England Round 18
- Thread starter spkutano
- Start date
Wolverhampton vs Manchester United Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Wolverhampton:
Jose Sa; Nelson Semedo, Bueno, Toti; R Gomes, J Gomes, Andre, Ait-Nouri; Guedes, Strand Larsen, Cunha
Manchester United:
Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot; Amad, Hojlund, Fernandes
Wolverhampton will welcome Manchester United on Boxing Day. This is a very important match for both managers. They are both Portuguese and they are both newly installed. But something makes a difference, the last round's results. While United manager Ruben Amorim suffered the third Premier League defeat, new Wolves boss Vitor Pereira could hardly have imagined for a better start to life in the Premier League. The Wolves cruised to a 3:0 victory at Leicester City on Sunday. Even more, the victory was obtain at King Power Stadium. Goncalo Guedes opened the result after 19 minutes, while Rodrigo Gomes doubled the lead in the 36th minute. The match was decided in the 44th minute when Matheus Cunha set the final 3:0. I believe the atmosphere in the squad is much better at the moment, while the players confidence is higher. Pereira has the majority of his players available for this match, but Boubacar Traore and Pablo Sarabia remain sidelined. Mario Lemina, who missed out the win at Leicester, is rated as doubtful.
Manchester United are on the 13th place with 22 points. The fans are frustrated, they remember better times. The former manager Erik ten Hag paid the prize and he was sacked, but the results are poor even with new boss Rubin Amorim. In the last match United hosted Bournemouth and it was an ideal opportunity for a victory. But the match went wrong way and the Cherries left Old Trafford with all three points after their comfortable 3:0 win. Andoni Iraola's men dominated the game and goals from Dean Huijsen, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo made the difference. At the same time, defeat meant that Man United went into Christmas in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time since 1989. The new Portuguese head coach has failed to heed the downturn since succeeding ten Hag and I think he will start feeling pressure very soon. For this match he also has some injury worries. Mason Mount and Victor Lindelof were both forced off early on against Manchester City and Tottenham respectively, and are set for spells on the sidelines. Luke Shaw has suffered another setback which will keep him out. Matthijs de Ligt missed the last fixture due to illness, but should be ready in time for this match. Marcus Rashford is unlikely to play for the club again.
Wolverhampton vs Manchester United Prediction:
Lets go back a month ago, when everything was different. Manchester United were struggling, but Sporting Lisbon were outstanding, as well as Ruben Amorim. The situation is different now as all three sides are struggling. Only Amorim has bigger salary. The Portuguese coach was brought to Old Trafford to improve the results, but he is not able to deliver. He want to show he is the boss, but in wrong way. Like Erik ten Hag and Jadon Sancho, Amorim decided to start a war with Marcus Rashford. Some of the fans have criticized Rashford after he was seen throwing his gloves on the floor during their Europa League victory against Bodo, but I disagree. The biggest problem is not Rashford, but the fact United were outplayed on all four matches in the Premier League under Amorim. Yes, they won 2:1 against Man City, but the victory was not deserved - they took advantage from two amateur mistakes by City players. But anyway, three defeats in four matches is poor result. I think Wolves could remain unbeaten.
Wolverhampton vs Manchester United Pick: Wolverhampton +0.5 AH @ 1.99 with Pinnacle
Liverpool vs Leicester City Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Liverpool:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Jones, Jota; Nunez
Leicester City
Ward; Okoli, Coady, Faes; Justin, Winks, Soumare, Kristiansen; Buonanotte, El Khannouss; Daka
Liverpool will welcome Leicester City to Anfield on Thursday night. The Reds are first on the table with 39 points and many pundits said they will be new Premier League champions. Indeed, Arne Slot's side have a four-point advantage to the second-placed Chelsea, with a match in hand. However, Liverpool fans are remembering several collapses after their team ended first on Boxing Day. This is the seventh time Liverpool have stood first on Christmas, but their only success since the top-flight's 1992 rebrand was in season 2019-20. The fans, the club officials and the players will enter the next matches fully focused. Slot has some injury issues ahead of this match as Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley are sidelined due to knee and hamstring injury respectively. Their absences heavily impact the rotation and some players are tired Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have little time for rest. Four players - Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Darwin Nunez - are one yellow card away from incurring a one-match suspension, so it is not a bad idea some of them to be rested for upcoming fixture against West Ham in London.
Leicester City have 14 points and they sit just outside the drop zone, Usually the newcomers should be satisfied with that fact, but not the Foxes fans. They are still remembering the glory days few seasons ago when Leicester won the title. That is why Cooper was sacked, while the former Manchester United player and interim manage Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed. The results were initially good, though the magic ended soon after. Leicester City have lost the previous two matches in the Premier League. They were beaten 4:0 by Newcastle at St James Park and 3:0 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers. The atmosphere in the squad isn't at desired level, while the players confidence is low. To be worse, Van Nistelrooy has some injury worries ahead of this match. Captain Jamie Vardy suffered from a knock and may not be risked considering his age. First-choice goalkeeper Mads Hermansen missed out the match against the Wolves due to a groin injury and he is rated as doubtful. His absence could be a big problem as reserve goalkeeper Danny Ward is under big pressure after being booed by his own fans during an error-strewn display at the weekend. Ricardo Pereira, Wilfred Ndidi and Abdul Fatawu remain sidelined for the visitors.
Liverpool vs Leicester City Prediction:
I expect an efficient match here. Liverpool have scored six goals against Tottenham, they are able to score four here. Mohamed Salah is in great form, he scored his 14th and 15th goals of the Premier League campaign, putting him two clear of Manchester City striker Haaland, who has scored only three times in his last 12 appearances. Salah, meanwhile, has scored 12 goals in his last 12 matches. If the Egypt international finishes as this season's top scorer then he will equal Thierry Henry's record of four Golden Boot awards. What is important to be mentioned, it's not only Salah. There are more talented forwards in the squad, like Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Gakpo, and Chiesa. But Leicester will not give up without a fight. Jamie Vardy (if play) and Patson Daka could upset the hosts, which is good for my pick. I expect at least four goals at Anfield.
Liverpool vs Leicester City Pick: Over 3.5 goals @ 1.53 with Pinnacle
Possible starting lineups:
Liverpool:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Jones, Jota; Nunez
Leicester City
Ward; Okoli, Coady, Faes; Justin, Winks, Soumare, Kristiansen; Buonanotte, El Khannouss; Daka
Liverpool will welcome Leicester City to Anfield on Thursday night. The Reds are first on the table with 39 points and many pundits said they will be new Premier League champions. Indeed, Arne Slot's side have a four-point advantage to the second-placed Chelsea, with a match in hand. However, Liverpool fans are remembering several collapses after their team ended first on Boxing Day. This is the seventh time Liverpool have stood first on Christmas, but their only success since the top-flight's 1992 rebrand was in season 2019-20. The fans, the club officials and the players will enter the next matches fully focused. Slot has some injury issues ahead of this match as Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley are sidelined due to knee and hamstring injury respectively. Their absences heavily impact the rotation and some players are tired Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have little time for rest. Four players - Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Darwin Nunez - are one yellow card away from incurring a one-match suspension, so it is not a bad idea some of them to be rested for upcoming fixture against West Ham in London.
Leicester City have 14 points and they sit just outside the drop zone, Usually the newcomers should be satisfied with that fact, but not the Foxes fans. They are still remembering the glory days few seasons ago when Leicester won the title. That is why Cooper was sacked, while the former Manchester United player and interim manage Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed. The results were initially good, though the magic ended soon after. Leicester City have lost the previous two matches in the Premier League. They were beaten 4:0 by Newcastle at St James Park and 3:0 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers. The atmosphere in the squad isn't at desired level, while the players confidence is low. To be worse, Van Nistelrooy has some injury worries ahead of this match. Captain Jamie Vardy suffered from a knock and may not be risked considering his age. First-choice goalkeeper Mads Hermansen missed out the match against the Wolves due to a groin injury and he is rated as doubtful. His absence could be a big problem as reserve goalkeeper Danny Ward is under big pressure after being booed by his own fans during an error-strewn display at the weekend. Ricardo Pereira, Wilfred Ndidi and Abdul Fatawu remain sidelined for the visitors.
Liverpool vs Leicester City Prediction:
I expect an efficient match here. Liverpool have scored six goals against Tottenham, they are able to score four here. Mohamed Salah is in great form, he scored his 14th and 15th goals of the Premier League campaign, putting him two clear of Manchester City striker Haaland, who has scored only three times in his last 12 appearances. Salah, meanwhile, has scored 12 goals in his last 12 matches. If the Egypt international finishes as this season's top scorer then he will equal Thierry Henry's record of four Golden Boot awards. What is important to be mentioned, it's not only Salah. There are more talented forwards in the squad, like Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Gakpo, and Chiesa. But Leicester will not give up without a fight. Jamie Vardy (if play) and Patson Daka could upset the hosts, which is good for my pick. I expect at least four goals at Anfield.
Liverpool vs Leicester City Pick: Over 3.5 goals @ 1.53 with Pinnacle