Somewhere along the way, Vicarage Road became one of the toughest places to play in the Premier League. Watford has evolved from the team that everyone figured was a doormat on the schedule to the one that no one wants to face, and Manchester United might find that out the hard way on Saturday in the first match of the EPL weekend.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Watford +370
Manchester United -117
Draw +245
Over/Under 2 (over -138)
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Red Devils are the odds on favorites in this match, but the margin isn't all that convincing at -117. We figure there will be a lot of public action on the visitors in this one, but it should be noted that Watford is a rock solid 2-2-2 here on this ground and has allowed just four total goals in six home matches thus far in 2015-16.
The total is understandably low with that in mind at 2 with the vig on the over coming in at -138.
KEY INJURIES
United suffered what might be a really big blow to Michael Carrick last week when England played in a friendly match in Spain. Carrick went down with an ankle injury and is unlikely to make the trip to Watford. Louis van Gaal's side was already without Luke Shaw, Enner Valencia and Marouane Fellaini, and this loss of Carrick was a huge hassle.
Watford's only major long-term injury is to Joel Ekstrand, a knee injury which is expected to keep him out of action for at least a few more weeks.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It hasn't been great for 13 months… There's been talk of a philosophy, a process. For me, Manchester United don't need a philosophy. The fans want to see attacking football and goals – that’s the Manchester United way." – Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes on the lack of attack Man U has shown thus far in the 2015-16 term under Louis van Gaal
RECENT FORM
The good news for the Red Devils is that they haven't allowed a goal since October 21 against CSKA Moscow in the opening round of the Champions League. The team's last Premier League goals allowed came on October 4 against Arsenal in a 3-0 loss. That's a fairly amazing four straight matches without conceding a goal, something that doesn't happen easily at this level and a true testament to what this team is able to do at the back.
Watford picked up successive wins to end October against Stoke City and West Ham to help keep it relatively far away from the relegation zone. The newcomers to the EPL were bested by Leicester City 2-1 on the road before the international break, a match which supporters will feel ended with an unlucky result.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Watford really has no attacking options right now, and that could end up being a big problem in this match against a Manchester United team which requires you to be creative in assault if you're going to put one or more in the back of the net.
Van Gaal has a definitive plan, and he wants to make sure the Red Devils are careful with the ball and dominate possession with smart passing and efficient looks on offense. Is it truly pleasing to see that Wayne Rooney only has two goals this term and that Anthony Martial has just three strikes in 19 matches? Of course not.
But the bottom line is that Manchester United is winning and picking up points at a decent clip in the EPL, and it is doing so with a team which probably isn't the best in England. We suspect we'll see another one of these workmanlike performances once again in another low scoring clean sheet.
Manchester United 1, Watford 0
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