12 Jun 2019
Manchester United have made their worst top-flight start since 1989-90. On Saturday evening (5.30pm), they host a Newcastle side searching for their first win. We look at some of the trends and odds available for the big clash...
MANCHESTER UNITED vs NEWCASTLE UNITED
Far be it for us to say it, but the writing is writ large in neon – it can only be a matter of time before Jose Mourinho makes his departure from his Manchester hotel room for good.
Premier League defeats by Brighton, Tottenham and West Ham, plus home draw against Wolves and a League Cup exit at the hands of Championship Derby County, means Mourinho is on borrowed time. And that’s not nearly as long as ‘Fergie Time’.
A tepid Champions League 0-0 draw at home to shot-shy Valencia in midweek leaves them in a precarious position in their qualifying group with back- to-back clashes with Juventus looming.
It will be interesting to see if the Portuguese survives past the international break, as he surely won’t outstay the seemingly troublesome Paul Pogba, who is likely to leave at the end of the season, if not in January.
United, who are considered 4/9 to beat Newcastle according to the Genting Casino online Premier League odds, have at least managed to keep a pair of clean sheets in the Champions League but they have looked vulnerable in domestic action, and have only stopped Burnley from breaching their rearguard.
Yet the visit of Newcastle might be just the tonic the Red Devils need. For they have lost only one of their last 36 home matches in all competitions to the Magpies, winning 26 and drawing nine.
Newcastle have also made a poor start to the season and have yet to record a win. Yet to be fair to them, they have lost to the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City by just the odd goal. They have had trouble raising their game against lesser sides though, failing to score against Cardiff, Crystal Palace and Leicester.
Their lack of firepower is all the more galling to fans, who have watched former striker Aleksander Mitrovic bang home the goals at Fulham since his move, and with owner Mike Ashley hardly giving his financial backing to Rafa Benitez, it can’t be long before the sought-after tactician walks away.
The Genting Casino online soccer odds put Newcastle at 13/2 to earn a shock win at Old Trafford. Each of the last three fixtures at Old Trafford have ended in a draw and it is 10/3 that this trend continues.
United have injury concerns surrounding Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young, Ander Herrea and Macos Rojo, who all missed the languid display against Valencia.
Newcastle suffered a blow with Salomon Rondon likely ruled out with a thigh injury, while Frederico Fernandez, Paul Drummett and DeAndre Yedlin are all facing late fitness tests.
Quite why the hosts are looking disorganized and bereft of confidence is down to leadership on the field. Aside from Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw, it has been difficult to pinpoint good performances from many Red Devils in recent weeks and their lack of goals at home – just three in their last four game at Old Trafford – is cause for alarm.
Romelu Lukaku has labored alone up front and while at times he looks disinterested, he is arguably frustrated at the lack of support, as Mourinho’s defensive tactics mask the all-to-obvious deficiencies at the back.
They looked unbalanced against Valencia in midweek and were simply not up for a battle at West Ham last week, when deservedly going down 3-1. While all three goals had more than a touch of luck (the first was offside, the second wickedly deflected and there was an unpunished foul in the build-up to the third), there was nothing unlucky about the result.
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Can anyone get the hosts out of their slump? Lukaku and Rashford are the obvious ones. Both appear to be letting their football do the talking, and it is amazing what a goal can do for a striker’s confidence. Lukaku was unlucky to see a fierce flicked-header hit the wrong side of the post at the London Stadium last week, but the service from the likes of Pogba must improve if the Belgian is to get more opportunities.
He is always a threat however, and Lukaku is an obvious 10/11 chance to score at any time against Newcastle, who will likely set their stall out to frustrate the hosts.
The visitors have enough pace on the break to cause problems and they scored against Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea. Given the hosts will have to come out of their shell, the visitors may well hit them on the counter and could be worth playing Newcastle at 5/6 to register at least one goal.
It is not as if Newcastle will get out-coached. Benitez-coached teams have won six of the last nine meetings with Manchester United. A glance at the Genting Casino online Premier League odds shows the odds of 6/4 for a Newcastle win or draw on the Double Chance market might tempt a few.
The mercurial Pogba has a goal and an assist in his last two outings against Newcastle and he scored in the 4-0 win in this fixture last season. He is 2/1 to score at any time and 11/2 to grab the first goal.
Indeed, four of the Red Devils’ last eight meetings with Newcastle have resulted in wins to nil and it is 11/10 that they do so again.
TOP TRENDS
Newcastle have not won back-to-back league matches against the Red Devils since October 1972 – it is 12/1 for a Newcastle win and both teams score.
Newcastle have lost seven Premier League matches when scoring first against Manchester United – it is 12/1 for Newcastle to be leading at half-time but go on to lose.
Manchester United have conceded 12 goals in their seven Premier League games this season. It took them 18 games to concede the same amount in 2017-18 – it is 5/4 for Man Utd to win and both teams score.
Jose Mourinho has won all seven of his home matches against Newcastle, seeing his sides score 18 times while conceding just once – It is 11/1 for Man Utd to win 3-1
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