Fans of Manchester United, one of the most popular and most valuable soccer franchises in the world, already are unhappy with their team’s start to the Premier League season and demanding change. United, though, are favorites on the MyBookie Soccer Odds Saturday vs. Leicester City.
Manchester United vs Leicester City English Premier League Odds & Pick
- When: Saturday, 10 AM ET
- Where: Old Trafford
- Live Stream: NBC Sports Gold
- Premier League Odds: Manchester United -106 (Total 2.5)
Last Meeting
Way back on Feb. 3, Manchester United beat Leicester City 1-0 at King Power Stadium. Marcus Rashford rifled home from an outstanding pass by Paul Pogba. United were finding plenty of space in midfield, and after nine minutes they took the lead when Pogba floated a superb ball to Rashford, who controlled and blasted home to mark his 100th Premier League game in style. Meanwhile, United keeper David De Gea made terrific saves on Jamie Vardy and Rachid Ghezzal.
United have won four of the past five Premier League meetings with one draw. Saturday’s fixture will be the 129th time the two sides have faced each other and the 27th time in the Premier League. United have come out on top 66 times, with Leicester victorious 33 times and 29 draws.
Why Bet on Leicester City?
Leicester City sits on eight points in the Premier League, good for third place in the early going. The last played Aug. 31 and beat Bournemouth 3-1 in league play. Jamie Vardy opened the scoring in the 12th minute when he took advantage of Bournemouth’s high line to break the offside trap and latch onto Ben Chilwell’s long ball, lobbing the ball over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Callum Wilson tied it 1-1 in the 15th minute, but in the 41st minute Vardy played the ball across goal for midfielder Youri Tielemans who restored the lead with a simple tap-in. Vardy then put the nail in the coffin for the Cherries in the 71st minute. Ben Chilwell and Tielemans provided the assist. After a slow start to the season, Vardy now has three goals and an assist in his last two games.
Leicester can remain unbeaten after their first five league matches for only the second time in the last 19 seasons. In the previous campaign when they did so, they went on to win the Premier League title.
Manager Brendan Rodgers’ only Premier League victory at Old Trafford was a 3-0 win with Liverpool in March 2014. He could become the third manager to win at Man United in the competition with two clubs, after Martin O’Neill with Leicester and Aston Villa, and Rafael Benitez with Liverpool and Chelsea.
Expected Line-Up
- 1-K. Schmeichel
- 6-J. Evans
- 21-Ricardo Pereira
- 4-Ç. Söyüncü
- 3-B. Chilwell
- 11-M. Albrighton
- 8-Y. Tielemans
- 25-W. Ndidi
- 10-J. Maddison
- 15-H. Barnes
- 9-J. Vardy
Why Bet on Manchester United?
Man United has been a massive disappointment thus far with only five points in the Premier League. They are off a 1-1 tie vs. Southampton on Aug. 31. Wales winger Daniel James, signed from Swansea City during the close season, netted the third goal of his United career with a 10th-minute rocket into the top corner which gave Saints keeper Angus Gunn no chance. United faded after the break and Jannik Vestergaard equalized in the 58th minute. Southampton were down 10 men starting in the 73rnd minute when Kevin Danso was sent off.
James, Manchester United’s Player of the Month struck in three of his four August matches, two of which were at home, to Chelsea and Crystal Palace. On Saturday, he looks to become only the second United player to score in his first three Premier League appearances at Old Trafford, and the first since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 23 years ago.
Just six months ago, Solskjaer was handed a three-year contract as Manchester United manager but his job is in jeopardy now. United have made their worst start to a season since 1992-93, winning just once in four games, and they have offloaded several experienced players since the closure of the Premier League transfer window without replacing them. Under Solskjaer, United have won just three of their last 16 games in all competitions, losing nine of them.
Jesse Lingard, who is ill, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has a back injury, both returned to Manchester early from England national team duty due to injury and are doubts for the game on Saturday. Paul Pogba is also doubtful after withdrawing from the France squad with an ankle problem while Jesse Lingered was sent home from international duty due to illness. Luke Shaw is struggling with a hamstring issue and Anthony Martial is still working his way back to full fitness.
Meanwhile, Fred is yet to be called up to a matchday squad by Solskjaer this season. Signing Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2018 was considered a big coup for the Red Devils, with Pep Guardiola reportedly desperate to sign the midfielder for Manchester City. However, the 26-year-old has struggled to adjust to the Premier League and is the only senior United player yet to feature this season.
Expected Line-Up
- 1-David de Gea
- 18-A. Young
- 2-V. Lindelöf
- 5-H. Maguire
- 29-A. Wan-Bissaka
- 8-J. Mata
- 6-P. Pogba
- 15-Andreas Pereira
- 21-D. James
- 39-S. McTominay
- 10-M. Rashford
Expert Pick for Manchester United vs Leicester City
Manchester United 1 – Leicester City 1
