THIS coming weekend could be one of the most pivotal in the remainder of the Premier League season.
There’s a packed schedule of action ahead, with the potential title showdown between Liverpool and Man City on Sunday – while Manchester United welcome Brighton.
Man Utd vs Brighton – Sunday, 2pm
JUST when you think they’ve turned the corner, Ole’s men are back at square one.
A terrific 2-1 Carabao Cup win at Chelsea looked to have finally stuttered Man Utd‘s season into life on a cold, dank evening in West London.
But fast forward four days to Bournemouth and the Red Devils were lifeless in a 1-0 surrender to Eddie Howe’s hard-working Cherries.
We got fully behind Bournemouth in last week’s preview and reckoned that United would do well to come back from the South Coast with a point.
They couldn’t even do that.
It’s a really ugly situation now at Old Trafford and it says a lot that they come into this November game two points BEHIND Brighton in the league table.
That’s definitely not a dig at the Seagulls, who took a punt dismissing Chris Hughton in the summer and are reaping the rewards.
Graham Potter’s success has been built on excellent home form and his side haven’t quite looked the same away from the Amex, the 3-0 opening day win over Watford aside.
They just don’t score enough goals and as tempted as we are, can’t see a logical reason to back both teams to score at evens – no matter how poor United have been all season.
Solskjaer’s men have already played Liverpool, Chelsea, Leicester and Arsenal at home this season, picking up eight points from a possible 15.
The Crystal Palace debacle aside, they’ve not shown the same fragility at the Theatre of Dreams than they have on their travels.
As such, we’re sticking our neck out here and having a punt on United to win to nil.
Brighton have four goals in five away games – and three of those came in that romp over the Hornets. That’s real travel sickness.
8 of United’s 11 matches this term have finished with less than three goals.
That’s the best bet to follow, with a quid on United to win 2-0 at 11/2 the smart way to play.
In terms of a goalscorer, Marcus Rashford remains the punters friend.
If he’s fit he’ll play, has the recent form in front of goal and to be honest is one of a select few in a United shirt who can currently hold his head high.
SunSport’s best bets
Under 2.5 goals at Old Trafford: 3/4
Man Utd to win to nil: 7/5
Marcus Rashford to score first: 16/5
Liverpool vs Man City – Sunday, 4.30pm
IT’S November – and we already have a title decider.
Liverpool just keep churning out those wins, with their last perhaps the most important of the ten they’ve already racked up this season.
That late show at Aston Villa has given Jurgen Klopp’s men a six point lead over Man City, with the sides seemingly role-reversed from the 2018/19 season.
Back then, it was title winning City who were the well-drilled winning machine and Liverpool who stuttered badly when it mattered most.
Who are we backing here then, as Guardiola brings his men on the short trip down the M62?
Easy. The men in red.
City haven’t won at Anfield since 2003, when a last-minute Nicolas Anelka winner gave the visitors all three points on the way to a ninth-placed Premier League finish.
Liverpool just don’t lose here anymore – their record is absolutely remarkable with their last Premier League defeat back on April 23, 2017.
Whilst the Etihad hasn’t quite morphed into a similar fortress – just look at that Wolves victory a fortnight ago – Klopp has manufactured a belief and steel into his side that means they just don’t lose on home soil.
So you’ll be stunned to find out then that Liverpool are NOT favourites to win this game.
The bookies are backing them to bottle it – and you can get a huge 17/10 on them winning in the 90 minutes. That’s ridiculous.
You take that price or use it to top up an acca, because that is miles too high for this Liverpool team at home.
Perhaps the worry is that they concede too many goals – they’ve let in fifteen at Anfield in all competitions this term and are yet to keep a clean sheet.
We’re not too keen on the prices for over 2.5 goals, but Liverpool to win and both teams to score is a monster 13/4 – that’s 42.50 for a tenner.
And Sadio Mane is the man who can open the scoring – but also check out the cheeky 11/2 on him to be booked for simulation after his terrible tumble against Villa, which left Pep fuming.
Mane has four in his last six matches and has found his touch in front of goal again.
He can be the one to inspire the Reds to arguably their most important three points in nearly two decades.
SunSport’s best bets
Liverpool to beat Man City: 27/10
Reds to win with both teams scoring: 13/4
Sadio Mane to score first: 4/1
Sadio Mane to be booked for diving: 11/2
*All odds correct at time of publication
