UNDER-FIRE Manchester United welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford on Saturday evening. Football journalist Adam Goodwin (@AGJournalism) runs the rule over the best betting options.
Manchester United v Newcastle | Saturday 6th October 2018, 17:30 | BT Sport
Two sides in worrying form face each other on Saturday evening, with Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez’s futures uncertain, both of these sides could do with the points here.
Man Utd
After a 0-0 draw against Valencia in the Champions League on Tuesday, United are now four games without a win. They haven’t tasted victory at home since the first game of the season and many fans are uncertain that Mourinho is the man to take the club any further.
His press conference on Friday morning began at 8am and lasted no more than five minutes, so is Mourinho losing the plot? Well, these were his responses to the first two questions:
Reporter: Why are things not working as you would like them to work here at Manchester United?
Mourinho: For many different reasons.
Reporter: Can you tell us some of those reasons?
Mourinho: No.
United have only lost three home games in the last two years so despite their poor form at the moment, you’d fancy them to win this one.
Jose Mourinho has also won all seven of his home matches against Newcastle so – even if he is losing the plot – he’ll fancy himself to guide his side to three points against the Magpies on Saturday.
Newcastle
Probably one of the only sides in worse form than Manchester United is Newcastle. Unlike the Red Devils, the Toon fans are desperate to keep hold of their manager and there are definitely arguments for him being one of the best in the league.
However, Benitez is becoming more and more frustrated and it seems like only a matter of time before the Spaniard calls it quits at St James’ Park.
Newcastle have just one win in 12 games and only in 1898/99 and 2015/16 have they gone longer without a win from the start of a top-flight campaign. Newcastle also have a terrible record in Manchester and have won just two of their 42 away matches in the city (D12-L28).
They’ve failed to score in four of their last six games and with Salomon Rondon still out injured, it couldn’t look much bleaker for Newcastle as they head to Old Trafford.
The betting angle
Despite their poor form, I’m going to plump for a Manchester United win on Saturday evening. Newcastle don’t look like they can buy a win at the moment and this is a great chance for Mourinho to stop the rot – for now.
I was tempted to go for United to win ‘to nil' but with their defence in a horrific state, I’m going to chuck in Under 3.5 Goals.
Manchester United to win and Under 3.5 Goals is 11/10 with Sky Bet and I think that’s an attractive price.
Best Bets
Manchester United v Newcastle – Manchester United to win and Under 3.5 Goals (11/10 SkyBet)
