Manchester United v Southampton Betting Preview – EFL Cup Final 2017 26th February 4.30pm
It is a big cup final weekend at Wembley coming up and we will see Manchester United v Southampton to settle where the EFL Cup title goes to for this season. This is just Southampton’s second appearance in the final of the tournament, having lost their previous final. As for Manchester United, they are four-time winners of the EFL Cup and they go as favourites to lift the silverware. However, it is expected that the final will be a tight affair, with United having collected 18 clean sheets this season in all competitions and Southampton not conceding a single goal on their road to Wembley. Will this go beyond the 90 minutes?
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Manchester United v Southampton EFL Cup Final 2017 Betting Tips
Well Manchester United are having to dig deep at the moment with their progress in the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League as well. It’s been a very busy period for Mourinho’s men. Manchester United took a 2-0 win at Old Trafford against Southampton way back in August in a Premier League meeting but things are even between these two as both have won two of the last four meetings. So nothing there to choose between them. So you would imagine this Wembley clash is going to be tight and you have a price of 4/6 at Bet365 on the game going under the 2.5 goal line across the 90 minutes. Of the last four games contested between Manchester United and Southampton, only in one of those games did both teams score in. So nothing wrong with enjoying a win to nil wager. United have collected 18 clean sheets across all competitions this season.
As they are favourites to win outright, a Manchester United to win to nil wager at Bet365 will return you a price of 15/8. Because of the extra games that United have been putting in, it will be interesting to see if they start fading from the game in the latter stages. Since February 11th, which was their last Premier League game, United have played four matches since then, while Southampton haven’t played a single one. So that is a lot of extra rest and preparation time that the Saints have had over the Red Devils. United have lost just one of their last 25 games in all competitions, which was a 2-1 loss at Hull in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi final. Their defence, as you would expect under Mourinho, has been tight, conceding in just one of their last seven games since that defeat at Hull. A Manchester United 1-0 correct score at Bet365 is a price of 5/1 in the correct score market, followed by the 1-1 draw at 11/2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the obvious favourite in the anytime goalscorer market at a price of even money.
A Manchester United 1-0 / Zlatan Ibrahimovic scorecast option at Bet365 will be popular punt probably, especially with the bookmaker’s 0-0 Bore Draw Insurance on it. So Southampton have had a lot of time to prep and they have already knocked both Arsenal and Liverpool out of the EFL Cup this season. They have managed to get through to the final without having conceded a single goal in their campaign either. Southampton can be a great defensive unit on their day but they have taken just two clean sheets in their last nine games played in all competitions. January signing Manolo Gabbiadini made a huge impact by scoring on his debut for them, a 4-0 win at Sunderland. That win snapped a three match losing streak that they were on too.
Gabbiadini is a 3/1 anytime goalscorer option for the EFL Cup Final with Shane Long at 13/5, which is the same price as Jay Rodriguez. Southampton have won either by a 1-0 scoreline or a 2-0 scoreline in their five EFL Cup games this season. A Southampton 1-0 correct score is a 10/1 price at Bet365. Both teams to score in the EFL Cup Final at Bet365 is a price of 19/20 to back which would probably lead you back to that 1-1 scoreline in the correct score market for the Final. Southampton lost their only previous League Cup final back in 1979 against Notts Forest and this game is looking as if it will be defences on top, which will keep the Saints in it. You have to note their progress past both Arsenal and Liverpool along the way and they may have the legs over the Red Devils in the latter stages.
Manchester United v Southampton EFL Cup Final 2017 Betting Odds
Man Utd 4/5, Draw 5/2, Southampton 15/4
Manchester United v Southampton EFL Cup Final 2017 Predictions
A big day for the Saints having come through Arsenal and Liverpool to reach Wembley against the odds. Can they go one further and get their hands on this piece of silverware for the first time ever in their history? This is likely to be tight, so go under 2.5 goals and there is really nothing wrong with looking at Southampton shutting down the Red Devils and avoiding the defeat in 90 minutes. This looks as if it could go all the way to a shoot out, so settle on the 90 minute draw. There isn’t going to be much to split them.
