Weekend tips: Man United v Liverpool, Haaland to score

The Nap

There’s an absolutely huge Premier League fixture next Monday when Manchester United host Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s men have yet to register a win and as a consequence are already four points behind champions Manchester City. With this in mind Monday’s clash at Old Trafford feels like a must win fixture (even though it’s August) if the Reds are to remain relevant in the title race.

It’s even worse for Manchester United, bottom of the league after two matches and seemingly a club in crisis. The manner in which Erik ten Hag’s men were taken apart by Brentford last time out – 4-0 down after 36 minutes – was truly shocking.

Erik ten Hag’s side were diabolical and the Dutchman has a monumental rebuilding job on his hands. The recruitment has just not been good enough in recent years and they’ve been left behind by clubs like Liverpool. The good news for Manchester United fans is that Liverpool have now conceded the first goal in each of their last six Premier League games. However, the bad news is the Red Devils are bottom of the league and have lost four league games in a row for the first time since 1979.

Mo Salah has scored nine goals in his last seven matches against the Red Devils and ‘The Egyptian King’ could give England defender Luke Shaw the run around once again on Monday.

In 30 years of the Premier League there have been 60 previous meetings between the teams, and Manchester United have held the upper hands (28 wins against 18 wins for Liverpool and 14 draws). However, all the evidence points to Liverpool dishing out a fifth straight defeat to United, who look a shambles currently.

The away win is 4/7 and that looks about right but 15/8 about Liverpool winning and both teams scoring looks a smarter play.

The Nap – Liverpool to win & both teams to score at 15/8 (Betfred/bet365)

 

Value Tip

Nottingham Forest grabbed their first top-flight win since 1999 last weekend at home to West Ham and they look a value punt to beat Everton at Goodison on Saturday.

Boss Steve Cooper has brought belief back to the club and been backed in the transfer market, while Yerry Mina is a big miss to an Everton defence who conceded 66 league goals last season. Everton have lost two out of two but are somehow even money shots to beat the Tricky Trees, and that price looks a shocker.

Greek media mogul Evangelos Marinakis spoke of going for trophies after securing promotion and to be fair he has brought in 15 new players this summer. Jesse Lingard was signed to make a statement and add experience to a young, vibrant squad and given Everton’s injury concerns the away win looks big here at bigger than 3/1.

Value Tip – Nottingham Forest to win at 16/5 (Betfair/Unibet)

 

First Goal Flutter 

It won’t win many prizes for originality but Erling Haaland looks the logical call to score first when Manchester City travel to Newcastle. Haaland had just eight touches in last Saturday’s cruise against Bournemouth, which was a puzzling stat to some considering how much possession City enjoyed.

In his defence he set up Ilkay Gundogan’s opener but he has not been bought for his assists or link up play. The rapid Norwegian will be judged on goals and he is odds on to find the net this weekend.

The omens are good for Haaland. Last season the Citizens battered Newcastle 5-0 at home and 4-0 on Tyneside. To be fair Newcastle look a better side than they did last season and Sven Botman looks an inspired bit of transfer business. However, Pep Guardiola’s side have won each of their last six meetings with the Magpies and should make that seven out of seven this weekend, with Haaland getting the party started by notching first.

First Goal Flutter – Haaland to score first at 13/5 (Unibet)

 

The Euro Banker

A busy weekend across Europe and Real Madrid look absolute bankers to beat Celta Vigo in Spain. Los Blancos haven’t lost to Los/Os Celestes since 2014, with Real Madrid winning 14 of their 16 league meetings in that period.

The European champions have been upstaged in the transfer market by Barcelona this summer, but while Barca have spent big, Carlo Ancelotti has spent cannily with Antonio Rudiger joining from Chelsea on a free and Aurelien Tchouameni coming in from Monaco.

They beat Almeria 2-1 on match day one in La Liga and while Celta had their moments last season, they were particularly poor at home, failing to record a single win against any visitors from the top nine.

Los Blancos did the double over them last season winning 2-1 away and 5-2 at home and Ancelotti’s men – who are odds-on favourites to retain their league title – look a fair bet at 9/4 to win another game that features goals.

The Euro Banker – Real Madrid to win & both teams to score at 9/4 (bet365)