Manchester United v Tottenham Tips: Pogba primed to pick up first booking of the season
The pick of six Premier League games on Sunday looks to be Manchester United v Tottenham at Old Trafford at 16:30. Jose Mounrinho’s side will participate in their fourth game in just seven days after a whirlwind week of fixtures, which has seen them progress in both the Europa League and Carabao Cup.
Gareth Bale only started training midweek for Tottenham and will not feature here, however there could be a potential early return for Son Heung-Min with the Korean recovering quicker than expected after injury. Giovani Lo Celso is also a doubt for the game with fitness an issue after such short recovery periods over the last week.
Manchester United will be without defenders Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones with long term i injuries. Both Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes will be assessed before the game after picking up slight knocks, but both should recover in time for Sunday’s game.
Having a look at the prices for the game and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have been given a 52% implied chance of victory with odds of 10/11 from most bookmakers. The draw can be backed at 11/4 with a win for Jose Mourinho and Spurs which would cap off a positive week at 3/1.
There’s a flurry of football tips on BettingOdds.com for the football on Sunday, however I’ve delved into the markets for this clash and have picked out three selections that I like the look of.
Marcus Rashford 2+ shots on target - 1.5pts @ 5/2 Paddy Power
Matt Doherty to be carded - 1pt @ 5/1 Betfair
Kane 2+ shots on target, Pogba & Hojbjerg to be carded - 0.5pts @ 45/1 Paddy Power
The first in this trident of tips to accompany your Sunday roast is Marcus Rashford to have two or more shots on target. The selection has been given a little boost by those good folk over at Paddy Power, and now is available at 5/2. This gives plenty of appeal in comparison to the showings of 10/11 from Skybet and 11/10 from Coral.
It’s been a fantastic year for Rashford both on and off the field with him making a real impact in society, using his platform to perfection. On the pitch for United last season, Rashford ranked highest of all the squad when it came to shots on target, totting up 44 in total, an average of 1.4 per game. That average rises to 1.7 when you look at just home games in 19/20 and I feel he sometimes gets overlooked in this market with both Bruno Fernandes and Anthony Martial being priced shorter than Rashford despite having a lower average shots on target ratio for last season.
The England International was on the scoresheet against Brighton last weekend and with him being rested in midweek for the Carabao Cup game, I think Rashford will be sharp and raring to go in what could be a fiery clash. As mentioned earlier the same selection is odds-on at 10/11 with Skybet, so it’s a no brainer for me when taking the 5/2 for Rashford to register two or more on target come Sunday.
Next up I’m backing Matt Doherty to be carded at the boosted price of 5/1 from Betfair. Anthony Taylor is the referee who will be officiating the game, and the man from Wythenshawe is one of the best when it comes to dishing out cards.
Of the referees to officiate over 10 games in the Premier League last season Taylor ranked 4th when it came to yellows distributed, with an average of 3.81 per game. Compare that to someone like Andre Marriner who only brandished an average of 2.42 yellow cards per game and you can see why Taylor is one of the most card-happy in the League.
Manchester United focus a lot of their attacks down the left with Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford and I think Doherty will be in for a busy game. He’s already been booked this season and ranks in the top 20 players for fouls conceded this term. Jose Mourinho’s team have applied his ‘nice guys win nothing’ theory and are ranking 1st for fouls committed so far in 2020/21 and I expect more of the same against his former employers. This same selection is just 3/1 with bet365 so I’ll be having a small play on the 5/1 on offer from Betfair.
I always like to pick out something for the optimists out there and Sunday is no different with a 45/1 shot from Paddy Power. The selection consists of Harry Kane to have two or more shots on target, with both Paul Pogba and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to be carded.
Harry Kane has started the season in fine form for Spurs and most recently bagged himself a hat-trick in the Europa League on Thursday. No player in the entire Premier League has registered more shots on target than Kane this season and with him also being the penalty taker form Spurs, he’s the first name into this Same Game Multi, to have two or more shots on target.
Paul Pogba has looked a little off the pace in both games I have watched him so far this season and he looks primed to pick up a card from Anthony Taylor against Spurs. The World Cup winner currently ranks 6th for fouls committed this season and I can see Jose’s side targeting turbulent Pogba.
Rounding off proceedings is Spurs summer signing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to be carded. The Danish Midfielder made the switch from Southampton in the latest transfer window and has started all three games in the league so far. He was booked on debut for his new club and I fancy the 25-year-old to pick up his second against United.
Putting those three selections together pays 45/1 with Paddy Power, and it may be worth checking your account as most customers will have a free £5 bet to use on the game on Sunday. Best of luck to those following and please remember to gamble responsibly.
