The English Premier League continues into the festive period this week as Manchester United host West Ham United at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Ruben Amorim‘s side claimed a vital 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in their last game to move them up to seventh in the table, while Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side suffered a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday and are now only outside the relegation zone on goals scored.
We’ll break down the match up between the two sides and provide you with our best free soccer betting picks, as we look to earn you some extra cash while you enjoy the game on the pitch.
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The Red Devils have had a mixed campaign so far this season, and while the performances haven’t been the best, there has been a decent improvement in their results.
So far this season in the Premier League, Manchester United have earned 21 points from their 13 games so far, with six wins and three draws. Their four defeats have come against strong opposition in Arsenal, Man City, Brentford and Everton, while they have picked up wins over the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea.
The team have suffered just one loss in their last seven games, and claimed an impressive 2-1 win at Selhurst Park on Sunday, coming from behind thanks to goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount.
For the game at Old Trafford, Amorim is likely to be without Benjamin Sesko and Harry Maguire due to injury, but Matheus Cunha should be available to return after concussion protocols kept him out of the last two games. Casemiro and Patrick Dorgu will serve a one-game suspension the next time they receive a yellow card.
The Hammers have had a poor season this season, despite some big investment during the summer transfer window.
The club won just one of their opening nine games in the Premier League this season, which saw manager Graham Potter sacked and replaced by Nuno, who has since lost four of his eight games in charge, but earned wins over Newcastle and Burnley recently.
At the weekend, the team headed to a struggling Liverpool side at Anfield but turned in a poor performance and fell to a 2-0 defeat thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo. They also saw influential midfielder Lucas Paqueta sent off for dissent, with the Brazilian losing his temper with the referee, and he will now be suspended for Thursday’s game.
Crysencio Summerville could return after missing recent games, but Oliver Scarles remains sidelined after suffering a fractured collarbone in October.
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It’s never easy to predict a Manchester United game these days, because you don’t know which version of the team is going to turn up.
At their worst, they’re awful. They struggle to create chances, can be open defensively and make individual errors. When they’re playing well though, they’re threatening going forward, strong defensively and just lack a clinical edge.
West Ham, on the other hand, are a tough watch even when they’re believed to be playing well, and without key players like Paqueta and Summerville a victory is sure to be even more difficult.
The Hammers will set up to frustrate the home team and try to nick a goal on the counter-attack, but if Man Utd are able to get the first goal then they should cruise to a fairly comfortable win. Take the home side to claim all three points at -232 for a solid value bet.
When captain Bruno Fernandes plays well, Manchester United tend to play well, and the Portuguese playmaker comes into this game in good form.
Fernandes registered two assists in the win over Crystal Palace this past weekend, taking his tally up to five for the season. The 30-year-old has five assists and three goals in his last seven games for club and country too, but he is without a goal for the Reds since the win over Chelsea back in September.
He’s due a goal, and with him being assigned to set-pieces, there’s always a good chance he pops up with a strike. He’s never scored a goal against West Ham in his career, which is a bit of a concern, but with United likely to have the majority of possession, he should get chances to add to his tally for the season.
At -150, the value is decent for him to chip in with another goal contribution, so take it while it’s available.
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About the Author
Daniel is a football writer who has a great thirst for the Premier League and other major European leagues. A lover of the beautiful game and a firm believer that the eye test is better than statistics. Also an avid MMA fan.
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