You’d be forgiven for writing Manchester United out of the title race based on their inconsistent showings from the first-half of this year’s Premier League campaign.
The Red Devils have been somewhat of a sleeping giant for some time now, although we’ve seen glimpses of their quality in recent years, although that hasn’t been enough to appease the Old Trafford faithful, who are keen to see success at the earliest of opportunities.
That success could come sooner than some Manchester United supporters would have originally expected, with Erik ten Hag’s side mounting a serious push for the Premier League title this season. His side are sat third in the top-flight standings and are unbeaten in their last four matches, which means they’ll head into their Carabao Cup final clash with Newcastle United with much-needed momentum this weekend.
Some might claim that Cristiano Ronaldo’s abrupt departure from the Red Devils was the key turning point in Manchester United’s season, which could potentially be true. Erik ten Hag’s side have looked much more of a team, rather than having Ronaldo as their main focal point in attack. It’s fair to say that Manchester United haven’t missed out too much on Ronaldo’s departure, as that void has been more than filled by the ever-impressive Marcus Rashford, who has been nothing short of sensational in front of goal in recent weeks.
The England forward has netted six goals in his last five matches, and his form seems as though it’ll be key to any challenge for the title that Manchester United are to have. United are unbeaten in their last eight matches, and given that they’re only five points adrift of league-leaders Arsenal, there’s a real possibility that Erik ten Hag’s side have a chance of forcing themselves into the top-two in the near future. Both Arsenal and Manchester City don’t have as much momentum heading into the final 12 matches of this year’s league campaign, and that could prove key in the race for the title.
It’s a crucial period ahead for United though, and it’s one that could define their season. They’re set to take on Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley this weekend, before taking on West Ham in the FA Cup. That shouldn’t be ten Hag’s main focus though, as a trip to Anfield awaits them on Sunday 5th March, as they take on Liverpool, who have recently been thrashed 5-2 by Spanish giants Real Madrid, in what was a hugely frustrating result for Jurgen Klopp’s side. Manchester United will know that they can’t underestimate the Reds though, as one slip up could prove costly in the race for the title.
Experts at My Betting Sites have revealed that Manchester United are priced at 12/1 on bet365 to win the Premier League title this season, which could prove to be a tempting bet for some punters, who can see ten Hag’s side overturning their five-point deficit. Below, we’ve listed some of the odds from other betting sites for Manchester United to win the 2022/23 Premier League title.
- bet365 @ 12/1
- LiveScore Bet @ 12/1
- Betfred @ 12/1
- Betfair @ 11/1
- Coral @ 10/1
- Unibet @ 9/1
- BetVictor @ 8/1
Odds displayed are correct as of 2:38pm on Wednesday, 22 February 2023. Odds are subject to change.
It’s vital that ten Hag prioritises certain competitions more than others this season though, and it’s just as important to keep some of his key players rested for some of the season-defining matches in their Premier League campaign. The likes of Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, and Luke Shaw have been ever-present in ten Hag’s starting XI, and if any of those players are to miss some matches through injury, then it could turn out to be the difference in clinching the title, and missing out by the narrowest of margins.
There’s a real feel-good factor around Old Trafford at this moment in time, with the supporters’ off-field concerns being slightly eased by the news of a potential takeover of the club in future months. That previous off-field uncertainty being somewhat resolved seems to have had an impact on the on-field performances, with Manchester United losing just once from their last.
The title race is all about momentum, as we’ve seen the likes of Liverpool throw away a considerable points advantage as they missed out on the Premier League trophy by a small margin, and Arsenal and Manchester City will certainly be feeling the pressure with in-form Manchester United breathing down their necks heading into the final 12 matches of this year’s league campaign.