Manchester United look to bounce back from a crushing FA Cup semi-final defeat and keep their top-four bid on track when they host a resurgent West Ham on Wednesday. We look at the betting.
Recommended bets
- 2pts Manchester United/Under 4.5 at 8/11
- 1pt Manchester United and BTTS at 7/4
- 0.5pt Tomas Soucek to score anytime at 17/2
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Manchester United v West Ham
- 6pm BST kick-off on Sky Sports
- Match Odds: Home 1/4 | Draw 21/4 | Away 19/2
I think it was a surprise to everyone that Manchester United were so handsomely beaten by Chelsea in their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, ending their 20-match unbeaten run.
The two main reasons for United's failings were fairly obvious: the changes in selection and formation didn't work, and their goalkeeper had a very bad day.
Expect Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood to come back in and 3-5-2 to be ditched; whether David de Gea will be at fault for two goals and a catastrophe for another is anyone's guess.
But I am backing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side to sweep that below par performance to one side, and put themselves in a very strong position going into their top-four shootout at Leicester on the final day.
West Ham meanwhile have had a weekend off and go into the game knowing they're safe. A ruthless win over relegation rivals Watford on Friday and consequent results involving the teams below them in the table did the trick.
To pick up 10 points from their last five games is hugely impressive, and has deservedly secured their place in the top flight. Victories over Chelsea, Norwich and the Hornets were built upon attacking football that David Moyes teams have previously been criticised for lacking, too.
Since the restart the Hammers have kept just one clean sheet, and that was against a hopeless Norwich. Before the resumption I think the expectation was that Moyes would send out a well-drilled side, looking to pinch 1-0 wins. It simply hasn't been the case.
Only one of their seven matches has seen Under 1.5 Goals - a defeat by a Burnley team whose tactics have been exactly what we expected from West Ham. After beginning with back-to-back 2-0 losses, four of the Irons five matches have had Over 3.5 Goals - that's 5/4 to happen again.
Manchester United have scored at least twice in six successive Premier League games, while West Ham have scored 10 in their last four - which includes that blank against Burnley.
The Red Devils' previously watertight defence hasn't been so reliable recently either. Having conceded just three times in 15 matches in all competitions, it was breached twice by Bournemouth, a further twice by Southampton - both at Old Trafford - and then Chelsea bagged themselves three at Wembley on Sunday.
Yes, there have been a couple of clean sheets mixed in but it's still seven goals in five games, a huge drop off.
I think it makes BTTS at 10/11 a solid bet especially when there's no reason West Ham wouldn't go for it now they're safe.
My strongest is in a Manchester United win and it wouldn't surprise me if they responded to an FA Cup chastening with defensive solidity, so I'm slightly twitchy on the BTTS front. That being said, Man United and BTTS at 7/4 feels like a smart call and good value.
To bring the clean sheet possibility I'm going with Man United/Under 4.5 at 8/11 as well as it covers plenty of results for us.
Now looking towards the anytime goalscorer market, I was soon put off backing Manchester United players. Martial, Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes offer no value, with each of them barely a shade over evens. But it's a different story for the away team's in-form men.
West Ham's goals are pretty much coming solely from Michail Antonio and Tomas Soucek, who have seven and three respectively in the Hammers' last five matches.
Antonio to score anytime at 4/1 is a handy price but Soucek to score anytime at 17/2 is huge. I wouldn't blame you for backing either of them, I just think Soucek's price is too good to turn down.
One final bet worth considering is Aaron Wan-Bissaka 4+ tackles at 10/11. He's reached that number in three of United's past four home games, twice reaching 6+ tackles which is available at 4/1. My only concern is whether West Ham decide to sit in and counter attack, because if that's the case then the United right-back might not have too much tackling to do.
It's one worth thinking about though.
Prediction: Manchester United 3-1 West Ham (Sky Bet odds: 9/1)
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