Manchester United 2022-23 Premier League Preview
Can Ten Hag make an instant impact?
Bookmaker Paddy Power
Manchester United Title Odds: 25/1 odds taken 1757 GMT, Wednesday 15 June
Erik ten Hag is the new man in charge of Manchester United. The Red Devils had another disappointing campaign last time around, but can their new Dutch boss bring the glory days back to Old Trafford? Ten Hag worked wonders in Holland during his five-year stint at Ajax, but the United job is one of the toughest in the world.
In our in-depth Man United 2022-23 Premier League betting preview, we dissect the Red Devils’ title chances, pick out our players to watch, and look back on the 2021-22 campaign. Read on for the latest odds and best predictions.
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Table of Contents
- 1 2021-22 Review: Bad season at Old Trafford
- 2 Man United Transfer News: Plenty in and out
- 3 Who Are the Red Devils Biggest Challengers: Can Ten Hag hit the ground running?
- 4 Manchester City Preview: Three titles in a row for City?
- 5 Liverpool Preview: Will the Reds rub shoulders with City once again?
- 6 Tottenham Hotspur Preview: Conte to build on last season?
- 7 Arsenal Preview: Gunners to sneak into top four?
- 8 Newcastle United Preview: Can the big-spending Magpies gatecrash the top-four party?
- 9 West Ham United Preview: Europe again for the Hammers?
- 10 Players to Watch Out For in the 2022-23 Season: 37-year-old Ronaldo to lead by example
- 11 Our Manchester United Predictions: Red Devils to miss the top-four boat
2021-22 Review: Bad season at Old Trafford
Man United’s 2021-22 Premier League season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started with real promise. After thumping Leeds United 5-1 at home on the opening weekend, the Red Devils went on to take ten points from a possible 12. However, they then had a real slump in form, suffering five losses in seven league games and securing just one victory in eight.
After an embarrassing 4-1 loss at Watford in November, Solskjaer was sacked and eventually replaced by Ralf Rangnick, who signed on an interim basis until the end of the season. Rangnick made a solid start, guiding the Red Devils to four wins and a draw from his opening five.
The temporary manager certainly steadied the sinking ship at Old Trafford, but the United players were struggling for consistency in the second half of the campaign. At one point, the Red Devils looked a good bet to take a UEFA Champions League spot, but five defeats in their last eight put paid to those hopes.
United finished in sixth, collecting 58 points from 38 league games. They won 16, drew ten and lost 12 and were well out of reach of the top four. It was another pretty forgettable season for the record English champions.
Manchester United Key Facts
- Man United have been English champions 20 times
- The Red Devils last won the Premier League in the 2012-13 season
- United ended last term with four defeats from six
- Erik Ten Hag is the new man in charge at Old Trafford
Man United Transfer News: Plenty in and out
Ten Hag is set to chop and change Man United’s starting XI before the season kicks off. Several big names have already exited Old Trafford this summer. Nemanja Matic has been reunited once again with Jose Mourinho at Roma. Paul Pogba, who never really lived up to the hype on his United return, has moved on, while long-serving Juan Mata has also left.
Naturally, Man United have been linked with a whole host of new players in recent weeks. The midfield area needs bolstering, and United are reportedly keeping tabs on Frenkie de Jong and Christian Eriksen. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Robert Lewandowski, Denzel Dumfries and Tammy Abraham – among several others – have also been linked.
Who Are the Red Devils Biggest Challengers: Can Ten Hag hit the ground running?
Since the great Sir Alex Ferguson departed Old Trafford, Man United have been starved of success, and the glory days are a distant memory for the record English champions. Last term, the underperforming Solskjaer was sacked midway through the 2021-22 campaign, with interim boss Ralf Rangnick doing a decent enough job until the end.
United have been well off the pace in recent years, while rivals Man City and Liverpool have dominated England’s top division. It is likely to take Ten Hag time to settle into his new surroundings, but the Red Devils could be a team to watch out if the Dutchman hits the ground running. You can currently get the eye-opening odds of 25/1 for United to win the Premier League title for a first time in a decade.
The fans will want to see their team in the title race this season, but getting back into the Champions League must be the priority for the Manchester giants. Who will be their biggest rivals this season?
Manchester City Preview: Three titles in a row for City?
Pep Guardiola’s Man City had an incredible 2021-22 Premier League season. They won 29 of their 38 league matches, drawing six and losing three of the other nine. The Manchester giants finished on 93 points to pip Liverpool to the trophy once again.
With the capture of the exciting Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, Guardiola’s boys will be even stronger this season, which is an ominous sign for their title rivals. Man City will certainly be the team to beat in this term’s Premier League.
Liverpool Preview: Will the Reds rub shoulders with City once again?
Liverpool did remarkably well to keep up with Man City’s relentless pace last term. The Reds and City have been getting the best out of each other in recent years, and the Merseysiders will no doubt be Man City’s main title rivals for the foreseeable future.
Jurgen Klopp’s troops had an outstanding 2021-22 season. They beat Chelsea in both domestic cup finals, and finished runners-up in the Premier League and Champions League. Liverpool will be back stronger than ever this season and, at the time of writing, Klopp’s side are priced at 2/1 to win their second Premier League title.
Tottenham Hotspur Preview: Conte to build on last season?
In Antonio Conte, Tottenham have one of the best managers in world football. The Italian guided Spurs to a top-four finish against all odds last term, with the north Londoners edging out Arsenal in the race to the final Champions League place. Conte described the achievement as one of the best of his career.
We never really know what to expect from this current crop of Tottenham players. However, with Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son up top, the Lilywhites have one of the best strike forces in the Premier League, which could get even stronger this summer. Conte is more than capable of attracting the world’s best players to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the Lilywhites could challenge this season.
Arsenal Preview: Gunners to sneak into top four?
After years away from the Champions League, getting back into the top four will be Arsenal’s priority this season. The Gunners missed out on the top four in agonising fashion last season, with rivals Tottenham pipping them to the post on the last day.
Arsenal are definitely building something good under Mikel Arteta, but winning the Premier League title seems way off right now. Still, the Gunners will be desperate to bring Champions League football back to the Emirates Stadium this time around.
Newcastle United Preview: Can the big-spending Magpies gatecrash the top-four party?
Backed by very generous owners, Newcastle have an open chequebook this summer. They made some huge signings in January, and Eddie Howe’s Magpies won 12 of their last 18 Premier League matches to finish in 11th spot. It was a remarkable turnaround for Newcastle, who spent the first half of the season in the bottom three.
At the time of writing, Newcastle are the seventh favourites behind the top six to win the title. It may be too early to think about being top dogs in England, but the Magpies may just break into Europe this term, while the cup competitions could also take priority.
West Ham United Preview: Europe again for the Hammers?
Under the experienced David Moyes, West Ham have been the surprise package in the Premier League over the past couple of seasons. The Hammers finished sixth in the 2020-21 campaign to book their spot in the UEFA Europa League.
West Ham reached the semi-finals of the Europa League and managed to secure seventh position in the Premier League last term. Can the Londoners break into Europe once again this season?
Players to Watch Out For in the 2022-23 Season: 37-year-old Ronaldo to lead by example
Cristiano Ronaldo is ‘very happy’ to stay at Old Trafford according to recent reports. The Portuguese’s homecoming did not quite have the desired affect last season, but Ronaldo still had a good campaign of his own. Even at the tender age of 37, only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Tottenham’s Son netted more Premier League goals last year.
Ronaldo has broken all sorts of records during his illustrious career, and the forward proved that he still has something to offer this United team going forward. If the right players are around him, CR7 is more than capable of producing the magic moments again. Ronaldo is our Man United player to watch out for.
After a disappointing season by his high standards, Ronaldo’s Portugal teammate Bruno Fernandes will want to get back to his best. If things click, Ronaldo and Fernandes can be a deadly duo for United in the 2022-23 season.
Our Manchester United Predictions: Red Devils to miss the top-four boat
United are lightyears away from Liverpool and Man City these days, and the Red Devils could even struggle to break into the top four again, with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Newcastle and West Ham all having the same idea.
Getting back into the Champions League will be the priority, but we can see Ten Hag’s boys missing out. Right now, you can get 4/7 for United to finish outside of the top four. They are good enough to take a Europa League spot, though, and we are backing Man United to finish in sixth place again.
