The English Premier League features midweek action this week as the fixtures continue to pile up in the build up to the 2022 World Cup. Wednesday’s list of matches features a tantalizing trip to Old Trafford for Tottenham Hotspur, who look to keep pace with Arsenal and Manchester City in the title chase with a win over Manchester United. Our soccer betting picks for this week include this massive Manchester United vs Tottenham matchup.
United badly need the full three points against Spurs as the Red Devils are at risk of a widening gap between them and the Top 4. Manager Erik ten Hag’s side sit in fifth place currently, three points behind Chelsea and 11 points off table leaders Arsenal. If United want to stay in the title race as even outside dark horses, they will need to quickly pile up wins prior to the World Cup break.
October has been a tricky month for United in recent seasons. The Manchester club is winless in their last six fixtures played in the Fall month, dating back to last season as they have two losses and four draws in their last six matches.
The odds are fairly even for this midweek match, with the oddsmakers leaving little between the two clubs. United are slight favorites at +145 odds to win the match, while Spurs are slight underdogs at +175 odds. Those who wish to back the draw can do so at +250 odds for a stalemate.
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Sore Spurs
The injury list is quickly compiling at Tottenham for manager Antonio Conte as a new player picks up a new injury in seemingly every match in October. Dejan Kulusevski has been out since the international break with an injury he picked up against Sweden and now the club are without summer signing Richarlison, who picked up a calf injury on the weekend against Arsenal.
Richarlison is expected to be out for the next two weeks. Luckily for Conte, his core players in Harry Kane and Son Heung-min remain healthy and available for selection. Lack of depth is always a concern for midweek matches and Tottenham will now have to rely on their players that are healthy putting in an extra shift against United.
United Waiting On Eriksen Return
Midfielder Christian Eriksen’s status for Wednesday is up in the air and ten Hag will sorely need the former Tottenham playmaker to make his return if United are to get a result out of this match.
Eriksen has been the key talisman in the midfield for United in the early stages of the season, completing his comeback from a major health scare while playing for Denmark at the last Euros to returning to run the show in the midfield for a top club.
Without Eriksen in the squad, United looked listless and lost in attack against Newcastle on the weekend in a Nil-Nil draw. If Eriksen is still unavailable, United will have a hard time breaking down a very stingy Spurs defense that has been almost impenetrable this season. Arsenal are the only club to really pour on the goals against Spurs this season and without Eriksen, it is hard seeing United scoring multiple goals.
Marcus Rashford is also expected to make his return against Spurs after missing the Newcastle match due to illness.
Soaring Spurs
Tottenham are looking for their fourth straight win as they pay their visit to Old Trafford as things are looking up in North London after their defeat in the derby to Arsenal. Despite the loss to the Gunners, wins over Brighton and Tottenham have the Spurs still within range of the top of the table as they sit just four points out of first place.
The 3-1 defeat to Arsenal was Tottenham’s only loss in the past 16 Premier League matches. Spurs have won 11 and drawn four matches in that timeframe, scoring 35 goals and conceding just 12 along with eight matches where they kept a clean sheet.
Both the analytics and the table will tell you Tottenham are one of the best sides in England at the moment. Whether or not they can keep pace with Manchester City and Arsenal over the course of the entire season is another debate. However, for the present moment Spurs are as good as it gets in the Premier League.
If Eriksen returns to the United Starting XI, this match becomes a little more interesting. If Eriksen doesn’t play, Spurs have to feel good about their chances of getting the three points at Old Trafford. Either way, Spurs are a good bet to salvage at least a point and the Draw No Bet at +109 odds is the play for this match as Tottenham should rise to the occasion and keep pace in their pursuit of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
