Alex put in a professional performance, I see only one result: a comfortable away win for Manchester United.

Match Outcome: Manchester United to WIN @ 2/9 Coral

Value Bet: Man Utd to Win By 4 or More Goals @ 19/5 WilliamHill

Match Odds

Otelul Galati – 16/1 VictorChandler

Draw – 6/1 StanJames

Manchester United – 2/9 Coral