Premier League: Manchester United vs Manchester City – Betting Tips, Odds & Prediction

Manchester United host Manchester City on Sunday morning New Zealand time in an Old Trafford Premier League encounter that has plenty on the line.

The visitors are chasing another title, while the hosts are desperate to climb back up the table under a new leader. It’s got all the ingredients for a classic derby, as if any extra was required to get fans up for this one. Will Manchester United bounce back from their recent struggles, or can Manchester City snap their run of draws and assert themselves?

I go over all the key details in this Manchester United vs Manchester City preview. From team news to stats, I’ve dug into everything you need to know, including a juicy $3.50 play for those eager to get involved on the best betting sites NZ has to offer.

Manchester United

It’s been a frustrating season for the home side, to say the least.

Old Trafford isn’t the fortress it used to be, and their consistency is non-existent. They’re coming into this match after a couple of stale draws against Burnley and Leeds, and a tough cup exit at the hands of Brighton. With Ruben Amorim out and Michael Carrick stepping in as interim, the club is in a bit of a spin. 

Manchester United need an immediate response. Historically, they’ve managed to frustrate Manchester City at home, but they can’t afford the defensive lapses they’ve shown lately. If they can tighten up and catch the visitors on the break, I reckon they can be a nuisance here. Check your betting apps for the latest line movements; I’m expecting plenty of late money on United to at least grab a goal.

Team News: Shea Lacey is out suspended. Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are back from international duty. Noussair Mazraoui is still away with Morocco at AFCON.

Predicted Lineup: Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Ugarte, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Mount, Garnacho; Cunha.

Manchester City

Manchester City are in a strange patch of form.

They’re sitting in second, but three straight Premier League draws aren’t ideal. City have been dropping points from winning positions - something you’d usually see from a Pep Guardiola team. Still, they’re unbeaten in 13 matches and have Erling Haaland, the most clinical finisher in the game.

I suspect they’ll control the tempo from the whistle. They love the kind of space that United’s leaky defence tends to give them. In saying that, their own backline is missing some key figures. When it comes to football betting tips, my gut says City’s quality will eventually shine through in a high-scoring match.

Team News: Ruben Dias is out for six weeks with a hamstring issue, and Josko Gvardiol is also ruled out.

Predicted Lineup: Donnarumma; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Lewis; Rodri, Silva, Reijnders; Cherki, Foden, Haaland.

• Manchester City are unbeaten in their last three league meetings with Manchester United.
• Manchester United have drawn their last three Premier League matches.
• Erling Haaland has more goal involvements in this derby than any other active player.
• Both teams have scored in 65% of Manchester United’s matches this season.

Bottom line, we’ve got two teams with world-class attackers but serious questions about their defending here.

Manchester United are desperate and will come out swinging. They can’t afford to sit back at home, which should make the game very open.

Manchester City have the technical quality to cut through United’s midfield, but I don’t trust their makeshift defence to keep a clean sheet. Haaland is likely to make the most of the chances he gets, but United have enough pace in Garnacho and Mbeumo to hurt the visitors on the counter.

I’m predicting City to win in a thriller. United will have their moments, but City’s hunger to catch the league leaders will be the difference. A 3-2 result for the away side feels about right.

Manchester City to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $3.50

I’m going for a value play here.

My bet is based on the current state of both defences. Manchester City’s games are averaging high scores lately because they can’t seem to keep a clean sheet, even when they dominate. Manchester United usually find the net at Old Trafford, and with their top attackers back, they’ll definitely cause problems.

Bottom line, getting $3.50 at Bet and Play for a City win where both teams find the net is too good to pass up. It covers the most likely outcome of a chaotic match where neither side shows much interest in defending.