Manchester United V AC Milan

Wednesday, 10^th March – 19:45 GMT

First-Leg: AC Milan 2-3 Manchester United

The first leg of this intriguing and attractive tie between two giants from their respective countries was exciting from start to finish, with end-to-end football and some classy finishing. The San Siro encounter between two rather familiar foes was settled by one man, and one man only, Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, whom is enjoying his best ever season at the club. His second half brace, both of which coming from the Englishman’s head, nodded the current English champions into a first leg lead, a lead strongly bolstered by three away goals. Rooney’s brace, aided by Paul Scholes’s opener for United, leaves the Italians needing to score at least twice at Old Trafford, although they would need to do so without the home side replying if they wish to progress further in the competition.

There was next to now controversy in this affair, just some clinical finishing from a Mr. Wayne Rooney of Man Utd. Whereas Milan were fluffing their lines in the opening 45 minutes, Rooney was thinking smart with his head as he nodded home twice in the second period to put Man Utd 3-1 up. A late Seedorf strike meant Milan at least ended the first-leg with some lingering hope, although their task ahead appears a mammoth one as they need several goals at Old Trafford in what should prove to be an exciting, all-out-attacking affair back in Manchester.

It’s unsurprising that Manchester United, after their impressive win back at the San Siro, are the favourites to progress, but have the bookies overstepped the mark with their obscene odds of 1.10 and worse on United qualifying? While the reigning English champions do have a two goal advantage in theory, plus home advantage, the Italians are in an do-or-bust situation where they were expected to dwindle out of the competition without much fuss. Leonardo’s team know they need to score, probably a good three of four times, but with this in mind the players will want to play as far up as the pitch as possible and will look to strike at every possible opportunity. Of course, the task if massive, but we see some small ounces of value in AC Milan to qualify, even if it’s just our betting pride getting in the way on what we feel is ridiculous qualifying odds for both sides.

Manchester United

Outright odds: 11/2 Bet365

While the return of David Beckham back to his spiritual home will capture the imagination and attention of most neutral onlookers, the Manchester United fans will have their minds set firmly on the task at hand, and that’s fending off what’s expected to be a barrage of AC Milan attacks as the home side aim to defend their one goal aggregate lead, although they lead by two due to the away goals rule. United’s sensational result at the San Siro, winning 3-2, has meant the bookies have gone to town with their price, slashing it from around the 1.33 marker before the first-leg right down to around the 1/10 mark, but will last years runners-up justify their ridiculously short odds by earning victory at Old Trafford this coming Wednesday night?

Anyone with half a brain cell would make Man Utd the favourites to progress, firm ones at that, but that doesn’t mean their price, a best price it has to be said, of 1.10 with totesport is a decent one, far from it. In fact, we believe United are in a tricky scenario as they won’t actually know which tactic would be most effective at Old Trafford, what with the Red Devils boasting a 3-2 lead from the first leg in Italy. Should they set out to defend for the entirety of the game, with the plan being to repel all Milan invaders, or should they look for that killer opening goal, one which would kill the tie stone dead. Now, most traditional European sides would go for option 1, but Alex Ferguson is no traditional manager, and nor are Man Utd a traditionally predictable team, so expect a quick fire start from United with the aim being to strike the first blow.

Some news that could potentially alter United’s chances of success significantly is the doubts surrounding the fitness of Wayne Rooney. The Englishman is having problems with his knee at this moment in time and missed his sides narrow, and somewhat fortunate 1-0 victory away at Wolves on Saturday. His absence left a huge void up front, one Fergie failed to fill as United were void of ideas in the final third, with chances few and far between without the creative flair and sheer thinking brilliance of their most valuable asset. Should Rooney not be fit in time then United may have to attend a back-to-the-walls meeting at the back as it’s hard to see anyone in that United squad having as much guts and courage to take take the game to Milan. 

The good news though is that Rio Ferdinand is back playing at the heart of the United defence alongside Nemanja Vidic. The two form a sturdy and reliable last line of defence for Manchester United, although should Pato make an expectant start the pair could be troubled once again by pace, while Ferdinand will have had nightmares over the torment he endured at the hands of Ronaldinho at the San Siro, with Rio’s lack of fitness a clear problem that night as the Brazilian waltzed past the England captain. United fans will be hoping he’s sharper for his 90 minutes of action at the weekend, and so will the rest of the defence as they finally form back into a familiar back four of old, one that was so successful in keeping sides out last season.

AC Milan

Outright odds: 66/1 SkyBet

It’s plain for all to see that Milan need plenty of goals at Old Trafford, so the question I hear you all asking is can they actually score enough to make this an exciting contest? – Well, we believe so, you need look no further than their list of forwards to see that this Milan team does have goals in them: Ronaldinho, Alexandre Pato, Marcos Borriello, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Flippo Inzaghi, it’s an endless list of striking talent, with a mixture of ingenuity and craft, youth and experience; Leonardo really does have just about everything at his disposal as far as strikers are concerned, so there can be no excuses. 

The next question you should be asking yourself is do Milan have the strength of mind to defend in a tidy manner for the full 90 minutes, and possibly then some, as a single United goal would probably end this as a contest when you consider AC need to win by a clear two goal margin. There is of course the outside permutation of Milan somehow surpassing the two goal marker and scoring three at Old Trafford, which would be some feat, but still feasible for a side boasting an array of quality up front. In regards to the first question, however, we would have to say no, at least not against a Man Utd side with Wayne Rooney in it. The Rossoneri have yet to keep a clean sheet in the Champions League this season, so it’s probably asking a little too much of them to record their first of the campaign at Old Trafford, although it’s a must really if they want to harbour any real aspirations of reaching the quarter-finals.  

We will say though, Milan are the value bet when you take into consideration that they of the two need to play attacking football in order to bridge the two goal deficit. They should, in theory anyway, be the team asking all the questions at Old Trafford despite this not actually being a home tie for them. Their opponents will be more inclined to sit on the back foot and protect their first-leg lead, so the omen is on Milan to make the breakthrough, one which must come early if possible. Ronaldinho of AC Milan did land the first blow in the San Siro encounter a few weeks ago, but can the Brazilian shine on English soil or will he be one of many world class players which fails to make an impression on the onlooking English public?

Our Verdict: AC Milan to WIN -6.00 PaddyPower

The deciding factor for us was the price of the two sides, and of course the pairs motives. United are in that difficult mindset where they honestly feel they have a more than healthy lead, one which shouldn’t be bridged even by one of Europe’s giant clubs. They will be unsure as to how much time should be spent in the attacking third and their own half, and that’s scary against a Milan side who know what they have to do: Attack! For us, considering Milan are glorious odds and have to win, the away side are the only team worth backing, especially if Wayne Rooney isn’t fit in time. Should Rooney start then perhaps United are worth a punt, but we certainly wouldn’t take a stab at Manchester United in this game without their most influential player.

AC know what they have to do and they are equipped to achieve their target. They basically have an entire front-line wanting to prove a point and that’s a pleasing factor for any manager, regardless of their poor vein of form recently. The return of Pato from injury is also a welcome one, plus the Brazilian will be fresher than most after spending the weekend with his feet up… Lovely!

Match Odds:

Manchester United – 1.67 Bet365

Draw – 3.75 SkyBet

AC Milan – 6.00 PaddyPower

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Manchester United

Kick-Off: Saturday, 6^th March – 17:30 GMT

TV Coverage: ESPN

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 17th

Recent Form: DLWLL

One of the more ominous fixtures in the calendar for Wolves is that of Manchester United’s visit to Molinuex. It’s a game which will certainly capture the imagination of the locals but it’s also one which does have a touch of nostalgia about it as United’s last visits to Molineux in a Premiership affair wasn’t a pleasant, no, instead it was a memorable occasion for those Wolves in Orange when on the 27^th August, 2003 Wolves beat the 18-time English champions 1-0. That’s been their only meetings with the mighty Red Devils since, so that victory seven years means Wolves are unbeaten at home against Man Utd and in fact hold a 100% record over one of the greatest teams in English football history.

Mick McCarthy wont hold fond memories of the reverse meeting with Manchester United though, after that infamous night where the former Republic of Ireland coach fielded a team of Wolves reserves in a fixture he, and apparently the rest of the squad, believed was one they had absolutely no chance of getting anything from. The club were consequently fined for what we felt was a joke of a decision but one that was justifiable in that this is a 38 game season, where tactics are a huge part of winning and surviving, and the option to rest any number of players should be at the discretion of the manager, but that’s a long rant we’ll leave for another day.

Will he field a stronger side on Saturday – Certainly, but does he honestly think his squad, of whom he clearly underrates by the sound of it, can overhaul the reigning English champions at Molineux – Certainly, and so do we surprisingly. Their recent displays would suggest a big result in the offing and whom better than Manchester United to suffer their wrath. The stumbling block, and it’s a huge one in football terms, is Wolves just can’t seem to win the games where they dominate and play by far and away the better football. They were dogged at Bolton at the weekend, hitting the woodwork on numerous occasions but leaving The Reebok with zilch. The same happened in their last home fixture when they lost 2-0 to Chelsea, Undeservedly we must add.

Wolves have little problems carving open what was a vulnerable Chelsea defence at the time and they could have yet more success in that area against a shaky United defence. Sticking the ball in the net though is an art Wolves have yet to master, with their baron spell in front of goal now two games long. It’s nothing to be overly concerned about but their failure to score at Bolton last Saturday was the thirteenth time they had failed to do so this season. It’s been an ever present thorn in Mick McCarthy’s side that his Wolves side, one which do create plenty of wonderful chances, simply can’t put the ball in the net on a more regular basis. 

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

Recent Form: WWDLW

The United camp will be in a buoyant mood after their jubilant weekend. While the Carling Cup does little to turn on the majority of England, Manchester United were certainly the proud owners of a new trophy last Sunday when they came from behind to beat Aston Villa in the final at Wembley. Sir Alex Ferguson will have high hopes of attaining plenty more silverware this season, with the Premiership being his top priority, and, if that’s to be the case, surely only a win will be acceptable at Molineux this coming Saturday. 

It was that man again, Wayne Rooney, who stole the show at Wembley when he fired up yet another header, his sixth header in eight games I believe, to the Carling Cup title and United’s first silverware for the season. While their performance on the whole wasn’t great, with defensive cracks apparent, the success should be all that matters and it will hopefully be the platform to bigger and better things this season. At least that’s what the United fans are thinking.

It’s back to business now though, real business, no fancying around in a competition which we honestly believe lost it’s mojo decades ago. The league is every English sides bread and butter and the United camp must get straight back to doing what only they know best, winning league games. However, while their last two competitive fixtures have been ones they’ve thoroughly enjoyed; Winning 3-0 at home to West Ham in the league and 2-1 in the Carling Cup against Aston Villa, their recent away outings have been nightmares. On their previous two away ventures United have failed to win, with Man Utd’s only away win in four coming at the Emirates against Arsenal.

As the old adage goes though, ‘You’re only as good as your last game’ and if that’s to be believed then United fans are in for another long day. The last time Fergie took his troops to battle away from base camp Old Trafford they were beaten in a resounding manner. Everton gave them a right good hiding at Goodison just a fortnight ago, winning 3-1, and it intriguing from a neutrals perspective to see just how well, if well at all, United respond in their very next away test. They are fortunate in that their next away assignment is an easier one than their last but if the Red Devils don’t turn up the heat on Wolves then it’s them who could be left with burnt fingers.

Match Verdict: Manchester United to WIN – 1.35 Expekt

This is us playing safe really on the basis that while United did lose on their last outing, they actually know how to win a game of football whereas their opponents don’t. Despite winning just one of their last four away from home, United have still won just as manager games on the road as they haven’t; Winning seven of fourteen away fixtures. Wolves, however, while their best stuff has come at Molineux, just don’t seem capable of mustering a win of this calibre. They did, though, put Tottenham to the sword only a few weeks ago at home when etching out a 1-0 victory, but while they proven a difficult side to overcome at home this season, they still look inept on paper. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Wolves enjoying large periods of this game, creating plenty of chances, hitting the woodwork on a couple of occasions before losing 1-0. It’s been that sort of season for Mick McCarthy, whereas his opposite number has just enjoyed a cup winning weekend and we expect his good fortunes to continue.

Match Odds:

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 11.00 Boylesports

Draw – 5.00 SkyBet

Manchester United – 1.35 Expekt

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Dimitar Berbatov FGS – 4/1 SkyBet

Carling Cup Final

Aston Villa V Manchester United

Sunday, 28^th February – 15:00 GMT(LIVE on BBC1)

Introduction

This isn’t a competition most clubs in England stick at the very top of their list of priorities for the season, more right at the very bottom in fact. However, it is still a momentous occasion, especially for Aston Villa, whom will be making their first appearance in a domestic cup final for the first time in nearly a decade, with their previous final appearance being a losing one in the 1999-2000 FA Cup final back at the old Wembley. However, you have to cast your minds back ever further for Villa’s last taste of cup success, back in 1996 when Aston Villa won this very competition beating Leeds United 3-0 in the final. Their opponents, however, Manchester United, need only stretch back a single year for their last piece of silverware, that being the Carling Cup as well as they beat Tottenham Hotspur via a penalty shoot-out last season.

The one defining factor every finalist needs is passion, and perhaps experience could be thrown into the equation as well, and while United certainly have bags of the latter, we feel Villa will have far more passion seeing as finals don’t crop all too often for them, very rarely in fact, so you’d have to feel they’ll have more hunger in their souls than their ready-made final opponents, Manchester United. Don’t be fooled into thinking United won’t be fired up to win on Sunday though, as the Mighty Red Devils rarely turn up to a final without that burning desire to complete a memorable cup run with a final victory.

Injuries to big stars in the United camp has levelled the playing field somewhat as Villa, despite picking up four points from their two meetings with Manchester United in the league this season, do have the weaker squad of the two. However, this Aston Villa side have shown on more than one occasion this season that they can be the real deal and that on their day they have the ability to beat anyone, regardless of their more glamour reputation. The problem is, however, very few in that Aston Villa squad have previous final experiences, which is crucial in a Wembley environment which can be a graveyard for young souls. It’s also a venue where stars are born, and with Villa boasting some of the country’s brightest talents, perhaps this is the scene of a beautiful Martin O’Neill masterpiece and the setting for a big future for some of Villa’s young hopefuls.

For Manchester United, this will just be one of many titles to brace the United trophy cabinet. That doesn’t mean they don’t give a care in the world about winning Sunday’s finale, as that’s far from the truth. In fact, they will be the favourites to snatch the Carling Cup crown from under Aston Villa’s noses as their team packs plenty of experience, maturity, quality and class. They also possess a starlet in the form of his life in Wayne Rooney. The England forwards displays this season has seen him rise through the ranks and join the likes of Ronaldo & Messi as some of the worlds greatest players. He’s in the form of his life at present and was the figurehead behind United’s two-legged victory over arch rivals Manchester City in the previous round. Can he steal the show on Sunday, stamp his mark on the sport from a worldwide perspective, or will he falter in United’s biggest game thus far and hand the initiative to one of Villa’s many rising stars? So many questions, all of which being asked by fans, pundits and punters alike, but the only way to find the answers is to watch Sunday’s final LIVE on the BBC from 02:00 GMT.

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Aston Villa

Recommended Bet: To Score Two or More – 3.75 PaddyPower

Aston Villa football club has such a bright future but it’s all about fulfilling their potential and not crumbling in pressure-cooker moments. Last season, Villa were pushing for a top four finish after a strong run of form in the middle part of the season but fell apart in the latter stages of the season to finish well off Arsenal who eventually snapped up fourth place. Villa shown last season that they didn’t have the maturity nor the experience to keep their cool in their crucial games, but, nearly a year on, can Villa keep their composure in what is their first major final for almost fifteen years?

While finishing in fourth spot is their main prerogative this season, victory in the Carling Cup will certainly be up there now they’ve gotten this far. However, this is one of three objectives Villa are going all out to achieve and you would be forgiven for thinking Villa will become overwhelmed, exhausted and possibly distracted as their minds are concentrating on so many competitions and big fixtures. In Martin O’Neill, though, you have a focused man, a manager who knows how to get the very best out of this crop of potential stars and we have no doubt he will have this Aston Villa side fired up for this huge final encounter as O’Neill and the rest of the Villa squad aim to give their fans their first loyalty deposit bonus for their support down the years. 

Just like their final opponents, Manchester United, Aston Villa preparations ahead of the Wembley show-piece on Sunday have gone to plan and were boosted significantly with progression in the FA Cup. Villa were held to a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace but finished the job at home with a 3-1 win. Those in Claret & Blue that are travelling to Wembley on Sunday will be hoping their goalscoring antics on Wednesday was a taster of things to come as they, as well as everyone else, know Villa need to score a few if they want to put United to the sword and lift the Carling Cup at somewhere around tea-time.  

Goals really should be a given though, considering the vast amounts of attacking quality Martin O’Neill has at his disposal, of which every single one of his star-studded forwards are playing sensational right now. James Milner & Ashley Young will look to make marauding runs down the flanks, with the aim being to supply their bulky forwards with some decent aerial balls. John Carew, whom scored twice in the FA Cup replay in midweek, Emile Heskey & Gabriel Agbonlahor, will all pose an understrength United defence all sorts of problems with their aerial prowess, strength and pace. The latter, Agbonlahor, will scare the United defence the most, not only because of his blistering pace and slick finishing but also because it was him who scored Villa’s winner in the 1-0 victory at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

Aston Villa fans, whom won’t be used to trips to Wembey, will be hoping Agbonlahor will be their saviour once again and a nightmare for Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United, although, we’re pretty sure they don’t care who scores on Sunday just as long as it’s the match winner.

Manchester United

Recommended Bet: Wayne Rooney to Score within 90 minutes – 2.40 PaddyPower

The Carling Cup, or the League Cup as it sometimes referred to, is about the only trophy Manchester United haven’t won as many times as any other English team. Their tally of just three League Cup wins puts them behind the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and even Nottingham Forest, which just goes to show how insignificant the Carling Cup has been to United in recent years. However, their bright youngsters got them through some sticky openers, whilst the professionals, or their idols if you like, finished the job by ensuring the club booked their rightful place at Wembley for this Carling Cup final showdown with Aston Villa after coming through a two-legged Semi-Final cracker with Manchester City.

Manchester United, arguably the most glamorous team in England, will be gunning for yet more silverware, what could be one of many this season as they seek out their first ever back-to-back Carling Cup success. Sir Alex Ferguson, whom has lifted the trophy twice as the United manager, guided United to their second Carling Cup title in four seasons when beating Tottenham Hotspur in an enticing encounter at Wembley last season. Their opponents this year, Aston Villa, aren’t a whole lot dissimilar to the Tottenham team they faced nearly a year to the day ago.

United’s preparations ahead of this final showdown have gone to plan, with Ferguson’s side wiping their two game run without a league win swiftly under the carpet with a routine 3-0 victory over West Ham in midweek. It was an important win as not only did it provide them with three huge points in their title chasing cause but it also gave the dressing room a much needed winning morale boost after two shabby performances in the league beforehand. When you head into a game of this magnitude, a match where so much is at stake, well, some silverware anyway, you need some positive momentum to spearhead you into such a fixture. You also need your players on top of their game, on top form and in tip-top shape, and while United might have the first two with Wayne Rooney bang inform right now, the latter is something they don’t have the luxury of with some of their key players, unfortunately.

Alex Ferguson will be without a few key individuals for Sunday’s final, none more so than club captain Ryan Giggs, whom despite playing an instrumental part in United getting this far won’t be available due to breaking his wrist, ironically in a league game with Aston Villa earlier in the month. John O’Shea is of course out for some time, whereas Owen Hargreaves is no nearer to a first-time appearance. However, the questions are building up around the fitness of Rio Ferdinand, whom hasn’t featured a whole lot for United this season and was ruled out of the final through a recurrence of the back problem he’s been suffering all season. While Nemajna Vidic will look to be United’s rock on Sunday, the void left by Rio could be huge what with Villa possessing some very tricky forward customers. Jonny Evans will be Ferguson’s preferred centre back partner for Vidic but Evans has been found wanting on far too many occasions for United, especially in the big games, so naturally there will be doubts over not only his own respective performance but that of the Manchester United defence as a whole.

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Our Prediction: Aston Villa to WIN – 4.80 VCbet

How Manchester United are that short in price (1.87 totesport) is beyond me as Villa have been a constant thorn in United’s side this season, with the Reds’ failing in their bids to beat Aston Villa twice already this season, so why the odds on Villa completing a hat-trick are so big is bewildering.

We suppose it’s down to United’s two impressive wins on the trot; the 3-2 win at the San Siro against AC Milan, of which Wayne Rooney scored twice, as well as the 3-0 win at home to West Ham United on Tuesday, and well, Wayne Rooney was once again seen scoring a brace. England’s biggest hope this summer has been in scintillating form for the Red Devils this season and is arguably the only reason why Man Utd are a touch of odds-on to win within 90 minutes on Sunday. After all, it was the man of the moment, Rooney, who scored United’s winner in the Semi-Final with Man City, so do the bookies think lightening will strike twice, only this time at Wembley on Sunday.

Whereas United are heavily relying on the performance of one man, Villa have a whole host of players who can not only bring their A-game to Sunday’s final but could also win this game single-handily with one swift kick of the ball. The amount of creativity Villa will have on show is staggering; with James Milner, Ashley Young and a bang-in-form Stewart Downing all looking to upset the odds by carving open the United defence with some mazy runs, slickly through balls and some whizzing shots on goal. Moreover, we haven’t even mentioned the strength of their forward line, with Agbonlahor, Heskey & Carew all vying for a place on the starting line-up on Sunday, although only two will start from the off as O’Neill looks to pack that Villa midfield with hard-working, creative players.

Nevertheless, Villa look by far and away the best shout here, although you can never discount Manchester United. Still, at the prices you would have to consider Aston Villa as immense value (4.80 VCbet) but this final does have the makings of a tight fixture so Extra-Time could beckon.

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Our Bet: Over 2.5 Goals – 2.00 Bet365

Finals often tend to be dull affairs because neither side wants to take any risks in case they concede a silly goal. However, we don’t expect either manager to leave a lot to the imagination, especially Martin O’Neill who will surely start with a very attacking minded side, filled to brim with creative midfielder and forward thinking players. Villa won’t hold back with their attempts on goal and an early strike from them would strike the touchpaper on what we feel will be a change in the wind as an entertaining final finally embraces our screens. Let’s not stop there though as Manchester United are more than capable of popping up with a few and are actually the favourites to land the first blow (To Score First 1.67 BetFred). Wayne Rooney is a man possessed right now, with his form sky-rocketing this season, with just about every defence failing to keep the Premiership’s leading goalscorer out. Villa have though, twice in fact, so perhaps Aston Villa are Rooney’s, and United’s for that matter, nemesis.

Goals for us, plenty of them if you would be so kind, in what should be a rip-roaring affair… Cue the 0-0 stalemate!

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Match Odds:

Manchester United – 1.87 totesport

Draw – 3.50 Bet365

Aston Villa – 4.80 VCbet

Everton V Manchester United

Saturday, 20^th February – 12:45 GMT (Sky Sports 1)

The first fixture of the weekend is an early one as Everton host title chasing Manchester United at Goodison Park in what is shaping up as a really tough game to call. Both these two teams have been playing outstandingly well in recent weeks, with Everton boasting a 2-1 first leg win in Europe over Sporting Lisbon and a 2-1 victory over Chelsea in the league, while their opponents will be buoyed by their Champions League win over Italian giants AC Milan; so who will reign victorious when these two in-form sides meet on Saturday? It’s a game that will be shown live on Sky Sports 1 and it’s one we highly recommended you don’t miss and it should be a close encounter.

Everton

League Position: 9th

Recent Form: WWWLW

The Toffees, whom don’t boast an impressive record against Manchester United in the league; Winning just one of the last ten meetings with their Northern rivals,  will be optimistic over their chances after two huge wins within the space of a week. Their last outing in the league was a home fixture with Chelsea, in which Everton produced the shock of the week when turning Chelsea over in a 2-1 win, while they won by the same scoreline on Tuesday night, just a week after they beat Chelsea, by beating Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon at Goodison Park in what proved to be a very good seven day spell for David Moyes and Everton.

A narrow and unfortunate 1-0 defeat at Liverpool earlier in the month is the only blemish in an otherwise sublime run of form Everton, having gone eleven games in the league with just one defeat. Moreover, The Toffees have notched up four wins from their last five league fixtures, so it’s actually them, the home side, who go into this exciting little fixture with the better form – League form anyway. To bolster their United credentials even further, Everton produced an utter magic display the Tuesday before last to record a stunning 2-1 victory over Chelsea, the current leaders of the Premiership. Add that to victories over Man City (2-0), Sunderland (2-0) & Wigan (0-1), and Everton’s form is looking particularly strong.  

Their last outing was a Europa League tie, although we didn’t have the chance to watch that nor see Distin’s red card. However, we did see glimpses of their match with Chelsea, of which Everton were nothing short of sensational in terms of work rate, determination and overall team effort. The Toffees played out of their skins and completely outplayed a team rated as one of the best in Europe, whom were made to look mediocre by the Toffees. David Moyes will have been both delighted with the pair of wins and, more importantly, very optimistic about his sides chances on Saturday in the knowledge that four of their Premiership points have been taken from games with Chelsea this season, and that one of the leagues elite teams couldn’t get the better of them. This should stand them in good stead for what will be another stiff examination from yet another title contender.

With this being a home fixture, in front of what is expected to be a capacity crowd at Goodison, Everton have every chance of registering yet another huge victory over one of England’s elite sides. If they can replicate their performance of that against Chelsea then they’ll be hard to stop in our opinion. They were ship-tight at the back, domineering in midfield whilst remaining bright and lively in the final third. They really did pull out all the stops that night, but can they produce something similar on Saturday in a game which requires some magic on their part? Well, United brushed Everton aside when the pair last met at Old Trafford this season, with United winning 3-0, so Everton will certainly need another big team effort if they are to overhaul the 18 time champions of England on Saturday, but they do have both the form and the potential to claim yet another valuable scalp.

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

Recent Form: WWWWD 

So long as Man Utd avoid defeat on Saturday at Goodison Park, they will go nine games unbeaten in the league after six wins and two draws. However, Alex Ferguson will know full well that Chelsea are expected to pick up three points this weekend at Wolves, so his United side simply cannot afford to come away from Goodison empty handed, with possibly even a draw being a disappointing result in terms of where it could leave them in the table by the close of the weekend. Their form would suggest they will go close to picking up the three points they so desperately crave, but Everton have proved a tough nut to crack in recent weeks, you just need to ask Chelsea about that, and this could be a fixture where United just might have to settle for the solitary point if they aren’t up to cratch after their Champions League heroics, but United just don’t settle for points nowadays so expect nothing less than a full-hearted performance from them.

The players, though, will be buoyed by their recent success in the Champions League against AC Milan after slamming home three away goals in Italy. We say slamming as that wasn’t really the case as one was a scruffy Paul Scholes strike while the other two came from the man of the moment; Wayne Rooney, both from his head. Man Utd won the first of a two legged encounter 3-2 in the end after out-powering their ageing Italian opponents, although they were hanging on come the end and it will be interesting to see whether their arduous efforts at the San Siro will lead to a slightly below par United performance at Goodison Park.

To be brutally honest, if Wayne Rooney just turns up then United should go mighty close to winning this fixture, such is the form of United’s star man right now. He pretty much single handily won the game in Italy for his side, scoring his first Champions League brace this season, while his many goals in the Premiership have kept United firmly in the hunt for a nineteenth league title. The former Everton frontman is the Premiership’s top goalscorer this season with 21 goals, whilst he’s managed to get on the score sheet in five of United’s last seven league fixtures. You wouldn’t dare say United are a one man team but it doesn’t bare thinking about how United would actually cope without their now talismanic forward.

United do have the CV, the credentials if you like, to win at Goodison as they boast plenty of form, momentum and confidence; all the factors you need for a winning formula. However, like we’ve mentioned on several occasions, when United do come a cropper, and that hasn’t been all that often this season, it has been away from Old Trafford, with four of their five defeats coming outside of Manchester. They could only manage a draw in their last away outing in the league, a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa in which Nani, whom will miss this game through suspension, was dismissed for a nasty tackle, and we wouldn’t put anyone off backing the same scoreline (1-1) in a contest which United could win but will do well to win.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Everton W: 1 Manchester United W: 7 Draws: 2

•  Man Utd dominate the h2h between the two by winning seven of the last ten meetings. 

•  Victory for United would make it a hat-trick of wins over Everton after winning the two previous meetings at Old Trafford. 

•  The last meeting at Goodison Park, October 2008, finished honours even as the pair played out a 1-1 draw. It was the first time Everton hadn’t lost against United in three years.  

•  United haven’t failed to score at Goodison Park in their previous four visits.  

• Everton’s last home win over Manchester United came back in 2005 when they recorded a 1-0 victory by virtue of a Darren Ferguson goal.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.60 Bet365

Two teams with plenty of form and plenty of momentum and we feel the pair could very well cancel each other out in a score draw. Everton have been very robust in recent weeks,rapidly becoming an extremely difficult team to play against, and evidentially hard to beat, with just Liverpool doing so in eleven games. They were stunning in their last outing when beating Chelsea and a similar display from them would make them so hard to beat, and to oppose in all fairness. United, though, are enjoying a good run of form themselves and do tend to come on very strong in the latter part of the season. Their midweek win will have sky-rocketed their confidence levels but they they are a tad exposed on the road against considering this is a tough team they’re up against and I feel a draw would be a fair result here and probably one neither manager would be too disgruntled with.

Match Odds:

Everton – 5.00 bWin

Draw – 3.60 Bet365

Manchester United – 1.83 PaddyPower

SoccerBetting Value Tip: 1-1 Correct Score – 6/1 Bet365

UEFA Champions League – Round of 16

AC Milan V Manchester United

Tuesday, 16^th February – 19:45 GMT

The fact that these two clashed in the semi-finals two seasons ago has barely been mentioned, and it’s all because of one man – David Beckham. The former United wingman is still renowned for being one of Manchester United’s greatest ever products but this will be a first for him as he pits his wits against a familiar foe in Sir Alex Ferguson at the San Siro in Italy. For all of you who can remember the last encounter between the two, that of the Semi in 2007, United took a 3-2 lead into the away leg in Italy before crumbling at the San Siro in the deciding encounter, losing 3-0 on the night. Will this United side consisting of several players who took to the field that night, handle the pressure of the Italian spotlight at the second time of asking? Or will Beckham lend a helping hand in giving Milan the initiative.

AC Milan

Match Odds: 2.75 (7/4) SkyBet

Recommended Bet: Score First – 2.15 VCbet

While all the talk is about David Beckham playing against his old employers, the fact remains that the former captain of his country might not even start on Tuesday night as since his loan spell from LA Galaxy kicked into life Beckham hasn’t exactly excelled. The press were quick to jump on his back and his mediocre performance on Friday night, despite being just a brief 10 minute second half stint, might just have put him firmly on the Milan bench ahead of this clash. Leonardo, the AC manager, can ill-afford to let sentiment get in the way of a potential last sixteen victory so Beckham could be sacrificed in a bid to push United to the limit at San Siro.

While Milan lye 2^nd in Serie A and look to be having an enjoyable campaign thus far, it’s worth remembering that matters weren’t always this rosy as Milan’s start to the season wasn’t great. Just two wins from their opening seven league games left Milan playing catch up before the season really established itself, but they come on strong ever since and their form has been staggering. Since the 23^rd September, a span of eighteen games, Milan have lost just twice, with one being against the best team in Italy, Inter Milan. The other was a bizarre home defeat to Palmero, but if you disregard those two blips Milan have been arguably thee in form side in Italy. The evidence to back up this statement is the gap between them and the league leaders, Inter, is now just eight points, which was a whole lot bigger a little earlier in the season. 

As far as their chance in this opening leg go, Milan have strong claims for a vital first leg victory. After all, they’ve lost just once at the San Siro in eleven games, league games that is as they did succumb to an embarrassing defeat in this competition when they lost 1-0 to FC Zurich, the shock result thus far. However, in recent home fixtures, Milan have proven they are a prolific side when they want to be and are in a rich vein of scoring goals. Back in the Serie A, Milan have notched up a total of twelve goals from three games at home, averaging four goals a game, and this ample run of form in front of goal has been aided by the return to form of former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, who put in another inspirational performance on Friday night in a 3-2 victory over Udinese. Add this to the fact that Klass Jan Huntelaar is finally getting in amongst the goals and Milan are rapidly becoming a more favourable punt for the competition outright let alone just this encounter.

Milan aren’t exactly bang in form as their victory over Udinese recently did end a baron run of three league games without a win. However, despite some odd blips, Milan have been extremely strong on their own patch and the return to form of Ronaldinho could be key in both legs, especially the home leg, as the Brazilian maestro has never really put in a performance to remember against an English side. However, Milan aren’t a one trick pony, they aren’t full to the brim of talent either, but there are a few danger-men that Sir Alex will need to keep an eye on, more notably Alexandre Pato, a Brazilian forward is tipped to go all the way in football and has already given Real Madrid a taster of what’s to come when he smashed two in as Milan earned a sensational 3-2 win at The Bernabeu. Milan proved that night that they could raise their game for the big occasion and that’s something all you United fans will need to bare in mind.

Manchester United

Match Odds: 2.85 (24/13) Expekt

Recommend Bet: Total Goals (2) – 3.80 bWin

While Sir Alex will have preferred to have been in action over the weekend in the FA Cup, the week and a bit off will have down his squad the world of good as he hardly possess the fittest of teams right now. The Red Devils, by the time match day arrives, won’t have played football for a little under a week whereas their opponents were in action two days later, which won’t be a huge advantage but it could play a small part in the latter stages of the game. However, United have been to the San Siro before, just two seasons ago in fact, and got off to a terrible start in that fixture. While United may have the edge going into the final stages of the tie on Tuesday night, a similarly poor start could spell the end of their San Siro chances before that crucial period even arrives.  

It was just as well United weren’t involved over the weekend after their gruelling encounter with Aston Villa, of which they spent the majority of the game down to ten men. Nani was dismissed for a rash tackle during the first period but will still be available for action if given the nod by Alex Ferguson. The Portuguese flops, whom has actually been enjoying a decent spell of form of late, might just lose his place after that outburst to Antonio Valencia, but even the Ecuadorian has yet to prove himself in a United shirt and could well be found wanting in such a big occasion, what would be his biggest game thus far.

Wayne Rooney, though, looks likely to outshine the both, and probably the rest of the United starting eleven, as he’s been sensational for the reds all season and is not only their leading goalscorer but also the Premiership’s with a staggering 21 goals to his name. If we’re honest, we don’t actually rate this United crop too highly, actually very little, but the form of Wayne Rooney makes United a big threat in this competition and he has the talent and attributes to be the driving force behind a successful Champions League push. He has been instrumental in United’s bid for a fifth successive league title, almost single handily keeping them in touch with Chelsea at the top, while his antics up front saw him claim the winner in the Carling Cup semi-final, with United now already jotting in a final date for the season, thanks to their superstar. For us, Wayne Rooney is pivotal in United’s chances as a fired up Rooney will be hard to stop, both home and in Italy.

The rest of the United squad will be eager to prove that the 2008 Champions aren’t a one man band and that a team effort is what got them here in the first place. They are, though, unbeaten in eight back home in the Premiership, and while they only drew in their last away encounter, a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa, the fans and players can seek inspiration from their performance the away game before that draw when they tore Arsenal to pieces in a 3-1 victory. United were lethal on the counter that day and against a Milan side which doesn’t boast the sturdiest of defences, who would back against another United demolition job as Milan aren’t the side of old that emphatically beat the Red Devils 3-0 in their last visit.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.20 Bet365

This will look a ’sissy’ prediction but it’s not as though I feel this will be a boring stalemate, No, rather an exciting score draw with plenty of goals and goalmouth action actually. United have been scoring more than enough goals of late to have us thinking they could do the same at the San Siro, against what is an exposed and weak Milan backline, while Milan have been scoring goals for fun in their recent league fixtures and could carve out opportunities with relative ease against a United defence which is far from stable, mainly due to so many injuries to key defensive players. We expect both sides to go for it in this opening leg and an early goal for either side could spark off a cracker of an encounter at the San Siro.

SoccerBetting Goal Scorer Picks:

AC Milan – Ronaldinho

The former FIFA Player of the Year isn’t back to his glorious best but he’s certainly hit a rich vein of form and has been by far and away Milan’s best player of late, with his match winning displays catapulting Milan up the Serie A table. He still has silky touches, his jaw-dropping skills and a lean finish, while he’s also Milan’s free-kick and penalty taker, so the Brazilian is surely worth a punt at tasty looking odds.

First Goal Scorer – 6/1 Boylesports

Anytime Scorer – 2/1 Boylesports

Manchester United – Wayne Rooney

He’s up their with the very best on present form and he’s been deadly in front of goal for United this season, leading the way with 21 league goals. Like Ronaldinho, only much better, Rooney has been at the forefront of this United charge for yet another league title and his goals have kept his sides well and truly in the hunt. He has the ability to score goals, create goals and create a goal out of absoulouetely nothing. Even if United are seemingly banging their heads against a brick wall, fear not as Wayne Rooney could, or should we say probably will, pop up with an unbelievable goal or pass to turn the game on it’s head. He’s the favourite to strike for United at the San Siro and we must say we do like his odds of silencing the home crowd.

First Goal Scorer – 11/2 Boylesports

Anytime Scorer – 15/8 Boylesports

Match Odds:

AC Milan – 2.75 SkyBet

Draw – 3.20 Bet365

Manchester United – 2.85 Expekt

To Qualify:

AC Milan – 2.63 BetFred

Manchester United – 1.53 Bet365

Aston Villa V Manchester United

Wednesday, 10^th February – 19:45 GMT

Two teams, who can ill-afford to slip up and lose ground on their respective targets, go in search of a vital win that will keep them on course for their own individual mission. Villa are still harbouring hopes of finishing in the top four, the Champions League places, while Manchester United are hot on the heels of Chelsea as they chase down their fifth successive league title. There is so much at stake in this fixture, but for one side revenge is at the forefront of their minds after the reverse fixture at Old Trafford finished 1-0 to the visitors, with Gabriel Agbonlahor scoring Villa’s winner with a first-half header. Who will claim the spoils at the second time of asking and will Villa complete a rare and historic league double over the mighty Manchester United?

Aston Villa

League Position: 7th

Recent Form: LDDWD

Martin O’Neill and his youngish Villa side have come across a sticky patch of form which has seen Villa manage just one win in their last six league games. However, to says it’s been a tricky fixture list for Villa would be an understatement, with Villa playing the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool & Tottenham in a six match spell since Boxing day, with their latest being fellow top four hopefuls, Tottenham Hotspur. Villa were the away side in their clash with Spurs on Saturday, in a game that ended 0-0, much to the relief of the Villa manager and their fans as Villa were completely outplayed for large periods of that game.

O’Neill’s troops spent the best part of 90 minutes on the back foot against Spurs, repelling any Tottenham trespassers that dare enter their penalty area. Tottenham controlled the pace and tempo of the game and were allowed to assert themselves in the match very early on. The Villa goal really did lead a charmed life and the point was a fortunate one for Villa, although a deserved one in many respects as the Villa defence did have to work extremely hard. However, what was discouraging was how negative Villa played at White Hart Lane in that they seemed quite content to let Tottenham dictate play and appeared more than happy to defend. We know Tottenham are a big threat when going forward, especially when playing at home in front of their fans, but it was a game Villa were equipped to win. Not saying they would have won with a more adventurous attitude but it would have certainly led to a much more competitive affair than the one-sided contest we eventually got.

We don’t expect for one second that Martin O’Neill will opt for a similar style of play in this fixture as it’s a home outing for his Villa side this time around. However, the negativity of their play was astonishing and it could have a downward effect on their forward play if they don’t actually attempt to make forward runs in games. After watching them on Saturday, it didn’t surprise me to hear that Villa haven’t scored in five of their last six league encounters, with three actually being at Villa Park. Their strikers just aren’t getting a fluent run of play at the present time and it’s having a negative effect on their morale and form. 

The last time, and only time in six, Villa scored in a Premiership fixture was away at Fulham when they won 2-0. However, even those goals were due to defensive mistakes from Fulham, so some could say Villa are struggling for creativity at present, which is a strange comment to make considering the amount of creative players they have in their squad; Milner, Young, Downing and Petrov.. However, the facts remain that Villa are struggling in front of goal and could find themselves leaving Villa Park empty handed once again if they don’t buck up their ideas in front of goal.

They are without a win at Villa Park in their last three, with Villa failing to score in all three, and in the knowledge that Villa haven’t beaten United at Villa Park this side of the Millennium, surely the home side must be opposed in this clash?

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

Recent Form: DWWWW

The Red Devils are back to their scintillating best and even an on-song Aston Villa would struggle to halt this United express on current form. They have all the momentum after yet another winning weekend, this time smashing five past a hapless Portsmouth, and now United take their winning run of four games, and unbeaten streak of seven, to Villa Park where they’ll be gunning for revenge after their home defeat to Villa earlier in the season.

Manchester United are in the perfect form to reverse the 1-0 defeat to Villa at Old Trafford after looking unstoppable of late, and backing this unstoppable comment up with a seven match unbeaten run. Their demolition of Portsmouth on Saturday was their fourth victory on the spin following their sublime win at The Emirates a week earlier, beating Arsenal 3-1 in an emphatic manner. Their win on Saturday was largely down to some good fortune, but you make your own fortune in this game and United might not need any lucky charms on Wednesday if they can somehow replicate their performance in their last away outing, at Arsenal, into this fixture at Villa Park, in that United were lethal on the attack and tidy at the back against The Gunners, which makes for a pleasant change.  

However, before we get too carried away, we must say that United have only won two of their last four away fixtures and have been found wanting on their travels on a few occasions this season. They are, though, undefeated on the road since their humbling at Craven Cottage by Fulham, back in December. They recovered well mind, winning two of their next three, but one was against a toothless Hull City, at the time, and they did almost come unstuck at Villa’s loca neighbours, Birmingham City, drawing 1-1 at S.t Andrews after coming back from 1-0 down. Still, unbeaten in three games away from home, scoring seven and conceding two, and United look the team to be on in this clash.

One thing we must point out, and advise caution on, is not to get too carried away with United’s recent scoring antics. Alex Ferguson’s side, spearheaded by the leagues top goalscorer in Wayne Rooney, have scored an outstanding fifteen goals in their last four league fixtures; an average of nearly 4 goals a game. However, with the exception of Arsenal, their goals have come against some of the leagues worst teams, with United scoring 3 against Burnley, putting 4 past Hull City & 5 past Portsmouth, all in the bottom half of the table, two of which were in the relegation one at the start of the weekend. The goals will, however, bring about a significant boost in confidence for the United forwards, mainly just Wayne Rooney, and their creative players, but we mustn’t forget that Villa have a strong defence, one of thee strongest in the league, and haven’t conceded a league goal in four games – So don’t be too hasty!

Match Verdict: Manchester United to WIN – 1.91 Bet365

Villa have lost a great deal of momentum with this baron looking run of one win in six, whereas United are flying at the moment and even a resilient Villa could struggle to stop the mighty reds on Wednesday evening. Villa’s attackers haven’t had much luck in recent fixtures, league wise, and we feel they could bottle in the crucial moments at Villa Park, while United have been scoring goals left, right and centre and appear far too strong for an always improving Aston Villa.

Match Odds:

Aston Villa – 4.30 VCbet

Draw – 3.60 Boylesports

Manchester United – 1.91 Bet365

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Man Utd to WIN to NIL – 3.25 SkyBet

Villa haven’t had much luck in front of goal in their recent outings, while United have been winning whilst keeping clean sheets of late, albeit against far inferior opposition. Nevertheless, the confidence at the back for United is steadily growing and we feel a to NIL victory could be on the cards. Sir Alex hasn’t seen his United side keep an away clean sheet since early December when United ran riot at Upton Park, beating West Ham 4-0, but their defence is looking a lot tighter now, more organised, and should of ended their baron clean sheet run in their last away outing at The Emirates, with a deflected Thomas Vermaelen shot spoiling United’s early defensive celebrations.

Also, Wayne Rooney is on fire right now, and even X2 Jens Lehmann’s, X3 Heurelho Gomes’ and X7 David James’ in the goal would struggle to keep the United machine out on present form. Rooney bagged two when United won 4-1 at Villa Park in 2007, United’s last victory at Aston Villa after drawing 0-0 their last season, and we’ve taken to his odds of scoring more against Villa on Wednesday night.

Advisable Bets:

Wayne Rooney Anytime Scorer – 11/8 Boylesports

Wayne Rooney FGS – 9/2 totesport

Wayne Rooney to score a BRACE (2 or more) – 7/1 WilliamHill

Manchester United V Portsmouth

Saturday, 6^th February – 15:00 GMT

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

Recent Form: DLLWL

Manchester United appear to be back to their ruthless selves and it doesn’t get any better for the current Premiership champions than a home fixture with bottom of the league, Portsmouth. A game which United are expected to dominate from start to finish, control the tempo of the game and score plenty of goals in as they’ve been finding the goal with ease of late. The Red Devils are widely renowned for their strong second-half finishes to a season and 2010, the second half of what is shaping up to be one of the tightest Premiership seasons to date, is no exception, with United winning all three of their league fixtures this year and are aiming to maintain this winning run by dishing out another beating. 

The morale in the United camp will have rocketed through the roof after their sensational display and result over the weekend. Sir Alex Ferguson was touting his sides clash at The Emirates with a in form Arsenal as one of the games of the season and the most successful manager in English history was true to his word as United swept a-side their title challengers. United did need a bit of luck to get the ball rolling when Manuel Almunia in the Arsenal goal flicked a Nani cross-come-shot into his own goal, but the Mighty Reds’ never looked back and seized on this piece of good fortune but asserting their authority. Wayne Rooney, who has been United’s shining light, not only of late but for the entire season thus far, notched up his 100^th goal in the Premier League with United’s second before Park scored their third with a phenomenal breakaway attack. Arsenal did bag a late consolation but, all-in-all, it was a fantastic day at the office for Fergie’s Man Utd and they are now huge favourites to win this game and pile more pressure on Chelsea at the top.

There are few better feelings in football than getting one over on an arch-enemy and it was United who enjoyed such a euphoric feeling on Sunday after their 3-1 victory over the Gunners. That result, on top of their two other comfortable victories in 2010; beating Burnley & Hull City 3-0 & 4-0 at home respectively, should be an ample stepping stone for a big run of form for United as the chase for the title hots up once more. United, who are hot on the heels of Chelsea, are just one point behind Chelsea in the table but do have a game less to play. However, so long as United maintain this pressure then Chelsea are a good bet to slip up at some point. Sir Alex is the master at capitalizing on others misfortunes and it’s no surprise to see many punters jumping ship and backing United for the title now.

With the exception of their away fixture at The Emirates, a game they excelled in, United have had an easy start to 2010 after home fixtures with Burnley & Hull City, with United winning both. Those two sides mentioned are both firmly in a relegation fight and now United welcome another straggler in Portsmouth… A fixture more easier on the eye than their previous easy fixtures. With Rooney & Co winning 10 of 12 home games thus far, and winning their previous four home fixtures, anything other than a comfortable United victory, complimented by a few home goals, would be a turn up for the books as this looks as straightforward a fixtures as you’ll ever see.

Portsmouth

League Position: 20th

Recent Form: LLDLL

Portsmouth could best be described as a Roundabout – Not because they’ve now had their third new owner of the season when Balram Chainrai took over the reigns but because they’ve simply drive you round the bloody bend. We could easily highlight five or six games this season where Pompey played well in a match or were the better side throughout and this was the case on Wednesday as Portsmouth, once again, played extremely well, better than expected, but still came out on the losing side. Argh!

Fortunately for us, we were on Fulham to beat Portsmouth but we’re putting ourselves into a Portsmouth’s fans shoes and we must say they’re giving us blisters. On Wednesday night, Portsmouth succumbed to their 16^th – Yes 16^th defeat of the season. That’s a ridiculous amount of losses for a side that were celebrating an FA Cup success just two years ago. The South Coast team have a 70% losing percentage in Premiership affairs this season and that looks an almost certainty to stretch further with the visit to Old Trafford this Saturday. 

During January, Younes Kaboul left the club and so did Begovic, leaving Portsmouth even lighter in numbers. However, the sale of both was the biggest indication yet, although there has been plenty, that Portsmouth are in dire straits and that they desperately need any form of cash to keep HM revenue and many others of their backs. Avram Grant can’t complain as he knew what he was getting himself into and he must now work with the few half-decent players he has left at his disposal.

To be frank and honest, Portsmouth will do well to escape Old Trafford with a respectable scoreline, such is the task at hand and the gulf in class Portsmouth have to breach. Separating Portsmouth from Man Utd is 18 league positions and 38 points. Pompey, after a thriller of a campaign (Not in a good way, mind) are rooted to the very bottom of the league and, with wholesale departures expected at the end of the season, Portsmouth look doomed already despite nearly half the season still to play. Moreover, to worsen Portsmouth Old Trafford credentials; the Sea-Siders haven’t won an away fixture since early October when they beat a less-than-impressive Wolves 1-0 at Molineux. They’ve lost six of their last seven away games in the league; conceding 11 and scoring just 2.  

The plus point, though was Portsmouth’s performance on Wednesday in that they looked dangerous in attack. Because Grant still has a physically-strong striking duo of Piquionne & Dindane, whom I thought had left the club, Portsmouth do remain a danger when in the final third. However, they will struggle to get hold of the ball in this contest and Portsmouth’s strikers may only get one chance to make a quick-fire name for themselves at Old Trafford for when the club eventually do let them go, which should be in July to ease their money problems.

Head-to-Head:

Manchester United W:8 Portsmouth W:1 Draws:1

Match Verdict: Manchester United to WIN – 1.14 SkyBet

This really could be a mammoth scoreline but one thing Portsmouth still have, even now after all the going-on’s and dramas, they have this fighting spirit, this die-hard attitude where they battle on regardless of all the clubs well publicised financial issues. I do remember when they went to Stamford Bridge a little while ago this season and gave a very good account of themselves. Perhaps should have taken a point from there. However, Portsmouth didn’t take their chances in that game and have had a issue with converting opportunities all season. United, however, will carve out plenty against a Portsmouth defence which would struggle to compete in The Championship. We expect United to score at least a couple in this contest, but Portsmouth to score, as well, could be worth a small dabble mainly because United aren’t worth the hassle.

Match Odds:

Manchester United – 1.14 SkyBet

Draw – 9.00 VCbet

Portsmouth – 25.00 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Both teams to score – 2.75 WilliamHill

Arsenal V Manchester United

Sunday, 31^st January – 16:00 GMT (Sky Sports 1)

Arsenal

League Position: 3rd

Recent Form: WDWWD 

A fixture which will really test the resolve of Arsenal and will give us a quick assessment on how The Gunners will fare in this race for the title. Arsenal’s last encounter with a ‘Top Four’ team was that emphatic home defeat with Chelsea, losing 3-0 at The Emirates. At the time, mainly because of the manner in which Arsenal lost that day, most punters and pundits alike were writing Arsenal completely off in the title race and who could blame them after what was an abysmal display. However, they’ve replied magnificently and have since not fallen to a single league defeat, going ten games unbeaten and jumping right back into the title equation.  

The positive factor for Arsenal fans is that their record at home of late is strong, with four wins from their last five home fixtures. However, there are now a few negatives, with one being their recent setback away at Villa Park in which they were held by an Aston Villa side which pushed them closed for the best part of the last season for a Champions League berth, drawing 0-0 at Villa Park last Wednesday. It was a game where either side could have won as both had chances to win the game, but neither had that cutting edge in the final third of the pitch and the draw was a fair result come the end.

However, it was Arsene Wenger who was more disgruntled with the result as he bemoaned Martin O’Neill’s ‘Route 1 & Physical’ style of play in that encounter and claimed Villa got their tactics spot on as Villa didn’t allow his own players to play their own breed of football. To be honest, we felt Arsenal’s players showed a lack of immaturity as they didn’t adapt quickly enough to Villa’s aggressive style on the night, and by that we mean Villa’s obsessive closing down. It was also a poor act on Wenger’s part as you can’t expect to play in the same manner for each and every game, and that the need for a mix-up in style and tactics is always needed in the Premiership.

Our next rant, although this one is smaller, is Arsenal’s poor start in their previous home encounter with Bolton Wanderers. The Gunners were sluggish out of the blocks in their home fixture with Bolton and quickly found themselves two goals down with less than 20 minutes on the clock. They made such a sloppy start that it was beyond belief to see Bolton go two up within minutes, and if they started in the same fashion on Sunday, they would almost certainly be punished. They did, however, pull off a stunning comeback when they eventually ran out comfortable 4-2 winners, but their lacklustre start to the game did concern us and does leave them exposed as the Red Devils come to town.

Arsenal’s home record: 9-1-1.  

The Emirates has brought about a huge chunk of Arsenal’s points this season, with nine of their fifteen league wins coming at home. They’ve also suffered just the one home defeat all season, although that was in their first home encounter against one of the so called ‘Big Four’ this season, losing 3-0 as Arsenal put in one of their poorest displays of the campaign.

Goals For: 34 Goals Against: 11 

As you can see, Arsenal have been prolific in front of goal at The Emirates but have been equally as impressive at the back, conceding just eleven goals in eleven home games. They are averaging over 3 goals a game at home this season and have only once failed to find the opposing goal; that in their solitary home defeat thus far to Chelsea. 

Top Goalscorer: Cesc Fabregas – 11 League Goals

The Spaniard has been the driving success behind this recent Arsenal surge and has often been their saviour in games Arsenal look destined to drop points in. On current form, Fabregas would be up their in the top three of the worlds best players as his slick interchanging, superb vision when on the ball and sleek finishing is just too hot to handle for some sides. With Arsene Wenger suffering plenty of attacking injuries, Eduardo being his most recent injury abseentee, Fabregas has risen to the challenge and has four more league goals than anyone else in the Arsenal squad. An incredible achievement for a midfielder.

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

Recent Form: WWDWW

It’s a Manchester United side buoyed by their Carling Cup semi-final success that heads down to the capital on Sunday in a game they too must win in order to retain some pressure on the league leaders, Chelsea. The Red Devils shown a lot of heart in their 3-1 defeat of Man City on Wednesday night and they’ll require plenty of the same if they are to record another colossal victory at The Emirates and send Arsenal to their first league defeat in ten games.  

Sir Alex thought Wayne Rooney put in a ‘World Class’ performance on Wednesday night and we wouldn’t disagree with those comments. The England forward was at the heart of everything good with United’s play and it was fitting that he grabbed United’s third and eventual winner. To be fair, though, United as a team played extremely well and were the better side for most parts. The first half was a drab affair but United really took it to City in the second half, creating plenty of chances and United could of scored four or five with some clinical and composed finishing. However, it was their midfield which impressed me the most, in the second half that is, as they bombed forward when in attack, in numbers, and they had City camped in their own half for most of the second period.

If United can replicate their second half display into their match with Arsenal on Sunday then we should be in for a real treat as Arsenal will attack United at every opportunity, and so, ideally, we would like United to do the same. However, the Red Devils haven’t fared at all well in away fixtures with the ‘Top Four’ this season, having lost at both Chelsea & Liverpool, both to NIL. Moreover, United haven’t won at Arsenal since their thrilling 4-2 victory at Highbury back in 2005. They have since failed in their last four attempts to overhaul Arsenal on Gunners territory, drawing twice and losing twice. 

United’s form away from home this season hasn’t been the best but they too have a decent unbeaten run under their belts and haven’t lost a league fixture in five games. A run which started shortly after Christmas. However, United have been found wanting on a few away occasions this season and none more so than in their fixtures with Chelsea & Liverpool. At Anfield, United were extremely poor and never threatened the Liverpool goal. They were more lively in their Stamford Bridge encounter, creating a few openings, but their finishing was poor on the day and were punished for their striking arrogance. A defeat at The Emirates would send United to their third ‘Big Four’ defeat of the season and leave them without a point on their travels against the ‘Top Dogs’.

Manchester United away record: 6-1-4

It’s rare to see so many defeats on the road for the mighty Red Devils but what stands out more was the scoreline in each of their four away defeats. In all four, United failed to score in all of them, losing to NIL with Burnley (1-0), Liverpool (2-0), Chelsea (1-0) and Fulham (3-0). You don’t often associate Man Utd with a blunt attacking line but that has been the case this season, with Wayne Rooney their only bright spark for them in attack. They are, though, unbeaten in their last two away fixtures, having scrambled a draw at Birmingham in their last away encounter and earning a 3-1 victory at Hull City just after Christmas.

Goals For: 22 Goals Against: 11

United’s away record this term may not look sharp but they still boast an impressive away goal difference of + 11. However, United haven’t kept an away clean sheet since their 4-0 rout of West Ham at Upton Park on 5th December, and have since seen Fulham (3Gls), Hull City (1Gl) and Birmingham City (1Gl) score against them. The positive for them, however, is the form of Wayne Rooney and you would feel a big performance is required from their most expensive and influential player on Sunday.

Top Goalscorer: Wayne Rooney – 19 League Goals

With a staggering 19 league goals for the season, Wayne Rooney is not only Man Utd’s leading goalscorer but he is also leading the way in the Premiership. Five in front of his nearest challenger, Sunderland’s Darren Bent. Without Rooney, United arguably would be a good four of five positions further down the table, such has been his importance to the United cause this season with both his goals and his performances in a United shirt. He has worked his socks off even when others haven’t even bothered to turn up and if he’s not scoring the goals you’ll often see him turn provider. He doesn’t shy away from the action, is always wanting the ball and will take some stopping on Saturday after scoring a staggering four goals in his last outing in the league, slipping four past Hull City.

Match Verdict: Manchester United to WIN – 3.00 WilliamHill / Interwetten

We didn’t want to bottle it on the prediction and opted against sitting on the fence by backing United to overhaul Arsenal at The Emirates. The United camp will be buoyed by their Carling Cup success and the prospect of yet another Carling Cup final in February. However, the difference for us is Wayne Rooney and the scintillating form he is in. He has been deadly in front of goal of late and is in one of his ‘unstoppable’ moods. We fancy Rooney to be in the thick of the action in this contest in what should be a tightly contested fixture. Arsenal’s best chance of winning this game will depend solely on the performance of Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal best player by a country mile this season. However, Arshavin has a knack of scoring in the big games and did scores Arsenal’s first at Old Trafford in a 2-1 loss and their winner at Anfield in a 2-1 win against Liverpool.

It’s wide open, but we’d rather cheer on one side than simply play for the draw. Flip a coin if you must as this should be a close affair.

Match Odds:

Arsenal – 2.60 Bet365 or WilliamHill

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Manchester United – 3.00 Interwetten 

 [Update 31 Jan: the odds on Man United have fallen, the best odds available now is 2.85 at Expekt]

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Wayne Rooney FGS – 7.00 BetFred

Manchester United V Burnley

Saturday, 16^th January –

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

Recent Form: WLWWD

The only thing circling around the players minds will be revenge after Burnley inflicted the most embarrassing defeat of the season on the reigning league champions near the very start of the season. The Clarets recorded a memorable 1-0 victory at Turf Moor, the shock result of the season thus far, but now the Red Devils welcome them into Hell A.K.A Old Trafford for round two of this contest. However, Burnley are at a disadvantage what with Owen Coyle’s departure leaving Burnley manager-less, but this is Fergie and it will be a no holds barred contest in Manchester so expect no sympathy from the United camp.

If you thought the 1-0 defeat at Burnley was bad, it was horrific in actual fact, then we best not describe what the loss to Leeds United at Old Trafford felt like a fortnight ago. In that game, United were terrible, probably the worst we’ve seen them play in a good season or two, it was that bad. However, they didn’t play much better last weekend as they played out a 1-1 draw with Birmingham in which they would consider themselves fortunate to have taken a point away from a game where Birmingham had far more chances but yet spurred the vast majority of them.

We know all about United’s injury list but that list is decreasing so that excuse is no longer valid. Their star-studded defensive pairing of Nemanja Vidic & Rio Ferdinand have missed a large proportion of United’s games, though, this season and words cannot describe how sorely missed the pair have been at the heart of what has been a shaky and exposed defence in their wake. Johnny Evans is supposedly the next best centre-half in the squad but he looks Championship standard at best, while Gary Neville just doesn’t have the pace nor height to compete at the highest level any more (just our honest yet brutal opinion). All this cumulates in a shoddy back line, one which is leaking goals at present and will cost them plenty of points until Ferdinand & Vidic return to save them.

The latter, Nemanja Vidic, could actually make his return from injury for this game which will be welcomed with a sigh of collective relief around Old Trafford but will his presence at the back be enough? Vidic isn’t really a leader and while Neville is, or was, he simply isn’t getting the best out of this makeshift United defence and that’s a big concern. United were far too exposed at St. Andrews on Saturday, especially from set-plays with actual man-marking non-existent.

At Old Trafford, though, is where United have been playing better and earning more points this season, with eight of their fourteen victories coming at home. They’ve won their last two league games at home; victories over Wigan Athletic (5-0) and Wolves (3-0), both were emphatic and both were tidy, but they severely let themselves down at home to Leeds United in which they shown huge signs of complacency. To be honest, they shouldn’t encounter similar problems at home to Burnley this weekend as the Clarets have been poor on the road all season but that doesn’t entitle them to three easy points. A big improvement is needed from the current champions!

Burnley

League Position: 14th

Recent Form: DDLDL 

Burnley, now without Owen Coyle, aim to complete what would be an historic double over Manchester United on Saturday as they travel up to Manchester in the knowledge that they beat the Red Devils 1-0 in the home fixture. Robbie Blake sublime volley sealed a memorable victory for the Clarets but they’ll have their work cut out getting anything from the second instalment of the United V Burnley bout as their away form has been dire this season.

Form and momentum is crucial when heading out to a tough venue, something we always say, but Burnley have very little of either after a lengthy nine match run without a victory. Their last set of three points came by virtue of a 2-0 win over a hapless Hull City, a team that hasn’t won an away game all season, much like Burnley. However, to know the stuffing well and truly out of all you Burnley fans, your side have only gone and lost on their last four away trips and haven’t picked up an away point since the beginning of November, a whole two months ago.

Burnley’s poor away form translates into dire reading (0-1-9), with the Clarets avoiding defeat in just one of their ten away fixtures thus far. However, the bad news doesn’t stop their as their away goal difference is something nightmares are made out of, especially for a manager which is perhaps why Owen Coyle did leave for sunny skies in Bolton. In those ten away outings, which we will remind you that nine were defeats, Burnley shipped a staggering amount of goals – 31, whilst managing just the 8 in return giving them a lousy -23 goal difference on the road after half the season completed.

The statistics make for dreadful and paint an almost flawless picture on United’s chances. It would take the miracle of all footballing miracles for Burnley to even hold the mighty Manchester United at Old Trafford judging by not only their poor away record, or their poor away defence, or even their poor away run of four straight defeats but because of their recent poor away displays; in combination with all the rest. Burnley haven’t scored a single goal in over 270 minutes of away play, not since their 5-3 stuffing at West Ham, and we don’t think for one minute that their blunt scoring habit will die young at Old Trafford this Saturday in a game where clear cut chances will be few and far between.

Match Verdict: Manchester United to WIN – 1.18 PaddyPower

There is nothing in United’s form to say that this will be a romp but Burnley have been a poor away outfit throughout the first half of the season, avoiding defeat in just one of their ten away outings at the mid-way point. They are conceding a staggering amount of goals when on their travels, averaging 3 a game, and while United haven’t been playing well we still fancy them to stroll through this fixture. A big win would lift the morale of the camp and we expect just that.

Match Odds:

Manchester United – 1.18 PaddyPower

Draw – 7.00 SkyBet

Burnley – 17.00 Boylesports

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Man Utd to WIN to NIL – 1.80 SkyBet

Birmingham City V Manchester United

Saturday, 9^th January – 17:30 GMT (ESPN)

Birmingham City

League Position: 8th

Recent Form: WWDDW

The Birmingham express just keeps on rolling, even if it is running a tad slower in the FA Cup, but will the arrival of Man Utd knock the high-flying blues straight off the track? Past results would certainly suggest so as Birmingham have never beaten Manchester United in the league at St. Andrews, nor have they beaten them at all in actual fact. However, it is Alex McLeish’s men who head into this fixture with all the momentum and that could be in crucial as Birmingham aim to record their first every victory over The Red Devils in the Premiership.

Even a tough set of Christmas fixtures couldn’t derail Birmingham, with a 2-1 victory over Blackburn and a 0-0 draw with Chelsea, either side of Christmas, extending their unbeaten run in the league to eleven games. Their best run for over 102 years. This outstanding streak of theirs consists of seven wins and four draws, with even the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool & Man City all failing to overhaul Birmingham this season. However, Man Utd are one of a select few that have already claimed the scalp of Brummie this season and they’ll be aiming to complete a league double over Birmingham.

Birmingham’s fantastic run of form has been built upon the basis of a solid defensive. Something which we have highlighted in just about every preview, but, unless it goes wayward, we will carry on praising it as it has been a sensational defence, of which Joe Hart has to take a lot of the credit. Alex McLeish’s side have conceded just 18 goals this season, level with the likes of Man Utd, Aston Villa; slightly worse than Chelsea who have shipped just 17; but better than both Arsenal & Liverpool; which just puts it into comparison how strong a defence it’s been. However, it’s been especially strong at St. Andrews, with Birmingham boasting the leanest home defence in the land, conceding just 5 goals at home all season.

We’ve talked a lot about this bullish defence for weeks but it’s vitally important to have a strong backbone in games such as these. Joe Hart, who has been arguably the league’s best goalkeeper up till now, has kept two consecutive clean sheets in goal, eight in all, and hasn’t conceded a goal in a little over 185 minutes of play. Then again, Birmingham haven’t managed to score two or more in either of their previous three outings in the league, so although they are incredibly strong at the back they are very weak in attack, although we prefer to view it as ‘clinical’.

“Clinical, you say?” Well, all nine of their victories this season have all been by a one goal margin, of which six have been to nil, six have been 1-0’s. This is proof that Birmingham don’t play like Real Madrid but, however, are far more consistent and reliable than the Spanish giants. This outstanding unbeaten run of theirs needs to be respected and we won’t fall foul to arrogance. We quite fancy Birmingham to stretch their unbeaten run and, possibly, record their first win over a United side that are clearly rocking.

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

Recent Form: LWLWW

The mighty Red Devils haven’t been at their sublime best in recent weeks but will need to pull a huge performance out of the bag if they any real ambitions of walking away from St. Andrews with all thee points as their Birmingham opponents boast far better form than they do. United are, though, still in the race for the title and could find themselves top of the table with a victory on Saturday, although they would still need Hull City to do them a favour elsewhere, but there are clear incentives for United heading into an extremely tough new year fixture. 

United have been far from untouchable this season but they’ve been even more vulnerable on the road, losing twice as many away fixtures as Birmingham have lost at home. Four times Ferguson’s Manchester United have come a cropper away from Old Trafford this season, which is a million miles away from the form they displayed in last seasons league winning campaign. Nonetheless, Sir Alex’s United remain one of the best in the land, and although they don’t boast a great wealth of form at present, they do have a handful of players with serious match winning abilities and they will be a threat no matter how bad their form is.

Sir Alex will, though, need to lift the spirit of the camp after a morale crushing defeat at the weekend in which Man Utd, the 11 times winners of the competition, were sent packing at the third round stage by League 1 outfit, Leeds United, in a game where the Red Devils were tamed by Simon Grayson’s Leeds. 

I’m a Liverpool fan through and through, so I’m used to terrible performances from my side, but even I felt sorry for the loyal set of United fans in the terraces at Old Trafford as their side were dreadful. Their passes were going wayward, their midfield was all over the shot, the defence was a shambles, while even their best player this season, Wayne Rooney, was missing sitters even my Grandma would struggle to miss. It really was a bad day at the office, but in a huge encounter, and it’s hard to comprehend not only how will that affect the morale of the camp but if United can recover in time to face an inform Birmingham City.

If United are to end Birmingham’s valiant unbeaten run then you’d expect Wayne Rooney to be at the forefront of this assault. However, even his best efforts haven’t provided United with a decent away record (6-0-4), and the Reds’ have been a vulnerable away outfit all season. They do, though have this unique ability to throw up a stunning performance from out of the blue and it wouldn’t be at all surprising if they plucked one up again this Saturday.

Head-to-Head (Last 8):

Birmingham City W: 0 Manchester United W: 6 Draws: 2

• Birmingham have never beaten Man Utd in a Premiership fixture

• In eight meetings, the best Birmingham could muster was two draws, with both of them coming at St. Andrews.

• In eight encounters with United, both home and away, Birmingham have failed to find the goal in seven of those, and haven’t scored against United in their previous four attempts.

• Man Utd have won the last four contests between the two, all to NIL.

• The last three meetings have gone the way of Man Utd, all by a 1-0 score line.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.80 Bet365

We have played safe with a punt on the draw. These two are so evenly matched in that Birmingham are the in form side of the two but are up against the quality of Man Utd. A team who, were they on top of their form, would probably win this fixture with few problems. However, United’s form issues makes them a precarious bet and Birmingham did hold Chelsea to a 0-0 draw not so long ago, although they really should have won that encounter were it not for some bad referring decisions. Birmingham will still need to work their socks off in order to get a result but they’ve built up a solid defensive foundation and United will struggle to break them down after a torrid weekend. Birmingham to become yet another side to frustrate Sir Alex Ferguson!

Match Odds:

Birmingham City – 6.80 Expekt.com

Draw – 3.80 Bet365

Manchester United – 1.62 PaddyPower