Manchester United vs Liverpool
Football, err soccer, fans in the United States are in for a treat this weekend as Manchester United and Liverpool meet in the ICC 2018.
Both teams are coming off impressive wins in the tournament, with Liverpool taking down Manchester City for the fourth time this 2018 and Manchester United surviving a mammoth penalty shoot-out to frustrate a spirited AC Milan side.
Now, as the two giants of world football play, the SBOBET ICC 2018 offerings point to a tight and exciting affair as they both look to build from their impressive showings and continue their winning ways ahead of the 2018/19 Premier League season.
Talking Points
Manchester United’s recent win was bittersweet for manager Jose Mourinho. After all, their preparations have been far from what he has planned, no thanks to a slew of issues and absentees—*cough* Anthony Martial *cough*.
Fortunately for the Portuguese boss, he found something to be happy about in the form of Alexis Sanchez and a couple of standout performers.
The Chilean forward is having a bit of a renaissance in their US preseason tour, looking fresher and hungrier than ever after two outings against MLS club San Jose Earthquakes and AC Milan. In fact, it was the 29-year-old who scored their opening goal against Gennaro Gattuso’s men and was a consistent threat up front for the Red Devils in the absence of RomeluLukaku and Paul Pogba.
Ander Herrera and Joel Castro Pereira were sensational against the Serie A side as well, having played a huge role in producing one of the most unforgettable ICC 2018 results. The two, along with Sanchez, gave Mourinho and their supporters enough reason to believe that this tour hasn’t been a waste of time and resources.
Now, ahead of United’s showdown with Liverpool at Michigan Stadium, fans and pundits alike expect the three to keep the Red Devils rolling and, possibly, pull an upset against the big-spending Merseyside club.
However, as Manchester City learned the hard way, it won’t be as easy as it sounds. Not with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane back in the Liverpool fold.
The two stars guided Jurgen Klopp’s charges to a come-from-behind victory over the Sky Blues after trailing by one to a Leroy Sane second-half goal.
Salah is always a game-changer while Mane, with his pace and movement, is difficult to stop. And with that kind of frontline, Manchester United are bound to have troubles defending throughout.
Not to mention that Mourinho is experimenting on a backline three. Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe anchored the defence against AC Milan and failed miserably, but it’s unlikely Mourinho will change that against Liverpool given his desire to see how it will work against a Premier League rival.
It remains to be seen what tactics Mourinho and Klopp will deploy in their matchup. But considering their recent performances and the players they have, it’s looking likely it could end up into an all-out attacking affair.
History
Manchester United and Liverpool have only met once this 2018, a game that saw the Red Devils take a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.
Prior to that fixture, the two teams drew their previous four meetings, scoring no more than two goals in every game. Their first Premier League meeting in the 2017/18 season, in fact, ended in a goalless draw.
They also have a little bit of history in the ICC, having met once before. Manchester United and Liverpool played in the 2014 version of the tournament, with the former coming out as 3-1 winners at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
At that time, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney scored for their respective teams. Furthermore, out of the four scorers in the game, only Mata is set to feature in the upcoming ICC game as Jesse Lingard remains on vacation.
What are the odds?
Considering that Liverpool have their best player(s) available, it’s not surprising to see them ahead in our ICC 2018 betting odds.
Klopp’s men are tipped to win with 1X2 odds that pay out at 1.93 while Mourinho’s undermanned squad is at 3.45. Liverpool are also expected to be ahead by halftime, with First Half 1X2 @ 2.50 compared to Manchester United’s 3.70.
Our Asian Handicap betting odds, however, suggest that there won’t be much separation between the two sides. A +0.50 United start is at 1.93 while Liverpool, with a -0.50 handicap, are at 1.99.
Fans can expect goals to come, though. Over 2.75 pays at 1.85 while Total Goal 2-3 is at 1.95 and 4-6 at 2.80.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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