Paul Pogba’s status continues to cast a cloud over Manchester United. Pogba is the most talented player on the team, but he has been at odds with manager Jose Mourinho for some time. Although Pogba was Mourinho’s prize acquisition when he first joined the club, the two have verbally sparred in the media, and Pogba has taken exception to some of Mourinho’s comments. Pogba reportedly wants out, and that would leave a mammoth hole in United’s line-up. He won’t leave Old Trafford prior to the Red Devils match against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, but he might be on his way out shortly afterwards.
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English Premier League Betting at BookMaker.eu
Manchester United -133
Brighton & Hove Albion +413
Draw +253
Over/Under 2 and 2.5
Odds Analysis
Brighton did not fare well in their first match of the season. The Seagulls were underdogs when they traveled to take on Watford, but they were hoping to grab a point out of the match. Instead, the club ended up leaving with a 2-0 loss. The first goal was an inexcusable defensive lapse, as Watford’s Robert Pereyra drifted into the box on a corner kick and was never marked. He smashed home a volley to make it 1-0, and then notched a second later in the match. That encapsulated a poor defensive effort that saw Brighton allow Watford to outshoot them 19 to 6.
A lot is expected from Manchester United and Mourinho this season, and the Red Devils were able to grab three points in their opener. However, they very easily could have drawn or lost this match. Leicester City had more possession and more shots, and both of Manchester United’s goals were a bit fluky. An awful hand ball in the penalty area led to Pogba scoring off of a penalty kick in the third minute, and Luke Shaw’s second for the club was more lucky than anything. Untied will take the win, but it was not the impressive performance you would expect.
Key Injuries
Manchester United continue to be limited by injuries. Reserve goalkeeper Sergio Romero, midfielder Nemanja Matic, and defenders Diego Dalot, Antonio Valencia and Marcos Rojo have all been ruled out for this match due to injury. Additionally, midfielder Jesse Lingard and center back Phil Jones are considered questionable to play in this match. Midfielder Ander Herrera is doubtful as he continues to deal with a hamstring issue.
For Brighton, no one has been definitively ruled out. However, midfielder Jose Izquierdo, forward Florin Andone, and reserve goalkeeper Jason Steele have all been declared questionable. Defender Bruno Salter is listed as doubtful with a thigh injury, and the Seagulls will likely be without their captain once more.
Player to Watch
David de Gea is one of the top goalkeepers in the world, and he has been fantastic during his time at Old Trafford. He came up big more than once in the Red Devils’ opening night win over Leicester City, making some point blank stops to keep a clean sheet until injury time. With so many injuries to defenders, de Gea is getting tested more than he typically would be. He needs to continue to answer the bell.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
I really want to pick Brighton to pull off the upset in this one. Manchester United are dealing with a ton of injuries and the Pogba situation continues to hover over the club. However, the Seagulls performance against Watford left a lot to be desired. I just can’t pull the trigger on the upset, so I’ll take the Red Devils in a narrow win.
English Premier League Odds: Manchester United 2, Brighton & Hove Albion 1
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