Watford v Manchester United Betting Tip Manchester United – 15 September 2018

United can get much needed victory at Vicarage Road

Premier League Tips

Saturday 14th September 1730hrs Watford v Manchester United Football – England – Premier League If you had raced ahead to this fixture at the beginning of the season and known at the time one of these two teams had maximum points from four games and the other would have last twice already, you would be forgiven for getting it wrong. It’s the home team’s best ever start in the top flight and they will be looking to continue it against Jose Mourinho’s men who have found it challenging in the opening part of the season. Match preview and a selected best betting tip as Watford host Manchester United.

Watford were touted for relegation by many before the start of the season, including myself. Javi Gracia took charge of the Hornets at the beginning of this year and did anything but impress as his team basically laboured towards the end of the season. Losing one of their most promising players in Richarlison to Everton never inspired much confidence either that they would enjoy a productive campaign, neither did the lack of signings, but to their immense credit Watford have been excellent thus far. Wins at home to Brighton, Crystal Palace and Tottenham as well as an away victory over Burnley mean they join Liverpool and Chelsea as the only teams with a 100% record. Some will point to the fact that three of their four matches have been at Vicarage Road but they have been impressive in all four matches and sit third on merit. It is, of course, very unlikely that they’ll be able to keep up that level of performance or results over the course of a full campaign and their ultimate aim will be to avoid relegation. The start has given them a platform to build on however and they will be raring to go ahead of the visit of United.

Having lost two straight games against Brighton and Tottenham, Mourinho and Manchester United would have been more relieved than anything else to have gotten a win over Burnley just before the international break. Romelu Lukaku got both goals in a 2-0 victory and it brought an end to what was a very unhappy couple of weeks for the club. Keeping a clean sheet – their first of the season – was also a welcome factor in the win. There remains plenty of concern, though, not least with the future of Paul Pogba. Their record signing has had plenty to say about his relationship with the manager and his performances on the park have only added to the suggestion that all is not well. Both are professionals and will have to find a way to put whatever the problem is behind them for the good of the team and go again on Saturday. With the Champions League group stages fast approaching and some important league games, United will be hoping that they can go on a run over the next month before the next international break so they are sitting much closer to the top of the table than their current position of 10th.

Watford v Manchester United Betting Tip

It’s been a great start for Watford and a somewhat iffier beginning for United but it’s very early stages and you would be a brave person to put any money on it finishing that way. The hosts have done ever so well to get the points on the board and their performance against Spurs was very encouraging last time out. For United it’s all about trying to put a run of wins together in order to climb the table, increase the confidence within the squad and get some harmony back off the park.

Although they kept a clean sheet against Burnley last time out, Javi Gracia will be looking to take advantage of the weakness in United’s centre of defence. It’s been much publicised how much Mourinho wanted to strengthen that area and having failed to do so the options that are available to him have not started the campaign well. Troy Deeney and Andre Ward are both physical and powerful in their approach to the game and will look to unsettle United’s backline from the off. If the visitors can withstand that then you have to imagine that their quality at the other end will shine through. The defence never gave the team a platform to build upon at Brighton and that’s the key to the game again. I fancy them to be able to do similar as they done at Turf Moor and will back United to get another three points.

Selection: Manchester United 47/50 @ Marathon Bet