Manchester United vs Watford - Premier League Preview and Odds

Published on: 01/02/2020

Manchester United vs Watford - Premier League Preview and Odds

February 01, 2020 17:30pm - Old Trafford (Manchester)

Premier League

Two teams in the hunt for European places go head-to-head on Saturday evening as under-performing Manchester United take on Wolverhampton Wanderers side seeking to establish themselves as a force in English football.

The Red Devils have spent big in recent years but have failed to re-establish themselves as a regular top-four team. They have had their worst start to a season in 30 years and have failed to recruit adequate replacements for some of the players they have sold in recent years.

In the transfer window, they agreed on a loan move for former Watford striker Odion Ighalo who arrives from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season. Ighalo has been drafted in as cover for the injured Marcus Rashford. They also signed 25-year-old Sporting CP star Bruno Fernandes who will be tasked with bolstering the United midfield in the absence of Paul Pogba.

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer`s men have lost three of their last four Premier League matches and were beaten 2-0 by Burnley in their last match at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers have won just one of their last five games in the league but two of their three defeats came against runaway league leaders Liverpool. In their last away game, they came back from two goals down to claim a 3-2 victory at Southampton.

Nuno Espirito Santo has transformed Wolves from a Championship side to European contenders in under three years. They continued their building process by signing Daniel Podence, Leonardo Campana, Enzo Loiodice and Luke Matheson in the January transfer window.

Predicted line-ups:

Man United: De Gea Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams Fred, Andreas James, Fernandes, Mata Martial

Wolves: Patricio Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Jonny Traore, Jimenez, Neto

Recent Form (League)

Manchester United: LLWLW

Wolverhampton: LWDLL

Betting odds and tips

Manchester United have only lost twice at home this term and have beaten the likes of Chelsea, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur. But defeats to Crystal Palace and Burnley have highlighted a vulnerability that has developed at the club in recent times.

Wolves will look to take advantage of that as they seek to take control of fifth place in the league table but their own in consistent away form could come into play. As a result, a draw looks the best option.

You can back the Draw at 15/4.

By Neil Morris