Football Tips: Watford v Man Utd punts from Phil Thompson & our trader

Two crisis clubs go at it.

Cristiano Ronaldo Man Utd Thommo

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

It’s like the good old days with loads of games on at 3pm this Saturday. To help you navigate the maze Paddy Power ambassador Phil Thompson and our football trader Emmet O’Keeffe return to deliver their expert verdict for Watford v Manchester United.

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United’s crisis is reaching boiling point while Watford have flattered to deceive under The Tinkerman Claudio Ranieri. Is this set up for another Red Devils disaster? Here’s Thommo and our trader’s top tips.

Saturday 3pm: Watford v Manchester United

EMMET: You’d be a brave man to put any significant amount of money on Manchester United here. Even today there’s reports that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s on the verge of getting the sack. Clearly players inside the club are briefing against him.

It’s a pretty unsettled situation and United have significant injury problems. Raphael Varane and Edinson Cavani are definitely out. Scott McTominay’s a doubt and Luke Shaw may also miss the game. I wouldn’t have much confidence in them and United are a short price.

Having said that it’s hard to know what to make of Watford under Claudio Ranieri. Outside of that, maybe, freakish result at Goodison Park they haven’t really improved much. I scoured the markets for a bet and the angle I like here is, if he plays, Luke Shaw to be Carded.

The player he’ll be up against is Ismaila Sarr, the Watford winger. He’s the second-most fouled player in the Premier League behind Wilfried Zaha. Shaw actually has the joint-most cards of any United player with four. In a tricky game to call, Luke Shaw to be Carded is my best bet.

THOMMO: I do expect Manchester United to win but defensively they’ve been shocking, although Watford have not scored in any of their five defeats at home. They have a 100% losing record against the top-half teams, five defeats out of five, scored none, conceded 11.

They’ve lost four of their last five. As Emmet just alluded to there, their only win was against Everton and they’ve had no clean sheets. Cavani might not play but they’ll have Cristiano Ronaldo, they’ll have Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, so I do expect Manchester United to Win this.

I know their record’s not been great of late, but I do think, against a Watford team who do concede regularly, they should prevail. Watford will try to have a go at Manchester United and that’s where Manchester United, I think, will score.

I’m going for Manchester United to comfortably win this 3-1. If you’re going goal-scorer markets, rather than Ronaldo, I would think Rashford to Score Anytime but, again, check whether he’s on that team sheet or not.

Watford v Man Utd tips

Emmet: Luke Shaw to be carded
Thommo: Manchester United to Win, Manchester United to Win 3-1, Marcus Rashford to Score Anytime

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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