Manchester United players have a point to prove (Picture: MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United’s Carabao Cup tie with Leicester City was always going to draw considerable interest but it certainly wasn’t the most attractive fixture on Wednesday’s schedule.
Manchester City’s trip to Tottenham looked more appealing, so did Liverpool’s jolly to the south coast for a tough tie with Brighton and Chelsea’s tricky visit to Tyneside for a renewal with Newcastle just three days after the Blues beat the Magpies 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Of course, those games have sunk back into the shadows with the spotlight now firmly on Old Trafford following the decision to sack Erik ten Hag as United’s manager following the 2-1 defeat at West Ham on Sunday.
The ex-Ajax coach was left flummoxed by a debatable injury-time penalty which gave the Hammers all three points but in truth it was another poor performance in which his team wasted numerous opportunities to wrap up victory before the interval.
Former Netherlands and United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy is the interim manager but Sporting coach Ruben Amorim, who was in the conversation when Liverpool and Chelsea were seeking new bosses in the summer, is no bigger than 1/5 with Ladbrokes, Coral, Paddy Power and Betfair to be handed the job on a permanent basis.
United’s underachievers, especially those brought in by Ten Hag, are playing for their Old Trafford futures this week and the Foxes, who would have made the trip from the midlands hoping to make victims of vulnerable prey, are now the hunted.
Christian Eriksen can help Manchester United reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals (Picture: Danehouse/Getty Images)
Christian Eriksen has developed a knack this season of scoring in cup matches, hitting two in the 7-0 romp against Barnsley in this competition before adding Europa League goals against FC Twente and Fenerbache, and he is 14/1 with bet365 and Sky Bet to score the first goal and 4/1 with Unibet, BetMGM and BetUK to hit the net at any time.
Leicester may well make widespread changes with Premier League survival the priority and United should tear into them from the start, making the evens put up by bet365 and Sky Bet for the hosts to lead HT/FT look appealing.
Manchester City are 9/5 with Betfair to win at Spurs, Chelsea are 33/20 to triumph at St James’ Park, Liverpool are 11/10 to win on the south coast, Aston Villa should be backed at 10/11 with Ladbrokes, Coral and StarSports to beat Crystal Palace and Arsenal are 3/4 with BoyleSports to lead HT/FT at Preston.
• It was a terrible start to the week for New York sports fans with the Yankees, Knicks and Giants all losing on Monday. The New York Jets were beaten 25-22 by the hapless New England Patriots on Sunday and their season can plummet to new depths when they lose their Thursday Night Football meeting with the Houston Texans, who are 11/10 across the board to win outright and improve their NFL record to 7-2.
• England are 6/4 with Betfair to open their autumn internationals at Allianz Stadium with victory over New Zealand. At the very least they should run the All Blacks close and are 10/11 with all leading bookmakers to prevail with a three point start in the handicap markets.
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