Manchester United are among the early pace-setters in the Premier League, having secured maximum points with an opening night win over Leicester City at Old Trafford, bringing the curtain up on the 2018/19 campaign. It’s now up to Jose and his boys to stick with the leaders.
It was a testing pre-season for followers of The Red Devils who, again, saw their side linked with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale only to end up with Fred, Diogo Dalot and substitute goalie Lee Grant. The patience of supporters is wearing thin on Mourinho who spoke to the press recently, warning of a difficult season.
WHY ALWAYS LUKAKU?
Jose Mourinho should have his star striker available for this season's trip to Brighton. @p_smith86 looks at why Lukaku is such an important figure for the #MUFC boss: https://t.co/HvCOS1Zc3b pic.twitter.com/C1OhtY1oSO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 14, 2018
Last season’s runners-up certainly made heavy weather of their win over Leicester. An early goal from Pogba, breaking the deadlock inside three minutes, was the only real piece of action until Shaw doubled up 80 minutes later to put the game beyond The Foxes. Vardy notched a reply on 92 minutes but it was too late in the day and proved nothing more than a consolation for the beaten side, heaping pressure on Claude Puel.
Speaking to the press after that win, Mourinho picked out Paul Pogba for praise. Labelling his captain a monster, he admitted the best he had hoped for was an hour out of the Frenchman who endured a rollercoaster summer at the World Cup. The midfielder lasted until the 84th minute before being replaced by Fellaini having put in a man of the match performance.
United now go to Brighton on week two and are expected to double their points tally to six before facing their first real test of the season in Tottenham at Old Trafford on August 27th. Fans will take heart from the fact their club beat Spurs 1-0 at that venue last season and did the same in each of the previous two when hosting the Londoners. That’s sure to catch the attention of those who like to keep close the trends when making their match predictions.
Two years since Jose Mourinho took charge of his first league game for Manchester United – what would you rate the job he's done so far out of 10? #MUFC pic.twitter.com/XwRxx5gQSs
— Full Time DEVILS (@FullTimeDEVILS) August 14, 2018
Following a first look at each of the 20 teams in action, bookmakers have held their ground, keeping Manchester City – who beat Arsenal 2-0 – as odds-on favourites, followed by Liverpool and Manchester United. If the final league table is to follow the thinking of traders, then Spurs will make up the top-four.
Casting an eye towards the other end of the charts and each of the three sides – Cardiff, Huddersfield and this weekend’s opponents for United, Brighton – with the shortest prices in the Premier League relegation odds all lost convincingly, conceding a total of seven goals and failing to score one of their own. That said, it should be a tough game for the Red Devils away at The Amex, but one they’ll feel confident about winning.
Brighton are third-favourites to go down, priced at 12/5 by Betfair. Below them are Huddersfield at 10/11, and likely relegation candidates Cardiff City, at 4/7.
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